Due to the ongoing electrical issues at the building site – tonight’s DC Mayor public dedication of the DCCAH Community Gateway Arch at the Unity Parkside healthcare center has been postponed! New date TBD!
Category Archives: Uncategorized
“All New” Glass Fun Facts: Part 1
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.
Thin-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.
Hydrofluoric 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.
In 1500 BC, we believe the first glass bottles were made using the “Core-Forming Method”.
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
Sunderland, UK Artist’s Residency @ Washington Glass School
Two 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.
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!
Smithsonian American Art Museum Features Michael Janis
Michael Janis at the Smithsonian Museum. Photo by Miriam Rosenthal.
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. 
The final event was the JRA hosted dinner on Sunday evening – it was a very busy exciting weekend for the Washington Glass School!
Congratulations to Michael – well done and well deserved!
Breaking Through: Moving4ward @ Pittsburgh Glass Center
An 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.
“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
Alchemical Vessels Opens Friday, April 4
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.
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.
Michael Janis to speak to New Mexico & Arizona AACG Groups
Our glass powder guru – Michael Janis – is off to talk with the New Mexico and Arizona’s AACG groups. Happy Trails “Maestro”!
Glass Alliance New Mexico’s promotion of Michael Janis’ talk at Santa Fe’s Winterowd Gallery later this week.
NCAGG “Secret Life of Glass” Opens Sun, March 30th
The 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
In Glass – Secede to Succeed! American Craft Magazine on “GS”
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.
Michigan’s Habatat Galleries’ 42 International Glass Invitational Features WGS Artists
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
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.
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
Michael Janis