Public Art | Washington Glass Studio

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

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

WGS Artist John Henderson Creates Baltimore Public Art

Posted on September 22, 2019 by admin |

WGS Resident Artist, John Henderson, has been creating artwork that enriches the Baltimore area.

Holy Nativity/St. John’s Development Corporation received a competitive Neighborhood Initiative Competitive Grant from Baltimore City to install outdoor sculptures along Park Heights Avenue, in Baltimore City.

John Henderson has been creating public art as part of a beautification initiative targeting vacant lots and communities undergoing redevelopment.

The Project “Arts on the Avenue” is a place-based public art beautification initiative targeting vacant lots and communities undergoing redevelopment. Artists will design and paint Ndebele design motifs on transparent panels that will be inserted into a steel frame. Ndebele design originates from South Africa and is still practiced today. The Ndebele technique is primarily geometric using vibrant colors and symbols.

Each sculptural steel frame will contain a solar device that will provide illumination at sunset.

John Henderson

John Henderson, a studio artist at the WGS and resident of Maryland, is leading this project. John and fellow artist Sean Hennessey recently completed an outdoor obelisk titled “Inspire” through a BOPA/Lots Alive competitive grant from Baltimore City.

Posted in Baltimore, john hendersen, john henderson, Public Art

Arts & Healing at Inova Schar Cancer Institute

Posted on July 9, 2019 by admin |

The dedication of the Joan Hisaoka Healing Arts Gallery at the Inova Schar Cancer Institute in Fairfax, VA took place Monday, July 8.

Inova Schar Cancer Institute located at 8081 Innovation Park Drive, Fairfax, VA 22031

The Arts & Healing Program at the Inova Schar Cancer Institute, a department of Inova Fairfax Hospital, is a collaboration with the Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, and uses art in its many forms to help support people in treatment and recovery and their loved ones. This innovative program includes a robust permanent art collection and ongoing exhibitions, performing arts events, and other workshops.

Opening dedication ceremony of the Arts & Healing program at the Inova Schar Cancer Institute.

The Arts & Healing Program is a resource for families, loved ones and the community to support Inova Schar’s core mission and philosophy to provide patient-centered care. New acquisitions and special site-specific artworks many DC area artists – including WGS’ Michael Janis, Tim Tate, and Allegra Marquart are in the new collection as well as works by Foon Sham, Valerie Theberge, Alan Binstock, Wendy Ross, and Susan Hostetler.

Artists Alan Binstock and Valerie Theberge with Arts Director Shanti Norris.

Sculpture by Foon Sham at the new Inova Schar Cancer Institute in Fairfax, VA.

The Joan Hisaoka Healing Arts Gallery at Inova Schar Cancer Institute is dedicated to exhibiting fine art that explores the innate connection between healing and creativity. Through a rotating exhibition schedule, the gallery features contemporary artists that address a diversity of significant themes, including spirituality, social change, multiculturalism, health, environmentalism and community.

One of the large commissioned artworks is a site-specific installation work by glass sculptor Michael Janis. The Washington Glass School blog has asked Michael to outline the work’s meanings and the processes he used to create the monumental recognition wall.

Dwight Schar Recognition Wall at Inova Schar Cancer Institute

Inspired by the story of Dwight Schar, founder and chairman of homebuilding and mortgage giant NVR, and donation by he and his wife to develop the cancer research institute that now bears their names, I worked at creating glass pieces that have both visual and spatial depth. Mr Schar’s mother died very young, lacking of good healthcare, and Mr Schar saw the creation of a cancer center and affording them the equipment and facilities needed to advance their treatments and research as a way to repay the community that supported his home building company.

Artist Michael Janis talks to the tour group about his unusual glass technique.

The artwork installation is a tribute to his history and largesse. A rendering of Dwight Schar made of crushed glass powder overlaps cast glass squares that depict references homes and community, as well as the advancements that science and research could bring to the world. In the center of the artwork installation, cancer awareness ribbons are the focal point, in its natural clear state, allowing all symbolic cancer awareness colors to be seen within. The end framing panels are a special iridescent glass that has many colors that shift intensity depending on the viewer perspective.

Inova Schar Center made in kiln-cast glass.

Inova Schar Cancer Institute fired in kiln-cast glass.

The central portrait of Mr Schar is made from crushed black glass powder. The fine powder was carefully manipulated with scalpel and brushes to form the detailed likeness and took many hours and kiln firings to complete.

The clear glass ribbons have become the symbol of the new Inova Schar Institute – and Washington Glass School was later commissioned to make smaller versions of the ribbons as commemorative sculptures for valued benefactors and volunteers to the new Cancer Center.

Lisa Ellis receives recognition for her work in creating the arts program at Inova Schar Institute.

Posted in architectural application glass, kiln fused glass, kiln-formed glass, Lillian Fitzgerald, michael janis, mike janis, narrative glass, painterly glass, process, Public Art, recognition award, sgraffito technique, sgrafitto, shanti norris, smith center, smith farm, studio glass, twenty first century glass, стекло искусство новое, فن الزجاج الجديد, アメリカのガラス芸術, 玻璃艺术

Public Art for Peppermill Community Center Brings Residents to Washington Glass School

Posted on April 8, 2019 by admin |

Peppermill Village’s new community center will feature a glass and steel sculpture inset with glass artwork made by the community.

Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), Department of Parks and Recreation awarded Washington Glass Studio the commission to design, fabricate and install a work of art in the form of a sculpture that has the potential to become a landmark for the Peppermill Community. The new soaring glass and steel structure will be internally illuminated and feature glass panels made by the Peppermill community. The first of three planned community glass-making workshops took place this weekend at the Washington Glass School.

The Washington Glass School was filled with residents of Peppermill Village, MD – all making glass and having a great time!

We will post more photos of the workshops and the progress of the sculpture as the work proceeds!

Everyone got into expressing themselves in glass and telling their story for the public art sculpture.

Co-Director Erwin Timmers enthuses about fused glass to the Peppermill group.

Posted in erwin timmers, fused glass sculpture, glass and steel sculpture, glass art, m-ncppc, Public Art | Tagged peppermill village community center

Demystifying Public Art Symposium at UMUC

Posted on February 5, 2019 by admin |

M-NCPPC/Prince George’s County Department of Parks and Recreation/Arts and Cultural Heritage Division; Prince George’s Arts and Humanities Council; and University of Maryland University College Arts Program invite artists and other art professionals to a two-day symposium:

Demystifying Public Art

February 16–17, 2019

Public art—art outside traditional galleries or museums—is present everywhere, but many artists have limited knowledge of the various factors involved in participating in public art projects. The goal of this symposium is to demystify the process by bringing together people active in the public art field to address these factors.

The first day provides an introduction to public art through panel discussions geared to all levels of artistic experience. The second day offers a deeper dive into specific components of public art projects. Special closing events will take place on both days. This symposium will give attendees the opportunity to network and connect with presenters and each other.

Selected Panel Topics

Sponsors of Public Art
What Every Public Artist Needs to Know
Access and Entry Points: Testimonials of Various Artists
Public Art Resources
Public Art as the Art of Collaboration
Public Art Solicitation and Budget Documents
From Proposal to Fabrication: Making Public Art
Public Art and Community Engagement

Registration and on-site parking are free, but space is limited.

Click HERE to register online.

For more information, e-mail or go to:

Alec Simpson at Alec.Simpson@pgparks.com or arts.pgparks.com
Rhonda Dallas at rdallas@pgahc.org or pgahc.org
Eric Key at eric.key@umuc.edu or umuc.edu/art

Location

University of Maryland University College
3501 University Boulevard East, Room 2001
Adelphi, MD 20783 | Directions

Posted in Prince George's County Arts Council, Public Art, UMUC

Sean Hennessy & John Henderson “Inspire” Public Art Sculpture

Posted on November 26, 2018 by admin |

“Inspire” public art sculpture by Sean Hennessey and John Henderson for Baltimore’s Lots Alive Outdoor Community Art Program.

The Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts and the Baltimore Office of Sustainability’s Baltimore Green Network outdoor community art program, “Lots Alive” sought the creation of temporary outdoor artworks sited on vacant lots along Baltimore’s Park Heights Ave. Designed in partnership with Mayor Catherine E. Pugh’s Baltimore Green Network, the “Lots Alive” project aims to breathe life into underutilized vacant spaces through creative interventions. Six artists were selected and Sean Hennessey and John Henderson collaborated (as H&H Collective) on a cast glass and steel sculpture titled ‘Inspire’.

Artist Sean Hennessey installs the sculpture on site.

Artist Sean Hennessey installs the sculpture “Inspire” on site.

The work created is an internally illuminated, four-sided obelisk with panels mounted into the framework. Using cast glass, Sean and John have created a strong sculpture for Baltimore. John created dimensional imagery using Adinkra symbols. For Sean – the work is a bit of a farewell love letter to Baltimore as he moves to Seattle. This is one of the only pieces Sean had shown in Baltimore City since his first solo show in 2006. His narrative concept for the artwork story was to have the bottom panels on the sculpture represent a wanting or dream, with the upper panels represent fulfillment.

Detail of cast glass inset panel in H&H Collective sculpture “Inspire”.

The sculpture has solar powered LED lighting to make the artwork command attention at night. The artwork is located at 4215 Park Heights Avenue, Baltimore, MD.

View of sculpture “Inspire” located at 4215 Park Heights Ave, Baltimore, MD.

Posted in glass and steel sculpture, john henderson, Public Art, sean hennessey

WGS On Camera

Posted on March 14, 2018 by admin |

Washington Glass School was approached by a new residential development in the area – Studio 3807 – to talk about how Washington Glass School connects with community. Directors Tim Tate and Michael Janis talked with the film crew about the public art created by the Studio:

Posted in michael janis, mike janis, outdoor glass art, Public Art, studio, Tim Tate, washington glass school, Washington School of Glass, wgs projects | Tagged studio 3807

WGS Installs Art At Prince Georges William Beanes Community Center

Posted on November 12, 2017 by admin |

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 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.

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!

Posted in commissioned glass sculpture, LED, maryland, parks and recreation, pg county, Prince George's County, Public Art, suitland, william beanes

The Process: WGS Creates Public Art For West Palm Beach Intl Airport

Posted on March 10, 2017 by admin |

2 Agencies + 2 Unique Identities = 1 Integrated Artwork Solution

Detail from public art sculptures by Washington Glass Studio for West Palm Beach International Airport

Details from sculptures by Washington Glass Studio for West Palm Beach International Airport

Palm Beach County‘s Art in Public Places awarded Washington Glass Studio (WGS) the commission to design and fabricate integrated public art sculptures as part of the renovation of an existing facility for the new headquarters for Palm Beach County’s Tourist Development Council (TDC) and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO) after a Call for Artists held in 2014. The building – a five story 61,000 square foot facility is located at one the most visible intersections in Palm Beach County, adjacent to the Palm Beach International Airport and can be seen from departing and arriving flights.

Site for public art at West Palm Beach Airport

Sites for public art sculptures outlined in Call for Artists @ Florida’s West Palm Beach Airport

Agency 1 – Tourist Development Council (TDC)

The Tourist Development Council asked that their site-specific sculpture reinforce their brand and help show that Palm Beach is a prime tourism destination in one of the top tourism states in the country. The TDC includes Discover Palm Beach County, the Film and Television Commission and the Sports Commission. The TDC also provides oversight to the Palm Beach County Convention Center and the Palm Beach County Environmental Resources Management Department and their Beach Re-nourishment Program.

Agency 2 – Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO)

The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office has approximately 4,000 dedicated and professional staff that are committed to protecting the public, and enhancing the quality of life in the community while administering agency operations. The project site will house PBSO Admin services include Central Records, Human Resources, Labor Relations, Risk Management and Graphics.

WGS Director Erwin Timmers reviews the sites with representatives from PBSO and TDC in October 2014.

After consulting with the different agencies, WGS began schematic design of the sculpture works and the integration of the work with the architecture of the building. WGS sought to utilize color as a strong identification element that would help define the building’s new entry sequences.

Design concepts for the site are presented and reviewed with the end users.

Preliminary design concepts for the site were reviewed with the end users.

The artwork was reviewed and modified as the project team were consulted and fabrication details were outlined. Structural details of the aluminum framework were integrated into the design. Florida has very high wind design loads that had an impact on the artwork design and working again with structural engineer Holbert Apple Associates ensured that the hurricane loads would pose no problem for the artworks. Additionally, the designs would have to allow for shipping from the Washington, DC area glass studio down to sunny Palm Beach Florida and thus the design incorporated modular aspects to allow for fabrication and shipping.

Design of the artwork included detailed structural engineering analysis.

An additional aspect for the project design was the inclusion and integration of artwork and the building’s architectural re-design. Building signage, lighting, paving, and landscaping aspects were to be part of the artist’s proposal. The original building dates from the 1980’s and offered the ideal blank slate background, and allowed for some experimentation with blocks of color that would tie the art with the architecture.

West Palm Beach building façade color test study.

The building artwork design contract included elements of landscape design, and WGS artists liked creating new places to have glass incorporated. Color-coordinated glass “pebbles” (surface-seeded aggregate) were mixed into the concrete paving surrounding the artwork at the base of each. With great power comes with great responsibility.

Tourism Office concrete paving sample. The glass chips were color coordinated to the artwork.

Paving slip resistance, hurricane wind loads on glass and steel, in-ground lighting values – all were part of the artist’s control and the studio was challenged to grow and develop our knowledge base.

Design: Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO)

The design of the PBSO artwork had to showcase how the Sheriff’s office was an important partner to the community and reflect the values of the department. Aspects of the Sheriff would be presented in bas-relief cast glass panels mounted in sturdy structural aluminum framework. The colors of the PBSO were to form the basis of the sculpted glass artwork. The greens and golds would include a stripe of blue glass that would represent the “thin blue line” that symbolizes the relationship of law enforcement in the community.

Sheriff department concept sketch.

The location of the sculpture was important – the artwork would help define the entry to the new Sheriff’s office, and the artwork would also help shield views down along the building that are more private outdoor spaces.

Detail of one of the cast glass panels for the PBSO artwork. The clasped hands represent helping community.

The finished work has some incredibly detailed cast panels that are works of art in and by themselves.

View of the new Sheriff Office artwork – titled “Guardian” by WGS.

Design: Tourist Development Council (TDC)

DPB-TOURISM-RGB

Palm Beach’s Tourist Development Council (TDC) has oversight responsibility for the marketing agencies which include Discover The Palm Beaches, the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County, the Palm Beach County Film & Television Commission and the Palm Beach County Sports Commission along with the Palm Beach County Convention Center. A number of proposals were presented to the TDC and the selected version was for an illuminated 17′-0″ tower – ultimately to be located on a new plaza area at the building entry. The color palatte of the “Discover the Palm Beaches” campaign would be the basis of the artwork color direction. The glass design direction taken by the artist team was to abstract elements from each of the agencies that make up the TDC.

The TDC artwork, titled “Guidepost” is situated on a new plaza created at the building entry.

The structural requirements for the artwork framework (to be made in aluminum) required a substantial cross section for the members. The strong wind loads in coastal Florida required a close supervision of the metal design and fabrication.

Artist Michael Janis begins creation of the colorful glass inset panels.

Erwin Timmers works on the TDC art while Patricia and Audrey supervise.

Dave Dolan of Palm Beach County is part of the review process of the structural metal at the shop.

The glass artwork integrated into the metal structure began in the summer of 2016. Each glass inset was coated with a special coating to protect the structure in hurricane force winds. The installation of the artwork began in late 2016 and was completed in early 2017, giving the WGS crew some time in the beautiful Florida sunshine.