sculpture | Washington Glass Studio

DC’s MLK Jr Library Features Washington Glass Studio on Public Art

Posted on May 3, 2022 by admin |

The District of Columbia Public Library (DCPL) is a dynamic source of information, programs, books and services, among them is their Makers Program, that includes a Fabrication Lab. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library’s “Fab Lab”, complete with 3D printers, a laser cutter, soldering equipment, other machines is part of a new movement of public libraries embracing the “maker movement.” DCPL’s maker program is the largest of its kind in a public library, as they see the program as a force to bring together makers, artists, and creative people of all types and from all fields and backgrounds, encouraging cross-disciplinary cooperation. As part of the public engagement, the DCPL Makers & DIY Program is hosting a series of artists lectures at the newly refurbished MLK Memorial Library auditorium.

Image of Community workshop at Washington Glass School.

On Saturday, May 21, 2022, from 1:00pm – 2:00pm, Michael Janis, co-director of the Washington Glass School, will give a lecture on how the Washington Glass Studio created the “Green Community Gateway” with art made with the help of the community in Ward 7.

The “Green Community Gateway”, public art sculpture marks the symbolic entrance to the Kenilworth/Parkside section of DC’s Ward 7. Through a series of glass “quilting bees”, Washington Glass Studio brought together neighborhood residents, students of the high school, and the staff of the newly constructed Unity Healthcare facility to make glass art that would become an integral part of the arch.

This lecture program will take place in the auditorium at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G St. NW, Washington, DC 20001. Register at bit.ly/labsclasses.

The renovated Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Washington, DC, originally designed by Mies van der Rohe, the landmark library was rejuvenated by Mecanoo and OTJ Architects.

Posted in 21st century glass, 21st century sculpture, community entrepreneurial model, contemporary art glass, contemporary craft, contemporary sculpture, cool glass, DC, erwin timmers, fab lab, kiln fused glass, kiln-formed glass, lecture, library, maker lab, martin luther king jr, michael janis, mike janis, mkl jr, Public Art, sculpture, twenty first century sculpture, washington glass school, Washington School of Glass, wgs, wgs projects, стекло искусство новое, 玻璃艺术, 美国玻璃艺术家 | Tagged artist talk

WGS Featured Artist: Carmen Lozar

Posted on July 6, 2020 by admin |

CLICK IT! Featured Artist: Carmen Lozar

Carmen Lozar‘s glass sculptures inspires and provoke imagination. Telling stories has always been her primary objective. Some narratives are sad, funny, or thoughtful but artworks are always about celebrating life. Carmen lives in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois where she maintains a studio and is a member of the art faculty at Illinois Wesleyan University. She has taught at Pilchuck Glass School, Penland School of Craft, Pittsburgh Glass School, Appalachian Center for Crafts, The Chrysler Museum, and the Glass Furnace in Istanbul, Turkey. She has had residencies at the Corning Museum of Glass and Penland School of Craft. Although she travels abroad to teach and share her love for glass – most recently to Turkey, Italy, and New Zealand – she always returns to her Midwestern roots.

Washington Glass School blog catches up with Carmen as her work is part of the WGS Contemporary online exhibit “CLICK-IT!”

Carmen Lozar

Washington Glass School (WGS): Describe your artwork method/process.

Carmen Lozar: I work with rods and tubes of borosilicate glass at a torch. Flameworking lends itself to small intimate pieces, the type I most enjoy making. The process requires concentration, years of skill building and many, many generous mentors who are willing to share their knowledge.

Caremen Lozar, “Bubble Gum”, 2019, Flameworked glass, found object, 3″x 2″x 6″

WGS: Describe your work in the show and highlight aspects that the viewers should understand about the work.

Carmen Lozar: The work is the show is meant to be intimate and accessible, highlighting human follies in a lighthearted way. The bubble gum pieces are about the sticky messes we continually put ourselves in but also the ridiculous and stretchy nature of glass as a material. To me, much of the work is both funny and sad.

The ketchup and mustard piece, Fight, is about the continual small spats that my daughters engage in daily. I know that they love each other and work well together but this does not stop them from ongoing sibling rivalry. This piece makes light of their arguments knowing they will pass and, in a way, preserving my sanity.

Carmen Lozar, “Fight”, Flameworked glass and found object. 3″H x 8″L x 2″D

WGS: How have you handled the Covid lockdown?

Carmen Lozar: I have been oscillating between enjoying a quiet summer and completely freaking out. There is so much to process and digest that I am sure the landscape of what we make will change as a result. I believe an entirely new aesthetic will result as a product of the pandemic and unrest.

Image from Carmen Lozar’s sketchbook.

WGS: Do you do a lot of planning in your work – or is there an element of chance while working?

Carmen Lozar: I do a lot of planning before I begin a new artwork, usually beginning with several drawings in my sketchbook. I usually stick to the drawing/idea pretty closely although if there are too many repetitive parts in the piece I will simplify. I have a short attention span and making the same objects over and over, while I love the way it looks, is difficult for me.

WGS: if you were not an artist – what would you be?

Carmen Lozar: An allergist.

WGS: What is your rule of thumb in determining when a work is finished?

Carmen Lozar: You get a crazy wonderful rush of adrenaline that you cannot find anywhere else!

Click here to jump to Carmen Lozar’s work in CLICK-IT!
Click HERE to jump to the show.

Posted in carmen lozar, click-it, flamework, glass, glass art, glass sculpture, lampworking, sculptural flamework, sculpture, torch work, torchwork, wgs contemporary

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

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

Posted on November 22, 2016 by admin |

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 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.

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. 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.

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

玻璃艺术雕塑 WGS_Laurel Library.MD.aipp.washington_glass_studio.public_art.sculpture.site.specific.sustainable.design.usa.jpg

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!

Posted in american studio glass, anything photographic. anythingphoto.net, architectural application glass, Art In Public Places, contemporary art glass, glass and steel, glass and steel sculpture, glass architecture., kiln fused glass, kiln-formed glass, laurel, light sculpture, Prince George's County, Prince George's County Arts Council, Public Art, sculpture, studio art glass, twenty first century sculpture, warm glass, Washington School of Glass | Tagged Grimm + Parker

Washington Glass Studio Installs Laurel Library Public Art

Posted on November 11, 2016 by admin |

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.

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.

Posted in american glass, architectural application glass, Art In Public Places, contemporary art glass, glass and steel sculpture, laurel, library of, maryland, Prince George's County, Prince George's County Arts Council, Public Art, sculpture, twenty first century sculpture

Witness Tim Tate’s Infinite Mirror Sculpture

Posted on July 12, 2016 by admin |

Artist Tim Tate has been pulling traditional craft into new realms and depths. Tim shared his newest series “Witnesses of Wonders” and the work is incredible. In this series,Tim has been using elements that were 3-D printed at Catholic University’s modeling department combined with infinity mirrors to expand the sensation of unlimited space in the artwork.

From Tim’s artist statement about his series:

Tim Tate, “21st Century Guernica”; Glass, Cast Images, LED; 36″ x 36 x 4″. In this piece a ring of translucent refugee boats float in the center, all with no where to turn to. The center ring is shared with red poppies, the symbol for war remembrance in England. The outer edge is made up of individual images from the powerful Picasso painting entitled Guernica.

“I try to entice the viewer to look deeply into and completely experience my windows into alternative dimensions. My works create an optical and bodily illusion of infinity through apparently limitless space. There is an intimacy created by viewing deeply into a circular opening, as if peering through a portal to witness another endlessly repeating reality.

Tim Tate, 21st Century Guernica – detail . Said Tim about the imagery of the refugee boats, ” Refugees right now are trying to escape unspeakable atrocities and protect their families who are turned away at country after country. This is the shame of our decade. “

The constant repetition of imagery also speaks to us of timelines: ones that go endlessly into the future or extend endlessly into the past. These repetitions reference society mired into static social patterns, some good, some bad.

Tim Tate. “21st Century Guernica” detail. “Picasso made his painting in mostly tones of black white and gray “to drain the life out of them”. I drenched them in red and returned color to them because this horror is happening right now in this world….in fact this very second.” said Tim Tate.

We look inside these portals as if seeing into a dream, fully realizing that this is but an illusion. But even though we know it is a illusion that should not stop us from freely examining it, and hopefully seeing another world at the same time.

Tim Tate, “The Endless Cycle”; 36 x 36 x 4″; Glass, Aluminum, Poly-Vitro, electronics

Uncomfortable with any single defining time, I prefer sliding through the centuries; from 19th century Victorian techno-fetishism, to mid and late 20th century references to endless mirrors and studio glass to 21st century electronics and political focus. Perhaps all my work can be defined by how uncomfortable I am with definitions.” Tim Tate.

For more images of Tim Tate’s newest works – click HERE to have a look at his website

Tim Tate, “The Endless Cycle”. Said Tim about this work: “For every man shown here, 1000 people died last year because of gun violence. For every gun shown here, a child dies every day. A hard lesson we have to learn from Orlando…..only by joining together can we hope to curtail gun violence.”

Posted in conceptual glass, contemporary art glass, contemporary artwork, contemporary craft, contemporary sculpture, content driven glass, cool glass, fine art, LED, media based art, meta-art, mixed media, sculpture, sculpture now, socially conscious art, Tim Tate | Tagged 3-D, endless mirror, infinity mirror, repeatedly reflected shapes

2015 Winter Sculpture Exhibit and Open Studios!

Posted on December 11, 2015 by admin |

This Saturday, December 12, from noon-5pm is the Washington Glass School’s Winter Holiday Open House! Come in and see what the heck we’ve been doing this past year!

Debra Ruzinsky, kilnformed recycled glass, 2015. Photo credit: Anything Photographic.

Artist Debra Ruzinsky was the only US artist invited to the international Glass Competition held this year in Sweden. Back home, Debra has continued her exploration of new and exciting sculptural forms made from recycled glass. Come see the new works and why she is so excited by this direction for her artwork.

Allegra Marquart “The Princess and the Pea”, 2015, Cast, cut and painted glass shapes wall mounted over a sewn panel, 14″x 28″. Photo Credit: Anything Photographic.

Artist Allegra Marquart will be showing her new Glass and Threads pieces where she is working textile into her narrative compositions. Allegra was one of the artists showcased by Maurine Littleton Gallery at the Chicago SOFA art expo. Allegra will be showing this new work as well as a number of sculptures.

Syl Mathis has had a great year – his work was the hit of many of the area exhibits. He has a number of new works that he made especially for the Winter Sculpture Show.

Syl Mathis, kilnformed glass, mixed media, 2015

Erwin Timmers, “About Time”, blown and fused glass, found objects, steel, LED lighting. Photo credit: Anything Photographic

Artist Erwin Timmers has been busy with so many projects! Erwin has been heading up the Washington Glass Studio’s site specific artwork projects and finds the time to making incredibly thoughtful designs.

Audrey Wilson, “Mapping Intervals of Spacetime”, mixed media, glass, 2015. Photo credit: Anything Photographic.

Audrey Wilson has been going strong! After success in exhibiting at major art fairs like SOFA Chicago and Art Miami, Audrey has been kicking butts and taking names

Tim Tate; cast glass, video

Tim Tate has also been on a big winning streak! He is back from huge Art Basil Miami fairs – and has had some big developments at home – he just moved into his new place in the city.

Tim and all the artists at Washington Glass School will be joined in the Winter Open House by all the surrounding Mt Rainier artist studios. Also open on Saturday will be Artbar, ReCreative Spaces, Otis Street Arts Project, White Point Studio, Orange Door Studios, Tanglewood Works, Blue Door Studios, and more! Nearby Brentwood Arts Exchange has their craft store and will have specialty beer tastings sponsored by Town Center Market.

Washington Glass School Winter Exhibit and Open House

December 12, 2015

Noon – 5pm

3700 Otis Street, Mount Rainier, MD 20712

Posted in open studio, sculpture, washington glass school, Washington School of Glass, winter sculpture exhibit

Richard Jolley’s Magnum Opus

Posted on April 29, 2014 by admin |

A portion of glass artist Richard Jolley’s permanent installation “Cycle of Life”. Photo by Paul Efird.

The biggest event in the Knoxville Museum of Art’s history since the building opened in Tennessee in 1990 – the public unveiling, on May 4^th, 2014, of artist Richard Jolley’s “Cycle of Life: Within the Power of Dreams and the Wonder of Infinity,” a seven-ton, 105-foot wide, 30-foot tall glass sculpture installed in the museum’s Great Hall.

The piece cost $1 million and took Richard and his eight-person staff five years to design and construct; it took another three months to hang. It is Richard’s grandest and most ambitious undertaking. It is also being touted as a turning point for the museum itself, a catalyst for more visitors, more money, and international recognition. It will permanently adorn the Knoxville Museum‘s 3,500-square-foot Great Hall.

Forged in glass and steel, the artwork portrays the epic story of humanity The piece will consist of seven huge glass and steel panels.

Click HERE to jump to Knoxville News Sentinel online photos of the private unveiling.

Posted in sculpture | Tagged glass, KMA, Knoxville, richard jolley

Magically Suspicious Opens @ School 33 Art Center

Posted on June 19, 2012 by Michael Janis |

Robert Kincheloe’s interactive sculpture “Aether – The Magical Element” has motion sensors that activate various components integrated into the different pieces.

Our imaginations question what we see with our eyes, and in turn, our eyes question what we think we perceive. We want to be deceived. We time travel through life, drifting in a vast sea of information and distractions, searching for the spectacular, the mysterious, and the hidden.

Baltimore’s School 33 Art Center presents “Magically Suspicious,” a group exhibition curated by Adam Lister on Friday, June 8 through Saturday, August 18, 2012, designed to confound and amaze.

Detail of “Wind” – the sensors start up fans within the piece and blow out at the viewer.

The exhibit features artwork, such as drawings, paintings, photography, installation and sculptures that draws connections between process-based art, abstraction, and the desire to explore the curious and the unknown. Robert Kincheloe’s newest interactive mixed media sculpture is a standout. His torchworked glass interactive sculptures invite investigation.

Exhibiting artists include John M. Adams, Amy Boone Mccreesh, Remmi Brant, Mei Mei Chang, Bobby Coleman, Bonnie Crawford Kotula, Jamin, Robert Kincheloe, Adam Lister, Greg Minah, Marilyn Minter, Stephanie Rivers, Phillip Scarpone and Willie Wayne Smith.

Detail of Robert Kincheloe’s “Fire” plasma charged torchworked glass sculpture – put your hand to the glass and watch the charge move towards your fingertips.

Magically Suspicious
Opening reception Saturday, July 7, 2012 from 3pm to 6pm.
School 33 Art Center, a facility managed by the Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts,
1427 Light Street, Baltimore, MD.
Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday from noon to 6pm.

Posted in adam lister, Baltimore, interactive, plasma, robert kincheloe, sculpture

The Washington Glass School

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