Category Archives: Uncategorized

Next Generation: Audrey Wilson

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PACC, 400 High Street, Portsmouth, VA 23704

Audrey Wilson is an artist in high demand! Not only does she have a great show at North Carolina’s Bender Gallery, she has work in a show of artists of the Chrysler Museum glass studio that also opens August 1, 2014.

Virginia’s Portsmouth Art & Cultural Center (near Norfolk’s Chrysler Museum) joins with the TCC Visual Art Center to host a series of glass exhibits and programming that celebrate the studio glass movement. The two locations combine to offer artwork by instructors and past and present art glass studio assistants at the Chrysler Museum of Art Glass Studio and/or completed their studies in glass at the Visual Art Center, Portsmouth. Chrysler Museum of Art Glass Studio Manager Charlotte Potter’s work will be featured in “Personal Cartography” at the Visual Art Center.next.gen

The upcoming generation of glass artists – which includes our Audrey Wilson – will be featured at PACC in “Mapping the Next Generation”.

Mapping the Next Generation, August 2 – October 12, 2014

Opening Reception August 1, 2014

PACC – 400 High Street, Portsmouth, VA 23704

The Portsmouth Art & Cultural Center (PACC), housed in the 1846 Courthouse, is devoted to offering quality educational, cultural and aesthetic experiences in the arts through rotating visual art exhibits, lectures, classes and performances.

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“All New” Glass Fun Facts: Part 1

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Its been a while since we got our glass geek on. These fact-filled glass trivia were very popular when we were on the old blog format, and we’re ready to burst with glass bits-of-info.

When glass breaks, the cracks move at speeds of up to 3,000 miles per hour.

breaking-glass-oThin-glass goblets can vibrate when hit by sound waves. This is due to resonance.

Glass takes over 1 million years to decompose in our landfills and dumps. Recycling glass reduces air pollution by 20%, and water pollution by 50%. Only 27% of the glass used in the United States is recycled. A typical glass recycling factory can recycle up to 20 tons of glass per hour. The energy saved from recycling 1 glass bottle can run a 100-watt bulb for 4 hours.

glass landfillHydrofluoric acid will dissolve glass.

From the start of time glass has been available to man. Stone Age man used obsidian (a naturally formed glass) for cutting tools and weapons. The Phoenicians also accidentally discovered glass when cooking near nitrates that when heated formed glass. However, we have to wait until the Egyptian times before we can actually trace deliberate glass manufacture which was in the form of beads.

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In 1500 BC, we believe the first glass bottles were made using the “Core-Forming Method”.

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The term glass developed in the late Roman Empire. It was in the Roman glassmaking center at Trier, now in modern Germany, that the late-Latin term glesum originated, probably from a Germanic word for a transparent, lustrous substance.Glass manufacture had developed in Venice by the time of the Crusades (A.D. 1096-1270), and by the 1290’s an elaborate guild system of glass workers had been set up. 

Later this week: Part 2 All New Glass Fun Facts!

Click HERE to jump to Part 2

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Sunderland, UK Artist’s Residency @ Washington Glass School

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criss.chaneyTwo internationally recognized glass artists have come to the Washington Glass School for an artist residency. Criss Chaney and Robyn Townsend are both UK-based glass artists that work from Sunderland’s Creative Cohesion art studio. During the International Glass And Clay exhibit in March of 2013, Robyn and Criss presented a workshop on glass inclusions at the Washington Glass School.

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2013 workshop led by artists Robyn Townsend and Criss Chaney (center) outline their process of inclusions into fused glass.

Robyn Townsend said that she looks forward to the opportunity to “explore new directions” in glass art in her return to Washington, DC. If you are in the area – make sure that you stop in and welcome the artists back to DC!

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Smithsonian American Art Museum Features Michael Janis

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Smithsonian Distinguished Artist Michael Janis

Michael Janis at the Smithsonian Museum. Photo by Miriam Rosenthal.

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Washington Glass School sgraffito workshop. Photo by Miriam Rosenthal.

The James Renwick Alliance (JRA) is an independent national non-profit organization that celebrates the achievements of America’s craft artists and fosters scholarship, education and public appreciation of craft art. The JRA is the exclusive support group of the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the U.S. national showcase of contemporary American craft. Washington Glass School Co-Director Michael Janis was named “Distinguished Artist” by the JRA. The weekend’s events included a sgraffito glass workshop with Michael held at the Washington Glass School and Michael Janis presented at the Smithsonian Museum’s Turner Auditorium outlining his career, process, and artwork. The talk at the museum was broadcast live and the Smithsonian staff promised that it would be available online soon. 3.michael.janis.smithsonian.american.art.museum.artist_glassThe final event was the JRA hosted dinner on Sunday evening – it was a very busy exciting weekend for the Washington Glass School!4.a.distinguished_artist.james.renwick.alliance.shea.trump.janis_glass_cuddle

Congratulations to Michael – well done and well deserved!

 

Posted in DC, distinguished artist, fused glass, glass, glass architecture., glass art, glass frit powder imagery, kiln fused glass, michael janis, mies, mike janis, smithsonian, smithsonian american art museum, Uncategorized | Tagged , ,

Breaking Through: Moving4ward @ Pittsburgh Glass Center

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emering american women glass artistAn incredible group exhibit at PA’s Hodge Gallery at the Pittsburgh Glass Center (PGC) opens May 2nd, 2014, titled “Breaking Through: Moving 4ward”. 

Each of the women artists had spent a month in residence at PGC, where they experimented with new techniques for their craft, displaying varying styles and concepts as they worked from four different studios within PGC. Missouri–based glass artist Laura Beth Konopinski works primarily with glass, although uses other mediums including photography and metal. 

Arising from her passion and labors with environmental conservation, Konopinski repurposes used materials and integrates carefully preserved organic compounds into sculpted layers of glass vessels. She uses transparent glass as a lens for distortion to emphasize the ambiguous nature of human belief in reality. 

Nadine Saylor of Hershey, Pa. explores the dichotomy of fantasy and reality in a work called “The Illusion of Ordinary Life.” It recreates a version of a vintage motion lamp from the 30s and 40s. Imagery of a beggar woman on the streets in Venice is superimposed with images of carousel horses. Saylor currently teaches glass classes at Harrisburg Area Community College.

Also featured in the show are Lisa Demagall and Anna Mlasowsky.moving4ward_pgc

“Breaking Through: Moving 4ward”

May 2 thru July 20, 2014; Opening reception: May 2, 2014, 6 PM

Pittsburgh Glass Center, Hodge Gallery

5472 Penn Ave. , Pittsburgh, PA 15206

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Alchemical Vessels Opens Friday, April 4

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Erwin Timmers, “Overflow”, Ceramic, LED, recycled glass. The artist said of his work ” The alchemical vessel speaks about creating purity, harmony and the healing that flows from it. My work focuses on the disharmony we see in nature and our environment, which has a pronounced impact on our own wellbeing.”

Smith Center for Healing and the Arts and the Joan Hisaoka Healing Arts Gallery are proud to announce the return of Alchemical Vessels, Smith Center’s 2nd Annual Benefit and Exhibition. Alchemical Vessels brings together 125 local artists and 20 prominent curators for a community dialogue on healing and transformation through the arts. Each artist transformed a simple ceramic bowl by means of their own personal aesthetic and medium, drawing inspiration from the bowl as a place of holding, community, sacred space, and the alchemical vessel.

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Audrey Wilson, “Feather of Hope”, glass, ceramic, rust

The ceramic bowl was selected as the fundamental element of the exhibition to symbolize creating a space where healing can take place – an idea at the heart of Smith Center’s work and mission.

The Alchemical Vessels Exhibition will be open at the Joan Hisaoka Healing Arts Gallery from April 4th through May 16th, 2014. There will be an opening reception on Friday, April 4th from 7-9pm.

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NCAGG “Secret Life of Glass” Opens Sun, March 30th

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ncagg.huberman.glenview.2014The National Capital Art Glass Guild (NCAGG) opens its juried show titled “The Secret Life of Glass” at the Glenview Mansion Art Gallery in Rockville, MD. The show was juried by Giselle Huberman, President of the James Renwick Alliance and collector of contemporary glass, wood and ceramic art, Susan Klauk, former Director of the Arts Afire Gallery, and Julie Farrell, Director of the Glenview Mansion Art Gallery.

The exhibition will showcase over 120 works of glass art by 40 NCAGG members and also includes “The Secret Life of Glass Artists”, a smaller exhibition that celebrates creativity and inspiration by bringing a glass artist’s studio to the Glenview Mansion, displaying materials, tools, equipment, and resources used by artists.

The show also includes the Jurors Panel on April 17, 2014, 7:30 – 9 pm, during which the exhibition’s jurors will discuss the art glass jury process and the criteria for this exhibit, and provide their personal views concerning collecting art glass. Opening reception March 30, 2014, 3 – 5:30 pm.

Works by WGS’ Nancy Donnelly and John Henderson are in the show – get over there and have a look!

Glenview Mansion Art Gallery at Rockville Civic Center Park, 603 Edmonston Dr., Rockville, MD

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In Glass – Secede to Succeed! American Craft Magazine on “GS”

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The website of American Craft Council has a preview of the April/May issue of American Craft Magazine. Editor-in-Chief Monica Moses interviews Tim Tate about “Glass Secessionism” and how artists are exploring and advancing the medium – a sure must-read! Check out the preview video trailer on American Craft’s youtube website – at the 2:00 mark – works by some familiar artists are featured. Online March 17 – on the newsstands March 25th.

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