DC Artist Exchange Presents Panel Discussion on Studio Incubators

DCartistexchange (DCax) is a collaborative project developed by several DC-based arts and cultural organizations. DCax is a series of events and tools designed to explore new ways to build community. The kick-off series includes five panel discussions around the broad topic of artist space in the city, four in-person creative networking events called Swap Meets, and a website (dcartistexchange.org) meant to engage members through a virtual community space. 

photos by Alan Kayanan

The DCax Panel Series focuses on the broad topic of artist space in the Washington, DC area.

This Saturday, August 17, there will be a Panel Discussion that  focuses on artist studio incubators. These spaces are created by and for artists as places to work and create. Presenters will discuss the development and operations of these spaces.

You are invited for the following:
10:30am-11:30am – Panel discussion
11:30am-12:30pm – Walking tour (lunch included) to review, discuss and experience Dance Place, Brookland Artists Lofts, and after, we will head over to the Monroe Street Market to see the 27 artists studios and their two event spaces. Then back to the space for more panel conversation and ending at 2pm.

Panelists include:

Mike Abrams, Union Arts
Travis Bowerman, CulturalDC, Flashpoint
Kristina Bilonick, Pleasant Plains Workshop
Michael Janis, Washington Glass School
Lisa Neher, Jackson School
Paul So
, Hamiltonian Artists

Click HERE to get all the details for the event.

All DCax Events will take place at The Menkiti Group offices located at:
3407 8th Street NE
Washington, DC 20017

All events are free and open to the public.

Upcoming Panel Discussions include:
Saturday   /   August 24 (Government Support)

      Saturday   /   September 7 (Private Property) 

DCartistexchange is collaborative project brought to you by Artomatic & partners ReSourceArts, Hamiltonian Artists, Dance Place (Art on 8th), Menkiti Group, CulturalDC, and Nurish. Funded in part by the DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities, an agency supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.

The Artomatic Workshops are supported in part by Art on 8th, a project of Dance Place supported by the National Endowment for the Arts “Our Town” Program in partnership with the DC commission on the Arts and Humanities. Art on 8th is a collaborative project between Dance Place, CulturalDC and Abdo Development/The Bozzuto Group/Monroe Street Market.

Science of Art Laboratory (SOFAlab) at The Glass School

Erwin Timmers, Dr Caroline Wellberry and the students working on the SOFAlab collaborative art project.
photo by Elmo Thamm

Medical waste and its impact on climate change was the connective theme of the collaborative work. Using glass diverted from the waste stream, the Georgetown University students and Residents from the Fort Lincoln Clinic worked with Dr. Caroline Wellberry and Erwin Timmers this past weekend. The resulting glass and steel sculpture will be exhibited at Smith Center Gallery in May.

“Science of Art Laboratory” (SOFALab) was created to initiate the spark of communication and to look for commonalities that can bring out new understanding and develop new tools of interactions from both the sciences and arts with the aim that these interactions and findings can affect boarder intellectual and/or social changes.

The project is a collaborative effort from the Executive Director of Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, Shanti Norris; the Director of Printmaking at George Mason University, Helen Fredrick; and the Founder of Hamiltonian Artists and physics professor of George Mason University, Paul So. The SOFAlab is generously supported by the Center for Consciousness and Transformation from George Mason University.

The students listen as Erwin Timmers outlines the mold-making process.
photo by Elmo Thamm

Erwin Timmers and Helen Fredrick consult about the kiln-firing process.


Glass will be cast into the imagery that is formed in the kilns.
photo by Elmo Thamm


A Georgetown medical student gets to practice his surgical precision with moldmaking in the kiln. Just like the game of Operation, a steady hand is requisite.
Erwin Timmers has found the perfect element to cast into glass.
photo by Elmo ThammMore info to follow after the work is mounted and the show is all set in the Smith Farm Gallery – stay posted!