Prince George's County | Washington Glass Studio

Ribbon Cutting at Bladensburg Library

Posted on November 6, 2023 by admin |

Bladensburg Library – Architect: Gant Brunnett Architects

The official ribbon citation ceremony of the new Prince George’s County Memorial Library Bladensburg Branch (4820 Annapolis Rd, Bladensburg, MD, at 11 am). The ceremony featured remarks from PGCMLS Interim CEO Richard AmRhein, County Executive Angela D. Alsobrooks, Prince George’s County Councilwoman Jolene Ivey (District 5), Bladensburg Mayor Takisha James, PGCMLS Board of Library Trustees President Angela D. Smith, and PGCMLS Chief Operating Officer for Support Services Michael Gannon.

The glass mural, titled “Reading the Water” by Washington Glass School is the centerpiece of the new library.

At the heart of this artwork is a message about the importance of environmental stewardship and the need to protect our natural resources. Much of the glass mural is made using recycled glass and components. By drawing attention to the beauty and fragility of water, “Reading The Water” encourages viewers to reflect on their own relationship with the natural world and to consider how they can contribute to a more sustainable future.

Kisha Mason, PG Arts & Humanities Council at the lectern enthuses about the artwork. WGS artists Erwin Timmers and Michael Janis.

recycled glass, sustainable design for public art in Maryland Bladensburg Library — View to artwork from balcony at Bladensburg Library, Bladensburg, MD.

WGS artists/Co-Directors Michael Janis and Erwin Timmers at Bladensburg Library

Posted in Art In Public Places, environmental art, glass public art, pg county, pgcmls, Prince George's County, Prince George's County Arts Council, Public Art, recycled glass public art, sustainable art design, sustainable design | Tagged contemporary glass, modern glass art

Ribbon Cutting of Bladensburg Library

Posted on October 31, 2023 by admin |

The official ribbon cutting ceremony takes place Nov 1st, 2023 at 11 am.

Join the official ribbon citation ceremony of the new Prince George’s County Memorial Library Bladensburg Branch (4820 Annapolis Rd, Bladensburg, MD) on Wednesday, Nov 1st at 11 AM.

The best part of the new library is the public art – in the form of the large (12’H x 6’W) glass mural titled “Reading the Waters” made the artists of the Washington Glass Studio.

Artist Michael Janis works on one of the glass panels that make up “Reading the Water” public art commission.

Layout of glass art work in the Washington Glass Studio.

Washington Glass Studio’s “Reading The Water” is an artwork that explores the interconnection between water and human life, and the critical role that water plays in shaping our environment and sustaining our communities. As a glass mural created for the Bladensburg library, this artwork is an invitation for viewers to pause and contemplate the beauty and complexity of water.

Rhonda Dallas, Exec Director Prince George’s County Arts and Humanities Council and Michael Gannon, Chief Operating Officer for Support Services at PG County’s Memorial Library System review the artwork.

Inspired by the natural patterns and movements of water, “Reading The Water” incorporates organic shapes and flowing lines that evoke the rhythm and flow of rivers, lakes, and oceans. As artists, our aim was to capture the fluidity and dynamic movement of water, while also showcasing the intricate patterns and textures that emerge from its currents. The use of translucent and transparent glass further creates a dynamic visual experience that changes with the shifting light and angles of the sun.

Artist Erwin Timmers gives the installed artwork special attention.

mike janis and erwin timmers install public art in Prince Georges County, MD. — Michael Janis and Erwin Timmers talk about the artwork with construction worker fan.

Ultimately, “Reading The Water” is a celebration of the elemental power and beauty of water, and a tribute to the vital role that it plays in shaping our lives and our world. As viewers engage with this glass mural, they are invited to immerse themselves in the flow of water and to discover the many stories that it has to tell. Just like the books on shelves in the new Bladensburg Library, the individual panels of kilnfired glass are separate stories awaiting the viewer to discover and find themselves transported to another place.
Our hope is that this glass mural will inspire library visitors to reflect on the wonders of nature, and to appreciate the important role that water plays in our lives. By bringing together art and science, “Reading The Water” invites us to explore and appreciate the world around us, and to find joy in the simple pleasures of life.

Posted in Art In Public Places, library, pgcmls, Prince George's County, Prince George's County Arts Council, recycle glass, recycle glass sculpture, recycled glass, recycled glass art, recycled glass public art, sustainable art design, sustainable design

Happy Holidays from Washington Glass School and Studio

Posted on December 22, 2022 by admin |

Tis the Season!

All of us at the Washington Glass School & Studio Wish You and Family a Joyous Holiday Season! And a Happy Healthy New Year!

Artists and Educators from the Washington Glass School

(L-R) Patricia De Poel Wilberg, Erwin Timmers, Christina Helowicz, Nancy Kronstadt, Kate Barfield, Tim Tate, April Shelford, Michael Janis, Trish Kent and John Henderson. Not pictured: Graciela Granek, Sean Robinson, Diane Cabe, Gabrielle Morris, Kyle Crosby, and Daphne Matyas.

Posted in " glass studio", 21st century glass, american craft, american glass, american studio glass, art alliance for contemporary glass, art glass, artists of the washington glass school, collaborative glass, contemporary craft, content driven glass, cool class, cool glass, crafts america, DC, diane cabe, educational program, erwin timmers, future of glass, glass art, glass education, international year of glass, kiln-formed glass, maryland, michael janis, mike janis, mount rainier, new class, patricia de poel wilberg, pg county, pictureshow productions, Prince George's County, Prince George's County Arts Council, recycled glass art, resident artist, studio art glass, studio glass, studio glass movement, sustainable design, Tim Tate, washington glass school, Washington Glass Studio, Washington School of Glass | Tagged mug shot

May 14th Open Studios- Save the Date!

Posted on February 17, 2022 by admin |

Save The Date! May 14th is the proposed date for Washington Glass School Open Studio Tour! Many of the surrounding art studios and galleries will be participating! We will follow health protocols – and it will be great to see all in real life! Come and see what’s new and what has been shaking at the studio!

Posted in american glass, american studio glass, artists by the tracks, artists of the washington glass school, craft design art, craft fair, creative glass, DMV, gateway arts district, mount rainier, narrative glass, open house, open studio, OST, otis street arts project, Prince George's County, Prince George's County Arts Council, visual arts center, washington glass school, Washington School of Glass, 最好的玻璃艺术 | Tagged contemporary glass studio, cool glass

Arts’tination Open House Dec 16th

Posted on December 13, 2021 by admin |

This Thursday, Dec 16th, from 12 noon- 8pm, join us at the Holiday Open House at Arts’tination @ National Harbor. Prince George’s County Arts & Humanities Council (PGAHC) features artworks by local artists and has a space dedicated to artworks by artists of the Washington Glass School. Shown cast glass by Erwin Timmers.

Posted in artstination, national harbor, open house, open studio, opening, outstanding artist, Prince George's County, Prince George's County Arts Council

2020 Prince George’s County Juried Exhibition: Symbiotic Presence

Posted on December 10, 2020 by admin |

The 2020 Prince George’s County Juried Exhibition: Symbiotic Presence is installed at the Brentwood Arts Exchange. A diverse array of works from glass sculpture, to painting, to video art represents this year’s theme of the strength and willpower of artists, bringing people together to help heal fractured communities.

View of Brentwoood Arts Exchange installation of Symbiotic Presence.

Maryland’s Prince George’s County artists will tell their stories and explore our community relationships in this year’s county juried exhibition, featuring work from thirty-two local artists.

One_Another.erwin.timmers.glass.art.sculpture.contemporary.symbiotic.presence.cast.best.pgc.juried

Erwin Timmers’ cast recycled glass sculpture “One Another” is featured in the exhibit. Works by four Washington Glass School artists are exhibited.

This exhibition was juried by Shanti Norris. The Prince George’s County Juried exhibition is sponsored by The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George’s County, Arts and Cultural Heritage Division. This exhibition will be physically installed at Brentwood Arts Exchange Main Gallery and presented digitally for online viewing.

Virtual Gallery Tour and Artist Talk via Facebook Live: Saturday, January 9 at 2 pm

November 9, 2020 – January 9, 2021

A video walk-thru is online – click on link below to jump to video

2020 Prince George’s County Juried Exhibition:Symbiotic Presence

Posted in brentwood arts exchange, contemporary art glass, contemporary artwork, contemporary craft, contemporary sculpture, Prince George's County | Tagged Symbiotic Presence

Symbiotic Presence: The 2020 Prince George’s County Juried exhibition

Posted on September 16, 2020 by admin |

Symbiotic Presence: The 2020 Prince George’s County Juried exhibition

The Prince George’s County Juried exhibition is sponsored by The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George’s County, Arts and Cultural Heritage Division. The exhibition will be on display at Brentwood Arts Exchange from November 16 through January 9, 2021.This Call ends on October 2, 2020

SYMBIOTIC PRESENCE

Throughout time, artists have shown the strength and willpower to bring people together and help heal fractured communities, especially during times of crisis. This year’s county juried exhibition, Symbiotic Presence, presents the opportunity for Prince George’s County artists to explore these mutually beneficial and supportive relationships and to tell their stories. Artists inspire communities to re-examine, re-invent and move forward together by showing us that we are not alone, by creating beauty amidst challenges and by revealing truth, thereby returning us to meaning.

JUROR – SHANTI NORRIS

Shanti Norris is chief curator for the Integrated Arts and Healing program at the Inova Schar Cancer Institute in Fairfax, VA. She is Co-Founder and Executive Director emeritus of Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, where she founded the Joan Hisaoka Healing Arts Gallery. A long-time resident of Prince George’s County, Shanti is the mother of three adult children, and is a sculptor, painter and curator.

ELIGIBILITY

This call is open to all artists who are 18 years of age or older who live, work, study, or have a studio in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Artists may submit a maximum of 3 artworks for consideration.

EXHIBITION TIMELINE

DEADLINE TO APPLY ONLINE: Friday, October 2, 2020, 11:59 pm

ARTISTS NOTIFIED: Tuesday, October 13, 2020

ARTISTS DROP OFF WORK AT THE BRENTWOOD ARTS EXCHANGE: Saturday, October 31, 2020. Selected artists will be given the opportunity to schedule their drop off times via SignUpGenius.com prior to the 31st.

EXHIBITION OPENING DATE *: Monday, November 16, 2020

*If The Brentwood Arts Exchange remains closed to the public, the exhibit will be made available virtually.

EXHIBITION CLOSING DATE: Saturday, January 9, 2021

CLOSING RECEPTION, ARTIST AND CURATOR TALK: Saturday, January 9, 2021

*If The Brentwood Arts Exchange remains closed to the public, the artist/curator talk will be made available virtually.

ARTISTS PICK UP WORK FROM THE BRENTWOOD ARTS EXCHANGE: Saturday, January 16, 2021

SUBMISSION CRITERIA

Artists may submit a maximum of 3 artworks for consideration, including 3-Dimensional or video work. All works must be original (no reproductions). Images of works should be high quality and with enough resolution to see significant details.

A bio, artist statement with current contact info and a list of the works submitted with titles, media, date, dimensions, and price listed are also required with submission.

Applications must be submitted online at: m-ncppc.submittable.com

GALLERY LOCATION & HOURS

The Brentwood Arts Exchange is located at 3901 Rhode Island Ave, Brentwood, MD 20722. The phone number is 301-277-2863 and website is arts.pgparks.com.

ABOUT BRENTWOOD ARTS EXCHANGE

The Brentwood Arts Exchange is The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission’s component of the public-private partnership with Gateway Arts Center, serving as an anchor for Prince George’s County Gateway Arts District. We focus on connecting audiences to diverse forms and ideas within contemporary art through visual arts exhibitions, live musical performances, curated film screenings, and classes. We also operate a retail store, selling functional art by local artists.

Posted in art gallery, brentwood arts exchange, call for artists, maryland, mncppc, Prince George's County, Prince George's County Arts Council

Peppermill Village at Night – The City of Lights!

Posted on November 24, 2019 by admin |

Peppermill Community Center public art by Washington Glass Studio and the Peppermill/Landover community.

Cassi Hayden, the Senior Visual Media Photographer for The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) was at Peppermill Village Community Center covering an event recently and found the artwork (made by Washington Glass Studio) in front to be exceptionally beautiful!

Detail of the internally illuminated glass panels made with the Peppermill community as part of the public artwork.

Cassi took some shots attached high-res files for your use. All photos in this posting by: M-NCPPC/Cassi Hayden

The artwork reflects well in the glass of the new center – and on the community that inspired the creation!

Click HERE to see the public art sculpture in the daytime and how the work came to be!

Posted in 21st century glass, 21st century sculpture, alec simpson, art glass, Art In Public Places, bullseye glass, community entrepreneurial model, contemporary art glass, contemporary sculpture, cool glass, creative glass, erwin timmers, fused glass, fused glass sculpture, glass and steel sculpture, glass art, glass sculpture, kiln-formed glass, m-ncppc, maryland, Prince George's County, Public Art, Tim Tate, twenty first century sculpture, usa, warm glass, washington glass school, Washington School of Glass, wgs projects

The Art of Self-Examination @ Montpelier Arts Center

Posted on October 18, 2019 by admin |

“All art,” Federico Fellini once said, “is autobiographical.” One might go a step further and say that all art is an act of self-portraiture.

Prince George’s County presents this year’s county-juried exhibition that highlights the variety of artistic thought processes and ideas that artists use to create solutions to their own struggles with self-reflection.

Reflections of Self
November 2–December 31, 2019
Public Reception: Saturday, November 9, 3-5 pm

This year’s work was selected by John Coppola, who served as Director of the Smithsonian Institution’s Office of Exhibits Central, providing design, production and installation services to the national museum complex. Selected works by over 40 artists, including:
Leon Allen, Patricia Autenrieth, Judith Bell, Diane Cooper Cabe, Sara Caporaletti, Aislinn Cohen, Barbara Joann Combs, Ellen Cornett, Christopher Corson, Alonzo Crawford, Sally Davies, Max DeMulder, Anne Whitfield Edgin, Annie Farrar, Vincent Ferrari, Ric Garcia, Jan Garland, Marliyn Gates-Davis, Nico Gozal, Winston Harris, Lorraine Harris, Leslie Holt, Michael Janis, Tom Kenyon, Liz Lescault, Allen Linder, Liza Linder, Debbi LoCicero, Shelley Lowenstein, Kimmary MacLean, Rashad Muhammad, Angie O’Neal, Mary Celestine Ranney-Howes, Patricia Steck, Niles Tatum, Kim Thorpe, Andrei Trach, Rosa Valladares, Juliana Vallejo, Dominique Vargo, Richard Weiblinger, Warren Wilson, Curtis Woody.

Reflections of Self
November 2–December 31, 2019
Presented by: Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission
Venue: Montpelier Arts Center
Free!

Montpelier Arts Center
9652 Muirkirk Road
Laurel, MD 20708
Montpelier Arts Center is located on the grounds of historic Montpelier Mansion in northern Prince George’s County and is part of the Prince George’s County Department of Parks and Recreation.

Posted in maryland, mncppc, Montpelier Arts Center, Prince George's County

Peppermill Community Center Public Art

Posted on October 10, 2019 by admin |

Peppermill Community Center with the internally illuminated artwork “Telling Our Story…” by Washington Glass Studio.

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) commissioned Washington Glass Studio (WGS) to create a public art sculpture for the new addition to the Peppermill Community Center in Landover, MD.

Shop drawing of sculpture by WGS.

Some communities see public art as a way of enhancing or personalizing otherwise impersonal spaces. Others view it as a means to activate civic dialogue or provide a vehicle for the community to express its identity.

These landmarks and special events enhance our experience of a place and our quality of life. They engender a sense of pride and community identity. They reach audiences outside museums, galleries, and theaters, and they add to the beauty of everyday life. They declare the worth of a place and a time in our shared culture.

Erwin Timmers leads a community glass making workshop at the Washington Glass School.

As such, the design of the site-specific sculpture by WGS was centered on finding ways to get the community excited and engaged with the convergence of art, history and community. The proposal for the art was based on a 15’H tower of glass and steel that would be internally illuminated with over 100 glass inset panels. The artwork of the insets were to be created by involving the community via a series of glass-making workshops held at the Washington Glass School.

A great cross section of community came out to be part of the creation of the new public art for Peppermill Community Center.

The residents and stakeholders were tasked with showing what they felt important to them and what inspired them were made. Images of family, nature, the environment, their neighborhoods, their sports teams were rendered in glass.

All sorts of imagery and glass techniques were employed to great effect.

Cast glass images of the social groups – the sewing groups, the cheer squads, the state flag – even a Maryland blue crab were crafted. Historical references to the nearby horse farms and the old roller rink were included in the mix of glass panels. Part of the fun of the artwork is seeing how this mix of images and references all somehow work together.

The tower, titled :"Telling Our Story..." adds a powerfull and dramitic artistic element at the new entry at the community center.

The tower, titled :”Telling Our Story…” adds a powerful and dramatic artistic element at the new entry at the community center.

Shaping places—with landmarks and landscapes, events and ideologies—sets the stage for a critical part of our existence: our connection with our environment; with our past, present, and future; and with other human beings.

The mix of images and stories told create a compelling and inclusive mixture – each distinctive and unique – yet cohesive as a whole.

“Telling Our Story…”
Artist: Washington Glass Studio
Project Team: Teri Bailey, Michael Janis, Erwin Timmers, Tim Tate and Lee Kind.
Media: Cast and fused glass, steel, LED lighting, concrete.
Location: Peppermill Community Center, 610 Hill Rd, Landover, MD 20785
Client: The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

Posted in erwin timmers, fused glass sculpture, glass sculpture, glass structure, kiln-formed glass, maryland, md, michael janis, mike janis, mncppc, peppermill, Prince George's County, Public Art, sculpture, teri Bailey, Tim Tate, twenty first century sculpture, warm glass, washington glass school, Washington School of Glass

The Washington Glass School

Category Archives: Prince George’s County