Dr Claudia Rousseau – Professor of Art History at Montgomery College – reviews Michael Janis’ Maurine Littleton Gallery exhibit “Echoes of Leaves and Shadows“.
Writing in the the East City Art the renowned critic wrote about his “glass works that cross the line between sculpture (as in relief sculpture) and painting, and which stand out in brilliant color….From both a technical and subjective viewpoint this is a striking show.”
Click HERE to jump to the article online.
Glass Art Magazine has a podcast series aptly named “Talking Out Your Glass” that features interviews and discussions with world-renowned glass artists. WGS’ Michael Janis joins the series as he talks about how he does his glass powder drawings and his upcoming solo show at Georgetown’s Maurine Littleton Gallery.
click above to listen to podcast
Michael’s solo exhibit titled “Echoes of Leaves and Shadows” features his new glass works and sculptures and opens Friday, September 16, 2016.
Michael Janis, “Radiance”;2016; fused glass, glass powder imagery, steel; 12.5″ x 12.5″
Michael Janis: Echoes of Leaves and Shadows
1667 Wisconsin Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20007
Sept 16 – Oct 15, 2016
Opening Reception Friday, September 16, 6-8pm
Glass Art Magazine podcast link – click HERE
American Craft Council’s interview with Michael Janis about his solo exhibit at Maurine Littleton Gallery.
Washington Glass School Co-Director Michael Janis will have a solo exhibition of new glass works and sculptures at Georgetown’s Maurine Littleton Gallery. The exhibit, “Echoes of Leaves and Shadows“, is the artist’s first solo exhibition with Maurine Littleton Gallery, and the first at the gallery since artist Ginny Ruffner’s solo show in 2012.
Michael Janis has developed and refined an intuitive technique over many years where he manipulates crushed glass powder into detailed images and portraits. An artist who embraces the simple expression of narrative, Janis’ concise work perfects visual storytelling with fantastic imagery. His work explores the unseen sides of life, longing and loneliness, juxtaposed with fragile beauty.
The American Craft Council interviewed Michael about his new works and artwork directions – this article is now online. Click HERE to jump to the American Craft article.
Every fall – for the past 20 years – Chicago, IL hosts the internationally acclaimed Sculpture Objects & Functional Art Fair (aka SOFA Chicago).
The 21st SOFA Chicago will be held November 7 – 9, 2014 at Navy Pier’s Festival Hall where masterworks from top international galleries and dealers from numerous countries will exhibit. Opening night gala preview will be held Thursday, November 6.
Washington Glass School is represented by artists Michael Janis and Allegra Marquart at Maurine Littleton Gallery and Sean Hennessey and Tim Tate are exhibiting at Habatat Galleries Space.
Allegra Marquart, “On The Bus” (detail), 2014, cast glass, enamel; OA dimensions 48″ L x 24″ H. Photo by Anything Photographic
Allegra Marquart will present a number of her new wall installations. Her new works are not strictly narrative but relate to etchings the artist made years ago when she first moved to the city and began interpreting what she saw on the streets with humor and an eye for juxtaposing disparate situations and individuals.
Sean Hennessey, “The Fur-Suit of Happiness” Cast Glass, Paint, Video
(Photo by Anything Photographic)
Sean Hennessey will be showing his cast glass/ mixed media panels at Habatat Galleries. His new works integrate electronics and videos into the panels.
Tim Tate, “The Healing Polyopticon”, Poly-Vitro, Glass, Video
Tim Tate will be showing his installation “The Healing Polyopticon” – a 5 ft wide installation consisting of 16 video pieces in varying sizes of cast black frames. Each video is in the form of an eye blinking; each eye different. Surrounding this cluster of 16 video frames are cast black flowers that fills out the 5 ft wide circle . The work is based on a terminal diagnosis he received 30 years ago – and he imagined that he was being kept safe by those who passed before him – all keeping an eye on him thru portals. In this sculpture he portrays people who had effected his life in a positive way…keeping him from passing over, making him safe; imbuing him with self healing energy. This powerful sculpture will at Habatat Galleries space.
Michael Janis, “Breathing In The Quiet” and “Waiting For The Lover’s Words”, fused glass powder imagery, glass, steel. (Photo by Anything Photographic)
Michael Janis will be showing a number of new works at Maurine Littleton Gallery space. The American Institute of Interior Designers (ASID) chose his work as part of their picks for SOFA Selects – where highlighted pieces chosen by noted curators, designers, and critics give viewers of the fair way to navigate the huge show.
If you are going to the show – be sure to stop by and visit with the artists – all will be at the Chicago Fair!
Georgetown Galleries on Book Hill have their Fall Art Walk this Friday, Sept 12th, 2014. Nine galleries will host an evening stroll and launch their fine art exhibitions in a beautiful part of Washington, DC. A night of art, fun, and refreshments is on the agenda. Start at Maurine Littleton Gallery, whose new exhibit “Body/Building” opens.
Maurine Littleton Gallery, 1667 Wisconsin Ave, NW; Washington, DC.
Body / Building Opening Reception: Friday, September 12
6 – 8 PM
Michael Janis; “When She Was There”; kiln formed glass, glass powder imagery; 24 x 15 x 2″
Maurine Littleton Gallery presents BODY/BUILDING, an interdisciplinary exhibit of thought, architecture and art.
Featuring the work of Erwin Eisch, Nancy Genn, Sergei Isupov, Iliya Isopov, Michael Janis, Richard Jolley, Dorothy Simpson Krause, David Dodge Lewis, Stanislav Libensky, Colin Reid, Ginny Ruffner, Joe Sanders, Holis Sigler, James Tanner and Therman Statom, BODY/BUILDING investigates radically different subject matter approached with similar sensibilities. Exploring human and architectural forms through Vitreographs (prints made from glass plates), ceramics and glass sculpture, each artist conveys structure & relationships in literal, figurative and poetic terms.
Sergei Isupov; “Monkey”
Plato opined that by defining a singular human archetype, it was possible to create environments that would be universally appealing and accessible to all. As our identities become more complex and our relationships with each other more interconnected, mankind still seeks to find a harmony where the body and space blurs.
Alternately eloquent and visceral, BODY/BUILDING offers a collection of what most fascinates us: our bodies, our buildings and our relationships. The works contained within are inclined to represent just enough so that we, the viewer, are encouraged/obliged to imagine the rest: the rest of the building, the rest of the body, but most importantly, the rest of the story.
BODY/BUILDING
September 12 – October 17, 2014; Opening Reception: September 12, 2014, 5:30 – 7:30 PM
1667 WISCONSIN AVENUE, NW / WASHINGTON, DC 20007
Allegra Marquart, “Surfing Pony” (detail from larger installation “Beach”, kilncast glass, 2014
John Littleton & Kate Vogel, “Wave” cast glass, 2013
Established in 1984 and located in Washington DC’s historic Georgetown neighborhood, the Maurine Littleton Gallery exhibits and represents the leading contemporary artists in glass, metal, and ceramic.
Opening this Thursday, July 24th, is the exhibit “Water” featuring works in glass by John Littleton & Kate Vogel, Allegra Marquart, Lu Chi, Michael Janis, and Therman Statom as well as vitreograph prints from glass plates made at Littleton Studios.
Opening reception for the exhibit is Thursday, July 24th from 6 to 8 pm.
Maurine Littleton Gallery, 1667 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20007
Maurine Littleton Gallery is part of the Georgetown Galleries on Book Hill – click HERE to see the other galleries nearby.