American Craft Council Interviews Chris Shea

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ACC interview with Chris Shea is online – click HERE.

Perry Price – the American Craft Council‘s new Director of Education interviewed master metal artist Chris Shea for the ACC’s American Craft Week. 
The “5 Question” format gives a too-brief glimpse into Chris’ thought process, but includes his thoughts of the DC area and the Washington Glass School:

The Renwick Gallery has been a special source of inspiration and encouragement for me as have the members of the James Renwick Alliance, the support organization for the museum. The Washington Glass School, created by Tim Tate, Michael Janis, and Erwin Timmers is a second creative home for me, and for many other people, too. It’s a kind of energy bank where I go for a spark of comradeship, collaboration, competition – and to find that special luminescence that glass can bring to the darker, heavier tones of forged metalwork. (ok, emphasis is mine, but still, phwoar!)

Chris recently had some of his forged steel furniture acquired by the Smithsonian’s Renwick Gallery – click here to read about his process. Congrats (again) Chris!

Click HERE for the American Craft article.

The American Craft Council (ACC) is a national, nonprofit educational organization founded in 1943 with a mission to promote understanding and appreciation of contemporary American craft. The ACC celebrates the remarkable achievements of the many gifted artists today who are working with a variety of materials.

Welding Class Just Added!

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The welding class has become one of the most popular classes at the Glass School (go figure!).
To keep up with the demand – we have just added another welding class to the schedule:

Class 1203-B – Beginning MIG Welding

Ever wondered about learning to weld? Want to impress your friends, your older brother and that cute bartender? It’s easier than you think! In three evenings you will learn how to lay a bead, and handle all sorts of sharp and dangerous tools. You will be able to complete a small project and leave with lots of ideas and know-how for other projects. This class will teach you the basics of welding, metal work and design, joining, bending and finishing. And you will get dirty!

Instructor : Erwin Timmers

Dates : Wednesday evenings in May (2, 9, 16)

Time : 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm

Tuition : $325 per student

This class does not have a paypal button…..contact Erwin directly at 202-744-8222 to register, or email to: washglassschool@aol.com

Rainy Saturday at the Glass School

>Its a dreary downtown day; the sky’s a charcoal gray, but here at the Washington Glass School, we don’t need the sun to shine! Below is a quick photo tour around the place on this wet spring Saturday :
Lino-cut Printmaking with Cast Glass panels class powers on:

Instructor Kirk Waldroff checks on a student as he grinds & coldworks his cast glass panel.

Carving into the lino blocks

Inking the glass panels


Pulling a Print – Nancy Donnelly takes us through the process.


The glass block and the print side by side.

While in the Flameworking studio, test glass color samples being made:

Rob Kincheloe works color combos for a fused glass camouflage pattern background. Here Rob talks of the color options with Kirk Waldroff.

A modern PETA-friendly animal mounting.


In the back studio – artists working on artwork / sculpture components
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Matt Duffy works on his steel and glass sculpture components.


Michael Janis works on a sgraffitto panel to be shown at Glass Weekend in New Jersey.