Morgan Contemporary Glass Pours It On

teapots! 9th invitational exhibition at Pittsburgh’s Morgan Contemporary Glass gallery opens April 10, 2015.  Featuring teapots by more than 60 artists in all media—ceramics, fiber, glass, metal, wood and mixed media, the exhibit captures the versatility of the form. This highly anticipated annual show draws international acclaim, while showcasing an ever-diverse group of invited artists to challenge themselves with the teapot form, taking ingenuity and creativity to new heights. Look for work by glass artists: Devyn Baron-Griley, Robert Bender, Christina Bothwell, Jonathan Capps, Eunsuh Choi, Daniel S. Coyle, Lisa Demagall, Sean Hennessey, Chadd Lacy, Weston Lambert, Ashley McFarland, Kelly O’Dell, Chris Pantos, Angus Powers, Nanci Schrieber-Smith, Demetra Theofanous, Stephanie Trenchard, and many other media artists!  teapots! 9th invitational exhibition continues in the gallery through June 13, 2015. morgan.contemporary.9th.teapots.invitational

New to the gallery, Sean Hennessey combines glass, concrete, photography, drawing, light, video, paint, found objects, wood and steel in his whimsical “Alice in Wonderland” inspired teapot. Being an avid coffee drinker, Hennessey moves from the mug to the teacup in his teacup filled mixed media wall piece. Niche award winner, Demetra Theofanous will be returning to the teapot show to create her second teapot for the gallery. In her piece, she uses her self-developed glass weaving technique to create her narrative, delicate, flame-worked glass that often takes months to complete.  Husband and wife artists Robert Bender and Christina Bothwell will be collaborating again in this year’s annual teapot show. Though they both come from casting backgrounds, their conceptual differences come together to create a whole new approach emanating a sense of curiosity. 

According to gallery owner, Amy Morgan, “Our show continues to surprise me through each artist’s unique interpretation of the teapot. What I find most appealing every year is the subtlety of the form, as some artists express their design concepts through a formal structure, while others do so through abstraction and figural work.”  Each artist greets the challenge of the teapot in a different way. 

Founders of the Kamm Teapot Foundation, Gloria and Sonny Kamm, whose collection is considered one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world, remark, “Teapots have long inspired the inventiveness of creative souls — artists, designers, and architects. This creativity motivated us to collect teapots… in quantity and depth… with a plan to house it in a ‘museum home’ for our entire collection so that in the future can be enjoyed by the public.” morgan.contemporary.art.logo

Sean Hennessey – Wanted Out West

sean.cowboyWashington Glass School Resident Artist Sean Hennessey is a Wanted Man.

Sean will be heading out to speak to the New Mexico Art Alliance in Santa Fe next week, speaking at the William and Joseph Gallery in Santa Fe on March 7. After Santa Fe, Sean continues west to Scottsdale, AZ, where he will speak to the Arizona Glass Alliance on March 9.

Sean also has works featured at Phonex’s Circle 6 Gallery, in a group show with some fantastic artists working in glass including and organized by glass artist Jason Chakravarty.

Circle 6 Gallery, 1424 East Virginia Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85006

Circle 6 Gallery, 1424 East Virginia Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85006

Photos from 21st Century Glass Exhibit

21st Century Glass post studio glass

Maryland’s Salisbury University Galleries had an exhibition of glass artworks reflecting the expanded nature of contemporary sculptural glass art. Curated by Steven Durow, the head of Salisbury University’s glass program, the show featured a diverse roster of artists. 

Sculpture by Sibylle Peretti

Sculpture by Sibylle Peretti

Said Steven about the exhibit’s effect on the students in Salisbury’s glass program:  ” I can say for certain that it was an eye opener for the students here! The students were blown away by the variety of the work. They had no idea that the material had so many possibilities”

Salisbury University exhibit on 21st Century Glass

Salisbury University students got schooled on glass as sculptural medium.

Steven also added that he felt the show was a success, and it was a success solely because of phenomenal  work done by amazing people.  

Artists featured in the show included Davin Ebanks, Sean Hennessey, Michael Janis, Weston Lambert, Carmen Lozar, Sibylle Peretti, Margaret Spacapan, Tim Tate, Erwin Timmers, Audrey Wilson and Walter Zimmerman. 

Glass sculptures by Carmen Lozar

Glass sculptures by Carmen Lozar

21st Century Glass

Washington Glass School At S.O.F.A. Chicago 2014

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Every fall – for the past 20 years – Chicago, IL hosts the internationally acclaimed Sculpture Objects & Functional Art Fair (aka SOFA Chicago).  

The 21st SOFA Chicago will be held November 7 – 9, 2014 at Navy Pier’s Festival Hall where masterworks from top international galleries and dealers from numerous countries will exhibit. Opening night gala preview will be held Thursday, November 6.

Washington Glass School is represented by artists Michael Janis and Allegra Marquart at Maurine Littleton Gallery and Sean Hennessey and Tim Tate are exhibiting at Habatat Galleries Space.

Allegra Marquart, "On The Bus", 2014,  cast glass, enamel OA dimensions 48" L x  24" H.

Allegra Marquart, “On The Bus” (detail), 2014, cast glass, enamel; OA dimensions 48″ L x 24″ H. Photo by Anything Photographic

Allegra Marquart will present a number of her new wall installations. Her new works are not strictly narrative but relate to etchings the artist made years ago when she first moved to the city and began interpreting what she saw on the streets with humor and an eye for juxtaposing disparate situations and individuals.

Sean Hennessey, "The Fur-Suit of Happiness" Cast Glass, Paint, Video (Photo by Anything Photographic)

Sean Hennessey, “The Fur-Suit of Happiness” Cast Glass, Paint, Video
(Photo by Anything Photographic)

Sean Hennessey will be showing his cast glass/ mixed media panels at Habatat Galleries. His new works integrate electronics and videos into the panels.

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Tim Tate, “The Healing Polyopticon”, Poly-Vitro, Glass, Video

Tim Tate will be showing his installation “The Healing Polyopticon” – a 5 ft wide installation consisting of 16 video pieces in varying sizes of cast black frames. Each video is in the form of an eye blinking; each eye different. Surrounding this cluster of 16 video frames are cast black flowers that fills out the 5 ft wide circle . The work is based on a terminal diagnosis he received 30 years ago – and he imagined that he was being kept safe by those who passed before him – all keeping an eye on him thru portals. In this sculpture he portrays people who had effected his life in a positive way…keeping him from passing over, making him safe; imbuing him with self healing energy. This powerful sculpture will at Habatat Galleries space.

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Michael Janis, “Breathing In The Quiet” and “Waiting For The Lover’s Words”, fused glass powder imagery, glass, steel. (Photo by Anything Photographic)

Michael Janis will be showing a number of new works at Maurine Littleton Gallery space. The American Institute of Interior Designers (ASID) chose his work as part of their picks for SOFA Selectswhere highlighted pieces chosen by noted curators, designers, and critics give viewers of the fair way to navigate the huge show.

If you are going to the show – be sure to stop by and visit with the artists – all will be at the Chicago Fair!

Sean Hennessey in Outer Limit

No idea what to do this coming weekend? Here is a fantastic idea!

outer.limit

Head out to Middleburg, Virginia and see Outer Limit, a great art exhibit at the Middleburg Arts Project!

WGS artist Sean Hennessey will be showing an assortment of pieces alongside the work of Scott G. BrooksPeter Wood, Chris Mann , and Jason Alexander. The gallery is pretty new and Outer Limit will be their second exhibit.

Middelburg, VA is a gorgeous little Revolutionary War era town set amongst the Virginia wineries, horse farms, and a ton of cool little shops and restaurants! And it is ridiculously adorable and quaint.

Outer Limit

Opening Night: Friday October 10th 5-8
Meet The Artists: Saturday October 11th 1-6 PM

4 East Federal Street
Middleburg, Va

Middleburg Arts Project
http://www.middleburgarts.org/

Sean Hennessey : Alice Revisioned @ CSM

Sean Hennessey; "Drink Me-tamorphosis"; Glass, Concrete, Paint 24"x12"

Sean Hennessey; “Drink Me-tamorphosis”; Glass, Concrete, Paint
24″x12″

Sean Hennessey’s mixed and multimedia series “Alice Revisioned” will be on exhibit in September at the Tony Hungerfold Memorial Gallery at the College of Southern Maryland.

Sean Hennessey began this work with the desire to add video and lighting to a series of mixed media artwork based on the writings of Lewis Carroll. Working with the stories of Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, he began to explore the relationship of the text and the ideas to his own personal method of storytelling and visual language. Sean brainstormed ideas as he read and reread the text focusing on particular imagery and ideas that popped into his mind. The pieces come from this planning and sketching but adapt to the process of the layout of elements and glass techniques. As he makes his molds, casts the glass, paints objects, adds concrete, and plans and films videos, he lets happenstance and expression shape the direction of the piece. For the sake of unity, he deliberately maintains a consistent palette and overall aesthetic of the series. 

Sean wanted to tell the story of Alice using his own feelings of the importance of ideas and interpretations. The “Drink Me” potion becomes an idea about transformation and metamorphosis. A means of growth that one takes upon themself, even when the potion bottle seems foreboding. The “Mad Tea Party” is about a fight with the entity of Time resulting in the punishment of having to continuously relive teatime, imagined as the never-ending stream of tea pouring into the cup captured in video. The meeting of Alice and the Unicorn represented to him the power of belief and the importance of imagination. What realities do we see in the cloud formations that we stare at in wonder? 

September 8 – October 3

Gallery Talk and Reception:  September 16  |  12 p.m

The Tony Hungerford Memorial Art Gallery is located at the La Plata Campus, Fine Art Center and is open Monday – Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sean Hennessey Glass For Steel Plate

cast.architectural.glass.washington_dc.steel.plate_sean_hennesseySteel Plate, the new bar in the “hot” Brookland section of Washington, DC has opened. One of the trendy gastropub’s artistic flourishes is the cast glass entry – made by WGS Resident Artist Sean Hennessey. Sean (and his company Scenic Artisans, LLC) has been recently completing a number of site‑specific art and design commissions for architectural artwork in a variety of media for places that had a need to create a sophisticated and highly engaging artwork.

sean.hennessey.glass.panel entry

Detail of cast glass for Steel Plate gastropub in Washington, DC.

Steel Plate restaurant/bar is by the owners of Rustik Tavern in the Bloomingdale section of DC – where Sean’s architectural glass is also featured.

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Cast Glass signage panel at Rustik Tavern. photo credit Robert Sullivan

steel_plate.brookland.dc

3523 12th St NE, Washington, DC 20017

The restaurant serves a variety of American-style dishes. The pub promises to provide entertainment in the form of occasional jazz bands, solo artist, and DJ.

Michigan’s Habatat Galleries’ 42 International Glass Invitational Features WGS Artists

habatat.galleries.42nd.invitational

Michigan’s Habatat Galleries presents a grand opening of the oldest and largest glass exhibition in the United States. Over 400 works of contemporary glass art will be on display opening April 26th at 8:00 pm.

tim_tate.Walking_After_Midnight

Tim Tate

Located in Royal Oak, Michigan at Habatat Galleries, 2014 marks the 42nd year of this monumental event. The 100 Artists who participate are from over 23 different countries. This exhibition inspired April as Michigan Glass Month which for over 25 years offers 30 or more glass events held throughout the State.

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Sean Hennessey

Three artists from the Washington Glass School – Sean Hennessey, Michael Janis and Tim Tate – are featured in this year’s exhibit.

HABATAT GALLERIES 4400 Fernlee Ave., Royal Oak, Michigan 4807 Click here to jump to pdf of gallery invite. Email: info@habatat.com www.habatat.com

The.Loves.of.the.plants_mike_janis.sgraffito.glass

Michael Janis

Washington Glass School Winter Holiday Open House Dec 14th

It’s that time of year! The artists, elves and instructors of the Washington Glass School all gather around the warmth of the kilns and invite everyone to celebrate the season. Saturday December 14th, from Noon til 5, come on in to the studio and check out works by some of the hottest and most thoughtful artwork coming from the DC area.

Nancy Donnelly
Syl Mathis
Sean Hennessey

It’s a great time to socialize with the arts community and hang with some of these supastar artists.  

Also visit the adjacent studios – Alonzo Davis and Alec Simpson’s Blue Door studio, Ellyn Weiss’ studio – lots to see!

Next door Flux Studios will have their open studio and 1st Annual “Cups Invitational” – make a day of it!

Washington Glass School 
Holiday Open House
Saturday, December 14th
Noon til 5:00 pm
3700 Otis Street
Mount Rainier, MD 20712

Cup International at Flux Studios.

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Also – Save the Date! Our studio coordinator – Audrey Wilson – has been taking the art world by storm, with great response to her work from shows like Art Miami, the Glass Art Alliance’s “Contemporary Glass from the Heartland” show and the International Glass & Clay show here in DC. Audrey has a solo show here at the Gallery at the Glass School this coming January.

Audrey Wilson

Audrey Wilson Solo: “The Aberrant Collection of the Spuricus Calamus”

Opens January 11, 2014

The Gallery at Washington Glass School

3700 Otis Street, Mount Rainier, MD 20712

Sean Hennessey Solo Exhibit @ DC’s ‘The Dunes’ Opens Oct 4th

Sean Hennessy “The Luxury of Dreams”

The Luxury of Dreams is a series of artworks based on interpretations of dreams submitted to Sean by friends, colleagues, strangers, and social media connections. Using bas-relief cast glass, painting, drawing, and photography, Sean has created a strong and surreal body of works that takes his work to a new level. Based on the situation of the homelessness in DC, this exhibit of dreams will also serve as a fundraiser for charity organization Thrive DC, who perform services for those in need of our Nation’s Capitol.

Sean Hennessey

Sean Hennessey’s “The Luxury of Dreams” came about after a personal experience with a neighborhood homeless man who, with help, was able to turn his life around. Using the crisis of homelessness in our cities came a desire to create an exhibition based on blankets, beds, and shelter. About this, Sean wrote: “I then wondered if the level of security of having a place to sleep affected how we dream. I was thinking about how we all enter the world of dreams, regardless of where we sleep. I thought that I would create a series of works based on the dreams of others. Through conversations … about art and social issues, my idea for The Luxury of Dreams series was born. I started soliciting dreams from friends, colleagues, collectors, other artists, and social media connections.”

Sean Hennessey

Sean works in glass, concrete, steel, light and video, creating narrative content from philosophical, mythological, historical and personal experiences.

Said Sean: “As I was dealing with an uncomfortable issue in the inspiration of this series, and a new way of developing content within my work, I wanted to take a new approach to the creation of the work itself. I decided that I would utilize photography and drawings into glass. After receiving many dreams from friends and strangers I began conceptualizing how I would approach the pieces. At first I thought I would layer photos and drawings with castings of glass Beds and Blankets. I may still create a series in that direction, but I decided for this first series based on dreams that I would pick imagery from the dreams that I felt most connected and relate it to my way of storytelling. Atypical of how I approach a series, each piece will feel different and have different shapes and sizes. I usually like for my series to read like a book, often with each piece the same size and scale; another new way of making work for me.”

The Luxury of Dreams

Opening: Friday, October 4, 7-10pm

Exhibition Dates: October 4-November 15

TheDunes

1402 Meridian Place, NW

Washington, DC 20010

The gallery is located on the second floor. It is 0.3 miles from the Columbia Heights Metro, and there is ample parking in the DC USA building. Click HERE to jump to the event Facebook page.