>North Carolina’s Asheville was named one of AmericanStyle magazine’s “Top 25 Arts Destinations” . This week, another of its top galleries – this time Blue Spiral 1 – opens a show that looks to honor the 50th Anniversary of the American Studio Glass Movement.
WGS is well represented in the list of artists!
Blue Spiral has curated the show with an eye to the future of glass with “compelling sculpture [that] speaks to conceptual and narrative directions the medium takes in the 21st Century”.
Artists include a number from the Washington Glass School extended family – Tim Tate, Sean Hennessey, Michael Janis, Marc Petrovic, Christina Bothwell and Susan Taylor Glasgow.
With Erwin Timmers’ work showing at nearby Bender Gallery – its like a Washington Glass School summer camp in the Blue Ridge Mountains!
The James Renwick Alliance will also host a reception at Artomatic on Saturday, June 2 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM in the JRA Education Room, #1106, on the 11th floor. Many of artists whose work was selected the JRA as recipients of the Award of Excellence will be at the reception – starting around 6 PM. At the Prince George’s County Parks and Recreation Room on the 3rd floor @ 7:30pm, they will announce the Department’s purchases of artwork by Prince George’s County artists for the Department’s permanent collection – for a bit of art excitement!
Sean Hennessey leads a tour of Sculptural Glass at Washington, DC’s Artomatic Art Fair
The Washington DC Metro area has a robust sculptural glass community spearheaded by the Washington Glass School and DC Glassworks. Sean Hennessey, resident artist at the Washington Glass School will be giving tours showcasing select examples of the works coming from these studios, as well as works of other glass artists in the DC region.
Date: Sundays thru June 17, 2012
Time: 3:00 – 4:00 pm
Location: Meet in Lobby of Artomatic @ 1851 S. Bell Street, Crystal City, VA, 22202 (one block from Yellow Line Metro – Crystal City stop)
>The James Renwick Alliance (JRA) is an independent national nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing scholarship and education on contemporary American craft, to supporting activities directed toward this purpose, and to encouraging connoisseurship and collecting. The JRAassists the SmithsonianAmerican Art Museum in adding to its permanent collection of American craft. For over 25 years, the JRA has supported activities and programs involving hundreds of artists, art supporters, galleries, and partnering institutions from across the nation and around the world. As part of their mission for the arts, the JRA are sponsors of a workshop/reception “Renwick Alliance Room” in the huge DC Arts Fair – Artomatic. Located on the 11th Floor of the festival, the JRA has planned workshops and talks throughout the month long run of the show (thru June 23).
Members of the JRA has also went thru the 10 floors of artwork – selecting their Top 10 media-based artists for their 2012 Artomatic “Award of Excellence”.
Congrats to the WGS/DC Glass artists & all the artists involved in the huge event! And a big hug to the James Renwick Alliance!
The James Renwick Alliance welcomes the public to join them in a pre meet-the-artists-night reception. Mingle with other craft lovers! The JRA will be distributing maps they have created to help you find the media-based artists of Artomatic. Saturday June 2 5:00pm-7:00pm The Renwick Alliance Room, 11th floor
Artomatic is a month-long art festival in the Washington, DC area that is “by artists, for everyone.” It is an unjuried arts show that features 10 floors of art by more than 1,000 artists. The artists have taken over a building in Crystal City (right at the Crystal City metro stop – yellow line). The diversity of artwork and performances attract the broadest range of people, providing a forum to come together and illustrate the energy, vitality and strength of the arts in the community.
DC area artists take over 10 floors of Arlington, VA office building
No matter what kind of creative events you like, you will find something for you at Artomatic – visual arts, music, performance, film, fashion, and more. There will be workshops, tours, art seminars and other events held there all month long.
Artists have been working to transform the mundane into into an arts space that is choc-a-bloc with treats that require discovery.
No matter what kind of creative events you like, you will find something for you at Artomatic.Sean Hennessy’s mixed media artwork combines glass, concrete and LED lighting. Sean is on Level 9
From the chaos of art – a moment of sublime. Tim Tate and Pete Duvall’s video installation on Level 10.
This (free to the public) show mandates that you visit more than once – there is simply too much to see and do in one visit.
The Washington DC Howard Theatre restoration is a big story being covered by all. With good reason – the historic performing arts venue has new life and the building is topped with a sculpture by Brower Hatcher and Mid-Ocean Studios that included work by DC artist Sean Hennessey (clickHERE to jump to WGS posting about the process Sean used to create the trumpet of the ” Jazz Man”.)
Sean Hennessey – The master caster.
Sean made two cast concrete-and-glass trumpets; one for the outdoor sculpture, one for the lobby of the refurbished theatre.
Here are some shots from the topping out of the building with the new sculpture finial:
It has been said that any artwork that requires a crane to install is automatically awesome – I agree!
Over 2,000 visitors attended the opening ceremony, and later in the day, Sean was on NPR radio talking about the work. Congrats to Sean, Brower, Mid-Ocean Studios and all involved in the theatre renovation!
>Public art is part of the restoration of the historic Howard Theater in Washington, DC.
The Howard Theater was a Beaux Arts Style theater built in Washington, DC in 1910. During its hayday it catered to African American clientele and was an extension of U Street’s “Black Broadway”. Many famous performance artists came through the Howard including Duke Ellington, Danny Kaye, Abbott and Costello, Pearl Bailey, Buddy Holly, Sarah Vaughn, Dinah Washington, Sammy Davis, Jr., James Brown and the Flames, Otis Redding, Lena Horne, Lionel Hampton, Redd Fox and Chuck Brown – so many amazing shows!
The theater closed in 1980 and has sat empty for the past 30 years. The D.C. Preservation League listed it among the District’s Most Endangered Places in 2002. The renovation and restoration work that began five years ago is just about complete but for a few finishing touches and the reopening is scheduled for next week.
The sculpture will be the building’s crowning finial – replacing the original “Apollo” sculpture that was lost long ago.
Artist Brower Hatcher and his team at Mid-Ocean Studios won the commission to create a public art installation at the Howard Theater. Installation of “Jazz Man” sculpture to the facade of the Howard Theater is this weekend, with a ribbon cutting ceremony to be held on April 9, 2012.
Initial concept of “Jazz Man” sculpture by Brower Hatcher in 2007.
Brower’s eight foot sculpture called “Jazz Man” is the image of a man holding a trumpet formed by a scaffold-like metal frame. The framework is painted in the sculptor’s favorite color – blue. “They call it Brower blue,” Brower said, “Blue works particularly well because as a color it’s quite transparent. Certainly against the sky, it almost absorbs light.” That allows the metal frame to almost disappear, as reflective objects attached to the frame and dangling inside make the whole piece sparkle.
Often, it is the practice of Mid-Ocean Studios to work with artists in the cities that they have received commissions and they invited WGS’ master of glass and concrete castings – Sean Hennessey to create the trumpet for the Jazz Man sculpture.
Sean Hennessey’s shop drawing of the Jazz Man’s trumpet – made in cast concrete and glass.
Sean gives an insight into his work as a component of the historic building’s sculpture on his blog Scenic Artisans.
“This is a dream project for me in many ways” said Sean. “The Howard Theater is a building I walk by often. It is only 6 blocks from my house and with both my history in working in theater and my fascination of urban American ruins, I have been very drawn to the space. I have also been looking for ways to get into public art and haven’t yet had the opportunity. This is a great thrill and honor for me. And I’ve been so excited I can hardly stand it!”
Sean created original forms that would then have urethane rubber poured around to create a negative mold.
“The overall trumpet will be in cast concrete -the bell of the trumpet will be glass” said Sean as he outlined his process, “…to create the final piece I will construct a mock up in clay, wood, metal pipe, cut glass, and found pieces, then make a 2 part rubber mold of the maquette … I will fit the glass sections into the rubber mold, add a stainless steel armature, and pour tinted concrete into the void. After the concrete sets up I will demold the piece, clean it up, and seal it.”
Sean pours urethane rubber around the positives he made, creating an accurate mold for the later concrete pour.
After the urethane sets up, the mold is opened to clean and prep for the next stage.
Sean worked with glass artist Dave D’Orio to create the trumpet’s glass flare.
The finished cast concrete and glass trumpet for the sculpture.
The trumpet is integrated into the sculpture at Brower Hatcher’s studio as the work is prepared for the installation atop the refurbished building.
Installation of “Jazz Man” sculpture to the facade of the Howard Theater is this weekend, with a ribbon cutting ceremony to be held on April 9, 2012.
“It’s like the Cotton Club inside The Apollo,” said Michael Marshall, partner at Marshall Moya Design, the District-based architectural firm hired to create the theater’s new interior, creating a cabaret-style ambiance, with tables and chairs on the main floor, a balcony with banquettes.The “new” Howard Theater is expected to offer a balance of national events and community performances. The Howard’s future cabaret-style format will host a variety of cultural events and is expected to lead the rebirth of jazz, R&B, soul, blues, and funk in Washington D.C. The theater’s $25 million rebuilding projectwill also feature a museum and gift shop.
The ribbon-cutting, which is open to the public, will be on Monday, April 9 from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm.You can get a tour of the theater and witness the unveiling of “The Jazz Man”followed by live performances by Robert Thompson & The James Brown Experience Band, along with a host of other talents.
>Glass/mixed media artist Sean Hennessey and his wife, artist Rania Hassan are both part of this Saturday’s craft fair ” Crafty Bastards”. Saturday, October 1, 2011 from 10am – 5pm located on 18th Street NW, in the heart of Adams Morgan section of Washington, DC. Sean’s cast glass and mixed media panels were some the most popular works on exhibit at the WGS 10th Anniversary show at LongView Gallery this summer. In 2009, Rania’s mixed media/textile work was awarded the James Renwick Alliance‘s “Craft Award of Distinction”. Check out Sean’s new cast glass panels and Rania’s newest artworks – awesome!
Detail of Looking for a Hero Glass, Steel by Sean Hennessey
Crafty Bastards Arts & Crafts Fair is an exhibition and sale of handmade alternative arts and crafts from independent artists presented by the Washington City Paper.The fair is all-day, outdoors, free to attend, and will offer goods for sale, food, entertainment, prizes, and more!
Booths #34 and #35 Crafty Bastards Saturday October 1st 2151 18th Street NW, DC in the heart of Adams Morgan 10AM- 5PM
View of Penland Auction tent. Photo by Sean Hennessey.
Penland School of Craftsheld its 26th Annual Benefit Auction this past week. The gala weekend in the North Carolina mountains featuring the sale of more than 230 works in books, clay, drawing, glass, iron, letterpress, metals, painting, photography, printmaking, textiles, and wood. The auction is one of the most important craft collecting events in the Southeast and helps support Penland’s educational programs, which have helped thousands of people to live creative lives.
Artists, Museum Directors and Curators, Collectors, and Art Aficionados were in attendance during the weekend.
Under the tent, the auctions are preceded with cocktails and dinner.
Collectors had a chance to look thru the Penland catalog at amazing works.
This summer’s Penland Auction made a record amount of over $600,000 raised with over 550 people attending, not to mention a hundred local volunteers!
One of the highest bid pieces was Tim Tate’s “Four Seasons”….a cast glass and video series sculpture, tying the record amount for a non-commissioned with, set by Penland’s favorite potter, Cynthia Bringle.
Tim Tate’s “Four Seasons”
Showcasing the artwork during the auction.
Tim’s work on the auction screen.
Want to see a vid of the actual record-tying auction? Click on image below to watch the auction of Tim’s artwork.
Sean Hennessey is a Sculptor, Painter, blogger, propmaker and installation artist, and member of the Washington Glass School family. A graduate of the unique Berea College, Sean worked in professional theater for 10 years as a welder, carpenter, rigger, scenic artist, prop artist, and designer all the while creating his own artwork. Sean has been with the Washington Glass School since 2004 when Tim Tate finally convinced him that glass was cool.
The Measure of Value Glass, Concrete, Steel 42″x13″
He began his relationship with the Washington Glass School by teaching mold making and concrete casting and assisting various classes. Slowly and steadily Sean began including more and more glass into his mixed media sculptures. By 2010 Sean focused primarily in glass and became a resident artist at the Washington Glass School. His current work uses a combination of glass, concrete, found objects, and steel to create works based on mythologies, philosophy, personal experiences, and whimsy.
We Share What We Have Glass, Concrete, Steel 24″x13″
A Dream of Flying Glass, Concrete, and Steel 24×13
Sean creates pieces that have the feel of archaeological finds, as if messages from today have been uncovered in some not too distant future. The earthiness of the concrete in his pieces suggests age and patina, slightly covering and obscuring his glass reliefs. He equates the glass with ethereality and the concrete as a corporeal coating. His work touches on issues of overcoming in everyday life–judging yourself and being judged by others, finding and maintaining inspiration, and dealing with dreams and hopes than conflict with our reality.
Ghost Light Glass, Concrete, Steel 43″x13″
Sean uses the Dry Plaster Relief Castingtechnique in his work. He sets up boxes inside the kiln, fills the box with sifted plaster power, makes impressions in the plaster, places sheets of float glass on top of the box and fires the glass to slump into the mold.
Sean working inside the kiln.
It’s a dusty process
Example of a Mold used for Dry Plaster Relief Casting
Once the glass is removed from the kiln, Sean uses special primers and polymers to add a coating of cement to the surface.
Glass castings fresh out of the kiln.
Adding layers of concrete to the glass
But it’s not done yet! Apparently Sean loves adding many complicated processes into each piece! He then goes on to stain, sand, and distress the concrete, adding to the sense of age and antiquity. Sometimes he will paint the back of the glass using translucent coatings to allow light to come through. He then welds up steel frames to finish off his work.
Finding Your Power
Glass, Concrete, Steel 42″x13″
Sean will be one of the artists exhibiting at DC’s Longview Gallery juried invitational exhibition showcasing the people and work of the artists of the Washington Glass School. The show opens in May.
