Category Archives: Washington School of Glass

Virginia Athenaeum Sculpture Invitational features WGS Directors

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Curated by Alison Sigethy and produced by Veronica Szalus, “Eclipse” is an invitational sculpture show opening Jan 16th at the Athenaeum that examines light and shadow, liminal space, and the passage of time.

An exhibition titled “Eclipse” evokes themes of transformation, obscuration, revelation, and the interplay of light and shadow. The works of Washington Glass School artists Tim Tate, Erwin Timmers, and Michael Janis seems to fit so seamlessly into such a thematic framework, each offering a unique interpretation of these ideas through their distinct techniques and narratives.

Detail of Tim Tate’s work in the “Eclipse” exhibit

Tim Tate is known for combining traditional glass craft with modern video elements and digital media to create mixed-media sculptures that explore themes of memory, mortality, and the passage of time. His works often embody themes of transformation, obscuration, revelation, and the interplay of light and shadow. In this exhibition, Tate’s work symbolizes the moment of revelation that occurs during an eclipse, where hidden truths or forgotten histories come to light. His lenticular prisms that shift between imageries effectively capture the fleeting moment of an eclipse where light is temporarily blocked yet still visible in other forms.
Said Tate: “In my lenticular series, I aim to capture the nature of memory and perception. By layering multiple images within a single lens, I create a sense of depth and dimensionality that shifts and changes as the viewer moves.”

Detail of Erwin Timmer’s cast recycled glass artwork featured in “Eclipse” exhibit.

Erwin Timmers is deeply committed to environmental sustainability, and his works crafted from recycled glass introduce a theme of renewal and regeneration within the “Eclipse” exhibition. Timmers uses discarded materials to create beautiful forms, highlighting the potential for transformation in the most unexpected places—much like an eclipse, which temporarily alters perception and understanding. His work often conveys a narrative of reclaiming what is cast aside, fitting well into the exhibition’s overarching theme of cycles of destruction and rebirth. Once destined for landfills, the recycled materials are reborn as testaments to the power of transformation and the importance of reexamining our relationship with the natural world. Timmers’ recycled glass sculptures also play with light, given the translucent nature of glass, adding a dynamic interplay of illumination and shadow.
Said Timmers about his work in the Eclipse series: “I explore the intersection of environmental waste and beauty. By casting discarded materials into sensuous forms, I aim to reveal the beauty hidden within the discarded and the forgotten. As we stand at the edge of ecological crisis, I believe that art can serve as a catalyst for change, inspiring us to reimagine our place within the delicate balance of the ecosystem.”

Detail of Michael Janis’ “A New Dawn” glass artwork featured in “Eclipse” exhibit.

Michael Janis’ sgraffito glass portraits, which often explore identity, human emotion, and societal themes, align with the “Eclipse” theme by focusing on the layers of human experience and the partial obscuration of self. His technique of layering powdered glass to create complex imagery is akin to the way an eclipse gradually reveals or conceals—shadows and light playing across the surface, revealing deeper meanings. His works evoke the internal eclipses we face—moments where parts of ourselves or our histories are hidden or revealed depending on the perspective or light shed on them. Janis’ portraits also symbolize the personal and psychological aspects of an eclipse, dealing with identity, transformation, and the hidden aspects of the self that come to light.

Said Janis of his frit powder portraits: “Each element of my artwork serves as a kind of representation of the chaotic nature of human existence. By abstracting the realistic figures, I highlight the intricate layers that shape our identities, both internal and external. These divisions symbolize the diverse aspects of our personalities, experiences, and cultural influences that converge within a single being.”

Eclipse
An Athenaeum Sculpture Invitational
Curated by Alison Sigethy
January 16, 2025 – February 23, 2025
Artist Reception: Friday, January 17, 6 – 8 pm
Artist Talk: Sunday, February 23, 2 pm
Participating artists:
Michael Janis
Lori Katz
Mike Price
Carol Prusa
Sarah Hood Salomon
Salih Zeki Sayar
Murat Sener
Michael Enn Sirvet
Tim Tate
Erwin Timmers
Maduka Uduh

The Athenaeum is home to the Northern Virginia Fine Arts Association (NVFAA), an organization dedicated to the maintenance and preservation of the building and the celebration of regional arts.
The Athenaeum Gallery
201 Prince Street, Alexandria, VA 22314

Posted in contemporary art glass, contemporary artwork, contemporary craft, contemporary sculpture, CONTEMPORARY SURREALISTIC, content driven glass, environmental art, erwin timmers, kiln fused glass, kiln-formed, kiln-formed glass, kilncast, kilncast float glass, scraffito, sgraffito technique, Tim Tate, washington glass school, Washington School of Glass | Tagged , , ,

Looking Forward to 2025!

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To end 2024 on a positive note – We are looking forward to 2025: DC’s new Cedar Hill hospital commissioned Washington Glass Studio to make a ‘DC themed’ glass mural (8 foot x 5 foot high). All our studio artists were invited to make inset panels in their glass style. Just started process fitting out glass panels into the steel framework- here’s a sneak peek! The artwork will be installed early in 2025!! Happy New Year!

Artists involved include: Nancy Kronstadt, Erwin Timmers, Tim Tate, Arden Colley, John Henderson, Patricia de Poel Wilberg, Graciela Granek, April Shelford, Jaelin Jones, Jun Lee, Trish Kent, Chip Montague and Michael Janis.

Posted in " glass studio", contemporary art glass, cool glass, creative glass, eco-friendly glass, fused glass, glass, glass and steel sculpture, kiln fused glass, kiln-formed glass, narrative glass, twenty first century glass, Uncategorized, washington glass school, Washington Glass Studio, Washington School of Glass | Tagged

Glass Is the Reason for the Season!

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Celebrate Creativity at the Washington Glass School Holiday Open Studios!

Jun Lee glass art print
Resident Artist Jun Lee preps her bas-relief glass panel.
fused glass bas relief glass panel based on print by Jun Lee.
Jun Lee, dimensional cast glass panel, 14″ x 14″, 2024

Join us for the Washington Glass School’s Holiday Open Studios on Saturday, December 14th, from 12-5 PM! Explore a dazzling collection of glass art and other creations by our talented Resident Artists and Instructors, just in time for holiday gift shopping or adding unique pieces to your collection.

Erwin Timmers, cast recycled glass & steel, 15″H x 20″W x 5″D, 2024

Our Open Studios is more than just an art show—it’s a chance to immerse yourself in Mount Rainier’s thriving creative community! Venture beyond our doors to discover inspiring works at nearby studios, including Otis Street Arts, Ampersand, Portico Gallery, Joe Hicks Ceramics, and Janis Goodman Studios.

📍 Location: Washington Glass School
3700 Otis Street, Mount Rainier, MD 20712 (Just over the DC/MD border of Eastern Avenue)

Come for the art, stay for the inspiration. Don’t miss this vibrant celebration of creativity and craftsmanship!

Posted in " glass studio", artists of the washington glass school, holiday open house, jun lee, open house, open studio, opening, washington glass school, Washington Glass Studio, Washington School of Glass

10th Annual Glass International Opens!

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April Shelford “Catch a Wave”

Virginia’s Lorton Workhouse Arts Center opened their 10th Annual Glass International, an exhibition highlighting the depth and breadth of contemporary functional and sculptural glass art. This year, in celebration of Workhouse Arts’ 10th year exhibiting glass they opened eligibility to include artists working internationally.

Kate Barfield “Dream of the Wind-Up Bird”
Patricia de Poel Wilberg

Washington Glass School was well represented by WGS Resident Artists Kate Barfield, Patrica de Poel Wilberg, and April Shelford- congratulations!

glass artists . next gen ladies of glass
Washington Glass School artists (L-R) April Shelford, Kate Barfield, Patrica de Poel Wilberg, Arden Colley.

Exhibiting Glass International Artists:
Karen Abbott, Kate Barfield, Denise Bohart Brown, Beryl Brenner, Lee Campbell, Guillermo Castaneda Jr., Marcy Chevali, Anthony D’Amico, Patricia de Poel Wilberg, Jeanne Marie Ferraro, Olga Gobernik Kon, Ruth Gowell, Jennifer Hand, Mollie Hansen, Jennifer Hecker, Marla Heiner, Sara Hitchcock, Mary Jones, Martin Kremer, Kelly Lacy, Becca Low, Sandi Martina, Kimberly McKinnis, Shawn Messenger, Paul Messink, Jack Schmidt, Michael Scupholm, April Shelford, Madeline Shir, Ori Shir, Aric Snee, Chuchen Song, Tim Spurchise, Heather Sutherland, Tabitha Thierjung, Katherine Thomas, Exer Thurston, Michael Tracy, Snuffy Wright

Workhouse Arts Center is located at: 9518 Workhouse Way Lorton, VA 22079

Vulcan Gallery, W-16 1st Floor
On View: November 2, 2024 – January 12, 2025

Posted in " glass studio", april shelford, arden colley, artists of the washington glass school, international, kiln fused glass, kiln-formed, kiln-formed glass, kilncast, patricia de poel wilberg, washington glass school, Washington Glass Studio, Washington School of Glass

Winter Open Studio Is Coming!

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Winter Open Studios Set for Dec 14th! Mark Your Calendars!

Join us in the DC region’s largest one-day visual arts event! On Saturday, Dec. 14th, from Noon til 5PM, Washington Glass School and its Resident Artists, Teachers and Students will participate in the Winter Open Studios! See what we’ve been up to!
Come visit hundreds of working artist studios in the Gateway Arts District, along Route 1 from the DC line/ Mount Rainier up to Hyattsville, MD.

December Holiday Open Studio Gateway Arts District DC Maryland
Washington Glass School 3700 Otis Street, MD Rainier, MD

Posted in " glass studio", art glass, artists of the washington glass school, contemporary art glass, cool glass, creative glass, fused glass, glass art, holiday open house, kiln fused glass, kiln-formed glass, kilncast float glass, open house, open studio, studio art glass, studio glass movement, washington glass school, Washington Glass Studio, Washington School of Glass

Washington Glass School: A Legacy of Art, Resilience, and Community

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Washington Glass School ca 2004, located in the Washington Sculpture Center in SE DC.

In the aftermath of the 2000 Artomatic show, renowned glass artist Tim Tate and metal/eco-artist Erwin Timmers felt the need to create a space for the growing glass art community in Washington, DC. Their solution was the founding of what was first called “Meltdown”—the future Washington Glass School. The school’s very first class, held on September 13, 2001, came in the shadow of one of the most tragic days in American history. While the founders initially considered canceling the session, the overwhelming desire of the students to move forward created an indelible bond. The class became a healing space, where sadness and fear were channeled into creativity and connection.

Meltdown Studio class schedule 2001
Early light fixture class (ca 2002) shows off their finished works.

From those early days, the Washington Glass School (WGS) has embraced community and resilience as core values. In 2003, the school relocated from its original home—now the Rubell Museum in DC’s Southwest neighborhood—to the Washington Sculpture Center. Michael Janis, an innovative artist who joined the school that year, became a director by 2005. His leadership, alongside Tate and Timmers, continued to steer the school as it grew in reputation.

Future WGS Director Michael Janis (center) in his first class at Washington Glass School, 2003.
Michael Janis works with students from DC’s Stuart Hobson Middle School (ca 2004).

In 2006, a turning point came when the school’s building was taken by eminent domain to make way for the Washington Nationals’ baseball stadium. Unfazed, the WGS team moved just outside the District to Mount Rainier, Maryland. It’s been their home ever since, where they continue to teach, collaborate, and create public art.

WGS Directors (L-R Michael Janis, Tim Tate, Erwin Timmers)

WGS has evolved into a dynamic hub for artistic exploration, encouraging artists to challenge the conventional limits of glass as an art medium. Their collaborative spirit thrives, with glass artists working alongside creatives from other disciplines, producing public art that speaks to the heart of the community.

kelly towles, washington glass school
In 2024, DC artist Kelly Towles painted a mural “I ❤ Glass” on the facade of the glass school.

Posted in " glass studio", american glass, artists of the washington glass school, erwin timmers, fine art, float glass, fused float glass, gateway arts district, glass education, glass school. glass class, Tim Tate, twenty first century glass, washington DC, washington glass school, Washington Glass Studio, Washington School of Glass

Washington Post on the DC Glass Scene Seen at Artomatic

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Washington Post article on 2024 Artomatic exhibit

Great review of Artomatic culture event in the Washington Post. Art critic Mark Jenkins enjoys the all-sorts arts experience and singles out the glass art for comment, including using WGS artist Michael Janis’ artwork titled “Waiting for the Moments that Never Come” as the illustrative work for the show. Writes Mark:

“…Among the various business and governmental sponsors of this year’s Artomatic is a small but internationally renowned arts group, the Washington Glass School. The Mount Rainier, Md., studio has taken a large chunk of the building’s fifth floor to showcase the elegant creations of co-founders Tim Tate and Erwin Timmers and several other glass virtuosos. Tate, who credits Artomatic with playing a significant role in his career, is showing a sculpture that riffs on Leonardo da Vinci’s “Vitruvian Man.” The provocatively androgynous update positions eight glass figures — male, female and combined — in a circle surrounded by mirrors and lights that simulate a sense of endless replication…”

In the galleries: Artomatic: Unpretentious, approachable, convivial – Review by Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, April 5, 2024

https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/art/2024/04/05/art-gallery-shows-dc-area/

By contrast – have a read about how the Washington Post art critic Blake Gopnik thought of the 2004 Artomatic exhibit:

…”The result is the second-worst display of art I’ve ever seen. The only one to beat it out, by the thinnest of split hairs, was the 2002 Artomatic, which was worse only by virtue of being even bigger and in an even more atrocious space, down by the waterfront in a vacant modern office building. I won’t dwell on the art. And I certainly won’t name names…There may just be a few decent things hidden in the mix — with so many thousands of objects on display, the law of averages says there must be. But three hours’ worth of looking didn’t spot too many. Some of the glasswork looked all right. (Glass is such a gorgeous medium it’s hard to screw it up, and you need some basic training even to begin to work in it.)

Artomatic 2004: Hanging Is Too Good for It by Blake Gopnik

November 10, 2004

https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2004/11/11/artomatic-2004-hanging-is-too-good-for-it/353b4ecd-8d74-475b-9386-63d5acd048db/

Artomatic runs thru April 28th. 2100 M Street, NW, Washington, DC.

Posted in 21st century glass, american glass, art glass, artists of the washington glass school, bullseye glass, cool glass, fused glass, gay glass, glass art, mark jenkins, twenty first century glass, washington glass school, washington post, Washington School of Glass | Tagged , , ,

Washington’s Innovative Glass Scene Seen at Artomatic 2024

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trish kent, patricia de poel wilberg, nancy kronstadt, april shelford, graciela granek, kate barfield
Washington Glass School Co Founder Erwin Timmers outlines the Studio Glass Movement timeline to audience at Artomatic 2024.

In the 1960s, The American Studio Glass movement transformed glass from craft into fine art.

Artomatic helped create the movement, as after the 2000 Artomatic, the Smithsonian Museum acquired artist Tim Tate’s glass sculpture that was on display. Artist Erwin Timmers’ artwork was also on exhibit at that Artomatic, and after that show, the two began to collaborate, later teaming up to start the Washington Glass School & Studio with the funds from the sale of Tate’s glass artwork to the Renwick.

Washington Glass School Co-Founder Tim Tate’s work at Artomatic 2024.

In 2008, Artomatic organized an exhibit at the Washington Glass School, showcasing the unique approaches to glass sculpture in three “glass” cities: Washington, DC; Toledo, Ohio; and Sunderland, England, fostering international partnerships and collaborative ventures.

Glass works by VA-based artist Griffon Dillon on exhibit at Artomatic 2024.

As the 21st century unfolded, artists across various media have shown growing interest in glass as a creative medium, despite its technical challenges. The Washington Glass Scene has emerged as a hub of innovation, elevating glass to a significant position in contemporary art. The Washington Glass School encourages artists to push boundaries and redefine the possibilities of glass as a fine art medium.

There is a great example of works by DC glass creatives on display at Artomatic 2024, open now thru April 28th. Although the glass works are on many of the 8 floors of art, the 5th floor is the central spot to get ones glass fix. Some photos of Washington Glass School’s reception are featured in this post.

Glass artwork by artist Michael Janis seen at Artomatic 2024 on M Street.

The James Renwick Alliance will hold a craft tour of works on display at Artomatic 2024, March 24th, at 1-3PM More info here on the free tour: James Renwick Alliance Craft Tour – 5th Floor Washington Glass School Installation – Artomatic.

patricia de poel wilberg, kate barfield, april shelford
Curator Howard Cohen reviewing glass art on exhibit at Artomatic 2024.

Baltimore based art curator Howard Cohen came this past weekend to Artomatic to handpick glass artists from the DC area for a contemporary glass showcase exhibit at Montpelier Art Center this June. Howard was able to talk with many of the artists and get insight to their narratives and process. Looking forward to the upcoming show!

artomatic 2024

Artomatic, 2100 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20037

Posted in american studio glass, artists of the washington glass school, artomatic, contemporary art glass, contemporary craft, contemporary sculpture, washington glass school, Washington Glass Studio, Washington School of Glass, wgs contemporary | Tagged , , , ,

Octopus Encounter!

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tara reagan fused glass art
One last look at the work inside the kiln – before firing.

Is it true that all octopuses are born in Octo-ber? Well, here is the ultimate proof! Artist Tana just completed her spectacular 36′ round octopus/sea life themed glass panel at the Washington Glass School! The finished glass panel will octo-py our hearts!!

Tara Reagan with her fully fused octopus.

Posted in artists of the washington glass school, washington glass school, Washington School of Glass