WGS Installs Art At Prince Georges William Beanes Community Center

Installation of Suitland's William Beanes Center new public art sculpture.

Installation of Suitland’s William Beanes Center new public art sculpture.

Washington Glass Studio recently installed the site specific commission for the William Beanes Community Center in Suitland, MD. As mentioned in an earlier post, the artwork was commissioned by Prince Georges County for the new community center named for William Beanes, MD, who played a pivotal role in the history of The Star-Spangled Banner. If not for Dr. Beanes, Francis Scott Key would not have been on a ship in Baltimore’s Harbor, and he would never have written the poem which became our National Anthem. 

The original design was modified to allow for installation on the center's special exterior cladding.

The original design was modified to allow for installation on the center’s special exterior cladding.

The design by Washington Glass Studio is characterized by abstracted fireworks “Bursting In Air” to connect the National Anthem and to reference imagery inspired by Suitland’s residents and heritage, the community, its history and goals. 

Each circle medallion is internally illuminated with LED lighting.

Each circle medallion is internally illuminated with LED lighting.

The images were designed and selected by the community after a series of interactive meetings and finalized with the help of local council members.  The LED illuminated discs were mounted to a powder coated structure that was mounted to the building structure. 

The completed site specific work helps draw visitors to the new community center.

The completed artwork helps draw visitors to the new community center.

On the day, all the preplanning and preparation paid off, as installation went smoothly.
Soon, WGS will take professional photos of the finished project and we will publish them online!

Splash: Attitude & Process @ Brentwood Arts Exchange Reception Nov 11

Ginevra_Shay.splash brentwood.maryland.art.Splash: Attitude & Process – Prince George’s County Juried Exhibition

Attitudes are catalysts for new processes, and re-envisioned ways of making. To use any material, or even to make work that is ethereal, arises from widely varied practices, but always embodies the artist’s attitude about creating. Furthermore, to act with style and intention in creating articulates and shares the position of the artist. Pushing the boundaries of art informs not only making art but also seeing it. 

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Michael Janis: “A Light Touch In Passing” Fused and Cast Glass with glass powder imagery and steel frame, 23″ x 36″

Splash: Attitude and Process
November 6 – December 30, 2017
Brentwood Arts Exchange at Gateway Arts Center
3901 Rhode Island Ave., Brentwood, MD 20722

Opening Reception: Saturday, November 11, 5-8 pm

On view: November 6 – December 31, 2017

Featuring works by: Maryamm Abdullah, James Coley, Felicia Cowser, Lindsay D’Andelet, Elliott Hamilton, Tom Hill, Paul Hrusa, Michael Janis, Khadija Khaalis, Aselin Lands, Rashad Muhammad, Sarah O’Donoghue, John Paradiso, Jose Piedra, Mary Celestine Ranney-Howes, Federico Ruiz, Tina Silverman, Ronnie Spiewak, Kim Thorpe and Acquaetta Williams.

Juried by Ginevra Shay – an artist and curator living and working in Baltimore, Maryland. She is the Artistic Director of The Contemporary Museum, and curator of Rose Arcade, founder of the Current Space Community Darkroom and Photo Program, and was recently artist and curator in-residence at Gallery Four. She has worked with a number of private collections and Baltimore institutions, including The Jewish Museum of Maryland and The Afro-American Newspaper, to aid with research and assist with digital archiving processes. She has exhibited her own work at Present Company (NYC), LVL3 (Chicago), Rock512Devil (Baltimore), The Finnish Museum of Photography (Finland), Notre Dame University (Maryland), John Hansard Gallery (United Kingdom), Galleri Vasli Souza (Sweden), and Flying Object (Mass). Her work and publications are in the libraries of Yale University Art Gallery Library, The International Center for Photography, Indie Photobook Library, Houston Center for Photography, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Ginevra has lectured widely at The Maryland Film Festival, The Queens Museum, Oakland Museum, National College Art Association Conference, the Society for Photographic Education National Conference, and American Philosophical Society. She has been a visiting artist at Rutgers, Maryland Institute College of Art, and Towson University. In 2013, she selected as “30 Creative Minds Under 30” by Maryland Art Place.

Call for Entries – Splash: Attitude and Process

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Call for Entries

Splash: Attitude and Process
The 2017 Prince George’s County Juried Exhibition
Presented at the Brentwood Arts Exchange

Click here to download as a PDF

DEADLINE TO APPLY
Saturday, September 9

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.

PGAHC PURCHASE PRIZE
In recognition and support of the county’s creative community, the Prince George’s Arts and Humanities Council will purchase one artwork from this year’s Prince George’s County Juried Exhibition.

APPLICATION
Applications must be submitted at: m-ncppc.submittable.com
No other forms of application will be accepted.

EXHIBITION THEME
Splash: Attitudes and Process seeks artworks that embody attitude and style. Attitudes are catalysts for new processes and new ways of making. To use any material, or even to make work that is ethereal, arises from widely varied practices, but always embodies the artist’s attitude about creating. Furthermore, creating with style and intention reveals an artist’s point of view. Pushing the boundaries of art informs not only making art but also seeing it. This exhibition celebrates all of those things.

JUROR – GINEVRA SHAY
Ginevra Shay is an artist and curator living and working in Baltimore, Maryland. She is the Artistic Director of The Contemporary Museum, and curator of Rose Arcade, founder of the Current Space Community Darkroom and Photo Program, and was recently artist and curator in-residence at Gallery Four. She has worked with a number of private collections and Baltimore institutions, including The Jewish Museum of Maryland and The Afro-American Newspaper, to aid with research and assist with digital archiving processes. She has exhibited her own work at Present Company (NYC), LVL3 (Chicago), Rock512Devil (Baltimore), The Finnish Museum of Photography (Finland), Notre Dame University (Maryland), John Hansard Gallery (United Kingdom), Galleri Vasli Souza (Sweden), and Flying Object (Mass).

TIMELINE
September 9 – Deadline to apply
September 20 – Artists notified
October 21, 23-26 – Artists drop off work at Brentwood Arts Exchange
November 6 – Exhibition Opens to the public
November 1 – Opening reception
December 30 – Last day of exhibition
Jan 3-5 – Artists pick up artworkADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Any questions or for additional information, please contact:

Phil Davis, Countywide Arts Coordinator
7833 Walker Drive
Greenbelt, MD 20770
301-446-3225
phil.davis@pgparks.com

Laurel Library’s Grand Opening Features Public Art Sculpture by Washington Glass Studio

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Washington Glass Studio sculpture at the new Laurel Library. Photo by Pete Duvall.

The Washington Glass Studio (WGS) has recently completed installation of a community based site specific public art commission for Prince George’s County Laurel Library. The new building was designed by Grimm + Parker Architects, with the grand opening of the new library scheduled for November 28, 2016. Features of the spectacular new library include an inset floor area in the children’s section where kids will get to peer at a replica velociraptor skeleton through the glass floor. Just a few miles away from the library site is Dinosaur Park, where scientists work to excavate fossils from the early Cretaceous period. Dinosaur imagery was also included as a theme running through the glass artwork panels.

WGS design proposal sketch

WGS design proposal sketch.

WGS was awarded the commission to make the outdoor sculpture at the front of the new library by Maryland’s Prince George’s Arts and Humanities Council (PGAHC). The Art in Public Places Program RFQ sought out artwork that would provide world class artwork for Prince George’’s County residents and visitors. 

WGS proposal for the project was a 17’H internally illuminated glass and steel sculpture that incorporates glass panels made by the community,residents and stakeholders of the Laurel, MD community. The engineering of the steel framework involved detailed analysis of the structure and its components. WGS worked with structural engineer Holbert Apple to ensure the integrity of the design.

Detailed analysis of sculpture was part of the design development process.

Detailed analysis of sculpture was part of the design development process.

Over 100 glass inset panels were made during the series of workshops held at the Washington Glass School. The Baltimore Sun newspaper featured a story by reporter Lisa Philip about the process. 

A series of community glass quilting bees were held at the Washington Glass School for the library during the summer.

A series of community glass quilting bees were held at the Washington Glass School for the library during the summer. Photo by Lisa Philip/Baltimore Sun

 

 

The artwork’s title “Involve Me and I Learn”  is based on a phrase attributed to US Founding Father Benjamin Franklin (who also opened the first US public library). The name references the engagement of the community. The neighborhood and the Laurel Library supporters had joined in making the individual glass panels in workshops at the Washington Glass School.Laurel_Library.artists.washington_glass_school.studio.sculpture.public_art.project.american.great.commission.site_specific.fused.jpg

The resulting variations in each tile’s imagery and technique embody the artist’s concept in bringing the people from the diverse community together to create a cohesive and vibrant sculpture. 

 

 

The artwork inset kiln-formed glass panels express the personality and the  individuality of everyone involved in the project.

The artwork’s internally illuminated kiln-formed glass panels express the personality and the individuality of everyone involved in the project. Photo by Pete Duvall

Project  Information

Artist: Washington Glass Studio 

Design Team: Laurie Brown, Michael Janis, Tim Tate, Erwin Timmers, Audrey Wilson. With Josh Hershman and Pierre Browning.

Structural Engineer : Holbert Apple Assoc Inc 

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Photo by Pete Duvall

Laurel Library
507 7th Street, Laurel, MD 20707

Grand Opening / Dedication – 10:30 AM, Monday, November 28, 2016 – All are invited!

Washington Glass Studio Installs Laurel Library Public Art

The steel structure is lowered by crane onto the foundation at the new Laurel Library

The steel structure is lowered by crane onto the foundation at the new Laurel Library

Washington Glass Studio installed their outdoor sculpture at the new Laurel, Maryland library. The 16′ H tower titled “Involve Me and I Learn” has over 100 glass tiles mounted in the steel framework. The artwork’s title – attributed to Ben Franklin – references the engagement of the community. The neighborhood and the Laurel Library supporters had joined in making the individual glass panels in workshops at the Washington Glass School. The Baltimore Sun had earlier in the year covered the story of the glass quilting bee workshops.

Siteworks for the sculptural and architectural application of glass were completed and the risky business of installing the works just took place.

Audrey Wilson rises to meet the challenge.

Audrey Wilson rises to meet the challenge.

Washington Glass Studio Co-Director Erwin Timmers bolts the steel framed glass panels to the main structure.

Washington Glass Studio Co-Director Erwin Timmers bolts the steel framed glass panels to the main structure.

The panels were fitted and bolted in place and the internal LED lighting was installed. Prince George’s Art in Public Places has advised that the official opening of the stunning library is set for November 28th.laurel (2)

Laurel Library Public Art – Final Workshop for Community Glass Components

Washington Glass Studio was commissioned by Prince George’s County to create the public artwork for the new Laurel Library- scheduled to open this Fall – held a series of community glass-making workshops that had the area residents participate in making the elements of the glass and steel artwork. The Baltimore Sun newspaper covered one of the May workshops, and the final workshop wrapped up today.  

The final community group had a great time designing and creating glass artwork that will part of the outdoor sculpture – created like a community quilting-bee. Updates on the project will be coming soon!

The novice glass artists take to the medium like... well... a frog to water!

The novice glass artists take to the medium like… well… a frog to water!

Each community resident brought their artistic vision to be realized in glass.

Each community resident brought their artistic vision to be realized in glass.

The glass components will be secured into a powdercoat steel frame support.

The glass components will be secured into a powdercoat finished steel frame support.

Maryland’s Prince George’s County Leadership Council Tour

Maryland’s Prince George’s County Leadership Council toured the Washington Glass School as part of their meeting. Co-Director Erwin Timmers discussed with the Council ways that the public art process could integrate the community in the design and fabrication of art. The tour continued onward to next door Otis Street Arts Project.

Erwin Timmers outlines the process of involving community in the design of public art to the Leadership Council tour.

Erwin Timmers outlines the process of involving community in the design of public art to the Leadership Council tour.

Prince George's County Leadership Council discuss public art process.

Prince George’s County Leadership Council discuss the public art process and how it can be integrated into the public spaces and buildings.

Gateway Open Studio Tours – Saturday May 14th!!

Map of Gateway Open Studio Tours 2016

Map of Gateway Open Studio Tours 2016

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The 12th Annual Gateway Open Studio Tour in the Prince George’s County Gateway Arts District -home to one of the DC metro area’s most innovative and creative artist community – opens this Saturday, May 14th, 2016, from 12-5 p.m. Later – from 5-8pm, the Gateway Arts Center will host an After Party and an Opening Reception at the 39th Street Gallery.

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Veta Carney, “Coyote”, glass, mixed media

Gateway Arts District artists, studios and galleries will open their doors to the public – with many studios featuring live demonstrations and performances.

Come to the Washington Glass School and Studio and see works by WGS artists: Erwin Timmers, Audrey Wilson, Michael Janis, Laurie Brown, John Henderson, Tim Tate, Diane Cabe, Veta Carney, Trish Kent and Debra Ruzinsky.

 

Washington Glass Studio Engages Community With Laurel Library’s Public Art

Washington Glass School & Studio

Prince George’s County’s Art in Public Places promotes community interaction in the creation of the new artwork sculpture at the Laurel Library. Residents of the area are invited to the Glass School to create the glass panels in the sculpture.

Prince George’s County, MD, recently awarded Washington Glass Studio the commission to create of one of the public art sculptures destined to become a landmark at the new Laurel Library, currently completing construction.

WGS is working with Arts in Public Places (AIPP) –  Prince George’s County Government’s public art program that contributes to the place-making and aesthetic significance of Capital Improvement Projects. AIPP creates percent-for-art initiatives that integrate works-of-art into new and (substantially) renovated County buildings as part of construction costs of the facility.

Proposal sketch by Washington Glass Studio.

Proposal sketch by Washington Glass Studio.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Laurel Library public art process involves community and facility stakeholders, artists, construction professionals and local government officials. Community glass making workshops have been held, and a there has been a great start on the artwork! 

The new glass artists lay out their designs.

The new glass artists lay out their designs.

The first batch of fused glass artworks is reviewed in the studio.

The first batch of fused glass artworks is reviewed in the studio.

One of the artworks references the new library’s lighted dinosaur footprints leading to the Discovery Island children’s room that will have a glass floor exposing a full-size velociraptor skeleton replica. The room will hold two children’s seating areas, one within a large dinosaur rib cage and the other decorated with volcano lava and light effects.

Prince George’s County Puts Its Money Where Its Mouth Is

>Maryland’s Prince George’s County Arts and Cultural Heritage Division had made purchases of artwork for their permanent collection. Congratulations to Ric Garcia, Celestine Ranney Howes and our own Robert Kincheloe

“Night Wave” (with detail showing texture) by Robert Kincheloe, fused glass

Robert’s work “Night Waves” is fused glass that references iconic prints in his version of ‘meta-art’

Prince George’s County has further demonstrated its commitment to high-level support for the arts.

Congratulations to Prince George’s County and the artists!