International Glass + Clay: Collective Imagination Pt 2

Opening March 1, 2013, Washington, DC will host an international exhibit of glass and clay artwork – the third collaborative exhibition organized by Artomatic and the DCCAH between Washington, DC artists and artists from our Sister City of Sunderland, England. With all the amazing glass and ceramic artwork being showcased, Washington Glass School will publish online a five part series of profiles on the artists behind the works. US & UK Artists in the International Glass + Clay 2013 Exhibition in Washington, DC.

Part 2 of 5

                                                                                                 

Sean Hennessey / Glass / US

Sean Hennessey is a mixed media artist based in Washington, DC. Working in glass, concrete, steel, light and video, Sean creates imaginative wall relief works inspired by architectural sculpture and drawing narrative content from philosophical, mythological, historical and personal interpretations. Sean has received fellowships with the city of the District of Columbia, an award of Craft Excellence from the James Renwick Alliance, and is in the collection of the US State Department Art in Embassies Program. His work has been seen on the Discovery Channel, National Geographic, HGTV, The Kennedy Center and at Aqua Art Miami. Sean is currently a Resident Artist at the Washington Glass School.
                                                                                                

James Maskrey / Glass / UK

James Maskrey started working with glass in 1990. He originally trained as an apprentice and subsequently worked for 7 years at a hot glass studio in Dorset, in South West England. He left to study glass at The Surrey Institute of Art and Design, graduating in June 2000. After graduation he was appointed as Artist in Residence at the Surrey Institute. In 2001 James joined the Glass and Ceramics department at The University of Sunderland, where he graduated with an MA in Glass with distinction in 2004. His work is held in many collections including The Crafts Council, Dan Klein and Alan J.Poole (National Museum of Scotland), Perth Museum and Art Gallery, Northlands Creative Glass, The Captain Cook Memorial Museum, Manchester Metropolitan University special collection and Crystallex (Czech Republic). He has exhibited widely in the UK, in the USA and at the International Glass Symposium in the Czech Republic.
                                                                                                  

Joe Hicks / Ceramics / US

Joe Hicks has been living in Washington DC where he moved after receiving a BA in Art from Shippensburg University in 2000.  He enrolled at The George Washington University where he studied for three years earning his MFA in Ceramics in 2005.   Joe Hicks currently maintains a studio for his own ceramic vessels and sculpture work, participating in ceramic and sculptural exhibitions on the regional and national level.   He directs the ceramic program at Gallaudet University and is an Adjunct Professor of ceramics at The George Washington University.
                                                                                                 

Dr Margareth Troli / Glass / UK

Dr Margareth Troli is based at the National Glass Centre (UK) in Sunderland where she explores the integration of digital technologies in her artwork. She completed a Phd in 2011 with the support from the Art and Humanities Research Council (AHRC). She developed technical approaches for the Studio Glass through the investigation of waterjet cutting. Margareth’s research has also been presented at international conferences, and she has received numerous prizes, awards and scholarships for her artwork. Margareth has participated in several international exhibitions and design fairs such as the British Glass Biennale (UK,) 100% Design, (UK), SOFA New York, Designers Block, (UK), Coburger Glass Prize Exhibition, (DE), Design Mart (UK) and The British Parliament.

                                                                                                 

Tamara Laird / Ceramics / US

Tamara Laird has a wide range of experience, teaching and studying internationally. In 1985 she moved to Nairobi Kenya, where she worked at the National Museums of Kenya on a United Nations Preservation project for the Island Community of Lamu, and as Professor of Art [Ceramics] at Kenyatta University. In 1994, Tamara relocated to Bangkok, Thailand, where she carried out extensive research, visiting individual artists, traditional village production practices, and full-scale industrial ceramic factories. Sponsored by the Thai Government, Tamara joined an educational tour of Industrial Production Facilities. Tamara has also traveled through Mexico, documenting production methods that integrate traditional and contemporary industrial production. Her frequent travel throughout Italy, researching Italian Majolica from Deruta in the north to Vietri in the south, continues a life long habit of documentation, focusing on connections between local culture, artistic development and traditional practice. These experiences have been integrated into her teaching practice, bringing universal craft education practice to the classroom.
                                                                                            

Syl Mathis / Glass / US

Syl Mathis has been with the Washington Glass School from its first “glass and steel” workshop. Self-taught as a glass carver, Syl combines investment casting techniques, high pressure abrasive carving, and cold-working techniques to create sculptural pieces in glass that often reflect stylized natural artifacts. His imaginative and skillful use of design–designs which are combinations of man-made and natural forces–not only reflects a love of Nature which invites meditation and thoughtfulness, but also, eloquently highlights the beauty of Nature’s own patterns with a precision that transcends the mere manipulation of tools or careful, mechanical dexterity. As a professional educator, Syl is a firm believer in process, the process of creative expression and of learning; as such, each carving is both a piece of art and the first step in a journey that promises to deepen our perception of Nature.

                                                                                                 

Click Here to jump to US / UK Artist Profiles Part 1
                                                                                                

There will be a “Day of Demos” by a number of the visiting UK artists – Saturday, March 2, 2013.

Phil Vickery and Roger Tye @ DC Glassworks 2009

11:00 AM at the Washington Glass School, UK-based glass artists Criss Chaney and Robyn Townsend will demonstrate their techniques for combining glass and metals, exploiting methods for working with both materials. Click HERE to reserve a space at this free demo.

2:00 PM at DC GlassWorks, UK hot glass artists Phil Vickery, Colin Rennie and Roger Tye will show how they work. Click HERE to reserve a space at the free demo.