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Category Archives: year in review
WGS 2018 Year In Review
Join us for a look back at 2018’s biggest moments at the Washington Glass School … and we try our best to see what’s ahead in 2019.
January
The year started out with a glass gala – as Florida’s St. Petersburg welcomed the opening of the new Imagine Museum. 
The new museum’s primary collection focuses on the explosive growth and diversification of the studio glass movement in America since the 1960’s, and extends to new directions in contemporary glass. In 2019, as the Glass Arts Society (GAS) conference is in St Pete, the museum is to be one of the main venues. Look for the featured talks about glass at the world’s main art fairs with William Warmus and Tim Tate! 
(Tim Tate was named Imagine Museum’s “Artist of the Future” in January as well!)
February
The American Craft Council (ACC) named Sarah Schultz as its new executive director, introducing her at the Baltimore ACC Show. Sarah, who has more than 25 years’ experience in arts leadership, fundraising, and education, succeeds Chris Amundsen, who left the organization in September, 2017. Kent State University
had our Miss Wilson doing a walk-on in their Super Bowl ad! Kent State University created a 30-second spot that touts the “boundless innovation” on the Ohio campus and features shots of students participating in science, fashion and art programs during the 2018 Super Bowl game.
March
The Chrysler Museum appointed Robin Rogers as the Perry Glass Studio Manager and Program Director.
In March, Norfolk’s Chrysler Museum named Robin Rogers the new Glass Studio Manager and Program Director
April
Erwin Timmers was one of the feature artists in Foggy Bottom’s sixth Outdoor Sculpture Biennial. His artwork “Glimpse of Possibilities”, made from recycled glass, aluminum, LED lights, was one fo the highlights of the outdoor sculpture exhibit. His work and that of Sean Hennessey were some of the standout works.
Erwin Timmers captivates the sculpture aficionados during the Foggy Bottom artist talks.
Michigan’s Habatat Galleries held their 46th Annual International Invitational at the beautiful Royal Oak, MI gallery, and works by Tim Tate and Laura Beth Konopinski were selected by the jurors for upcoming museum exhibits.
Works by WGS artists Tim Tate and Laura Beth Konopinski were selected for future museum exhibits.
May
One of our Badass Women of Glass – DC Rollergirl supastar Jennifer Lindstrom was featured in the Washington Post Express. She outlined one of her dreams is to be working at the Washington Glass School. Natch!
Jennifer Lindstrom – President of DC Rollergirls
July
Laura Beth Konopinski’s new sculpture artwork for her show “Building Worlds” at Reston’s GRACE Arts. LBK’s elegant and enigmatic narrative sculptures were reviewed in the Fairfax Times.
Laura Beth Konopinski installs her work at GRACE Arts in Reston, VA.
August
August had some tragedy -a devastating fire destroyed artists Christina Bothwell and Robert Bender’s studio in rural Pennsylvania. The family is ok – but the barn that made their shop and studio, along with all their works have been destroyed. Last year, glass artist Clifford Rainey‘s studio and work were lost in California’s “Atlas fire”. To help the artists, Austin Art Projects, Habatat Galleries and Heller Gallery worked together to create an on-line exhibition from surviving artworks from the three galleries. Christina and Robert still need new equipment before they can begin working again. In this spirit, we thought it would be best for any donations to be made directly to them at the address below:
Christina Bothwell and Robert Bender
148 Karns Rd., Stillwater, PA 17878
Remnants of Christina Bothwell’s sculpture lie in the charred remains of her studio.
September
Eric M. Hess – a former Resident Artist here at WGS – was awarded 3rd place in 2018 Stanislav Libenský Awards in Prague! Eric was the only US citizen that was selected as a finalist. Well Done and Congratulations Eric!
Eric Hess won third place in the Stanislav Libenský Award competition for “Fragile,” a glass sculpted fetus encased in a 1-foot square ice cube.
October
October was a big month for awards and honors. First, our Tim Tate was honored as the James Renwick Alliance “Distinguished Artist” for his work in the Glass Medium. Tim lectured about his work and history to a standing room only crowd at the American University Museum.
Dean Allison was awarded the JRA Chrysalis Award for glass. The James Renwick Alliance’s $5,000 Chrysalis Award, designed to recognize and encourage emerging artists, was presented at American University Museum’s Katzen Arts Center on October 7, followed by a lecture given by Tim Tate as part of the JRA Distinguished Artist Series.
Big Day @ American University Museum. l-R: Dean Allison, Susan Sanders, Tim Tate, Cicie Sattarnilasskorn, Donovan Lessard, Michael Janis, Fred Sanders
The Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County (AHCMC) honored our Erwin Timmers by awarding him the 2018 County Executive’s Awards for Excellence in the Arts and Humanities. Established in 2002, these awards honor community leaders whose work in the cultural sector has made an impact in Montgomery County, MD. Erwin was named Montgomery County’s 2018 “Outstanding Artist” for his work in both environmental art as well work as mentor/educator. “I find it very rewarding in itself to work in art, with students, with communities, or by myself, and it has become an avenue for me to speak out for our environment and what we as a society can do to preserve it,” Erwin said. “I hope to continue to inspire people of all ages to use their hands to express themselves and not just their thumbs.”
Erwin Timmers (center) receives the MoCo award flanked by Catherine Leggett and Montgomery County Executive Isiah “Ike” Leggett.
WGS artist John Henderson and Otis Street Arts Project Founder, Sean Hennessey collaborated together to create new public art for Baltimore, MD. The site specific artwork is an internally illuminated, four-sided obelisk with panels mounted into the framework. Their narrative concept for the artwork story was to have the bottom panels on the sculpture represent a wanting or dream, with the upper panels represent fulfillment.
“Inspire” ; cast glass and steel public art sculpture by Sean Hennessey and John Henderson for Baltimore’s Lots Alive Outdoor Community Art Program.
The public art sculpture by Sean Hennessey was also a bit of a farewell love letter to Baltimore as he and his family move West to Seattle, WA.
A teary farewell to one of the area’s best artists – Sean Hennessey.
December
Galas, glitz and glorious opening nights was the mantra for December. Washington Glass School was represented very well at the Art Basel/Art Miami fairs! Works by Tim Tate could be seen all over Miami, and DC’s Alida Anderson Art Projects exhibited works by Erwin Timmers, Audrey Wilson, Laura Beth Konopinski and Michael Janis.
Opening night of Art Miami/Context
Tim Tate’s work at Art Miami / Context Art Fair
DC’s Alida Anderson Art Projects space at Context / Art Miami featured works by artists of the Washington Glass School.
What’s coming in 2019?
Looking ahead there are some great things coming up! Kerri Sheehan comes back to teach at WGS starting in January! Laurie Brown opens a gallery in Memphis, TN. Tim Tate and William Warmus will be speaking at the Glass Art Society 2019 Conference being held in Saint Petersburg at the end of March! The Habatat International in May is always a must-see! Some new public art projects are just being commissioned – more info in 2019!
We know 2018 was full of ups and downs, but remember that underneath it all, love is our constant. It’s what unites us. ― Happy New Year 2019!
May the fortune and renewed creativity help us all to make the right decisions in our professional and personal life.
Love! Peace! & Soul!
from the artists, educators, staff and all at the Washington Glass School & Studio!
2017 WGS Year in Review
A look back at some of our biggest moments of the year and what we’re looking forward to in 2018. This year brought us the first year of Trump’s presidency, a historic solar eclipse and some huge exhibits. Now, as the year draws to a close, WGS blog reflects on some of the happenings that rocked – and to some degree reshaped our place in the glass art world.
January
The Women’s march held in Washington D.C. on Jan. 21, 2017 was organized after the election of Donald Trump as president of the U.S. to demonstrate solidarity among women, minorities, LGBT and other disenfranchised communities. Glass Art Magazine editor Shawn Waggoner visited the Washington Glass School while in town for the event.
Glass Art Magazine editor Shawn Waggoner (second from left) was one of the participants in the Women’s March in January.
WGS Instructor Debra Ruzinsky was named the new director of the Appalachian Center for Craft. The Appalachian Center for Craft is located in scenic Middle Tennessee near the town of Smithville. The facility was built in 1979 and has spacious studios, gallery, exhibitions, administrative offices, library, student housing and meeting/audio visual rooms.
The Appalachian Center for Craft in Tennessee.
Glass Art Magazine featured our Michael Janis in a profiled in their magazine and as part of their podcast series “Talking Out Your Glass“.
Glass Art Magazine featured Michael Janis in the Jan/Feb issue.
February
Washington Glass Studio completed installation of a two-part public art project in Florida. Palm Beach County‘s Art in Public Places awarded WGS the commission to design and fabricate integrated public art sculptures as part of the renovation of an existing facility for the new headquarters for Palm Beach County’s Tourist Development Council (TDC) and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO). The works were installed starting in January and completed in February 2017.
Public art at Florida’s West Palm Beach International Airport
March
March featured the opening of “Embracing Narrative” – the joint exhibition of glass works by artists from the Washington Glass School and the Virginia Glass Guild opened this weekend at Virginia’s Portsmouth Art & Cultural Center (PACC). Juried by Diane Wright, Curator of Glass, Chrysler Museum of Art and Sheila Giolitti, Mayer Fine Art Gallery, the exhibit kicked off the Glass Art Society’s (GAS) 46th annual conference that was held at the Chrysler Museum and the Perry Glass Studio in June, 2017. 
April
Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) invited WGS’ Michael Janis in April to the museum to talk about his artwork that was featured in the exhibit “Mindful: Exploring Mental Health Through Art”. He talked about his glass process and the themes that run thru his work. 
In April, Habatat Galleries featured works by Washington Glass School artists Erwin Timmers, Tim Tate, Michael Janis and Sean Hennessey at the gallery’s 45th Glass International Award Exhibition.
Erwin Timmers’ new cast glass and LED panels were featured at the 45th International.
May
Washington Glass School co-founder Tim Tate was invited by Glenn Adamson, senior scholar at Yale, to speak at a symposium at Yale University. Tim talked about his work, as well as artists Roberto Lugo and Stephanie Syjuco. Tim Tate talked about how objects differ from other types of evidence, when it comes to histories of ideology and belief.
Tim Tate at Yale conference.
June
WheatonArts hot shop during Glass Weekend 2017
New Jersey’s WheatonArts opened GlassWeekend 2017– an International Symposium and Exhibition of Contemporary Glass. For 32 years, GlassWeekend brought together the world’s leading glass artists, collectors, galleries, and museum curators at Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center for a three-day weekend in June. This year’s demonstrating artists were Matthew Szosz, Rik Allen, and Shelley Muzylowski Allen. The keynote speaker featured Susie Silbert, the new Curator of Modern and Contemporary Glass at the Corning Museum of Glass.
Tim Tate was one of the featured LBGTQ artists in the Liberty Museum show.
The National Liberty Museum hosted the nation’s first museum exhibit of studio glass works produced exclusively by artists of the LGBTQ+ community. Each artist explored diverse subjects, methods, and styles using the artistic medium of glass making.
July
Teary-eyed farewell to our Ms Wilson – artist Trish Kent baked a farewell cake in the shape of Audrey’s favorite artistic element – a feather.
The glass table-making class was great fun!
Washington Glass School’s table making class ended with some happy artist/students! Erwin Timmers class made the glass for the tabletops and welded the steel for the table bases.
Audrey Wilson was recognized unstoppable force of nature! The Art Alliance for Contemporary Glass (AACG) awarded her with their Visionary Scholarship – with it, she was off to Penland for intensive workshops. Glass Art Magazine also featured Audrey with a great profile in the July/August issue! Ms Wilson had to say goodbye to WGS, as she began MFA classes at Ohio’s Kent State.
Glass Art Magazine featured Audrey Wilson in their July/August issue.
August
Tim Tate outlines the history of the American Studio Glass Movement to the class.
Baltimore’s Contemporary Glass Art class held at the CCBC visited the Washington Glass School as part of their studies. The group got to meet with many of the artists working from the studio, and were able to see how a school & studio functions.
LBK gets to work making changes in the Glass School.
Laura Beth Konopinski joined the WGS crew as the new Studio Coordinator coming from the Pittsburgh Glass Center. LBK quickly updated our procedures and has taken over the workings of the busy studio. Ms Konopinski’s artwork has also been noticed, with her work being sought out for exhibition at the Miami Art Week.
“The Great American Eclipse” was the name given to the solar eclipse visible within a band across the entire contiguous United States, passing from the Pacific to the Atlantic coasts. WGS celebrated by having the community over to watch the event using the studio’s protective welding eyewear.
Said WGS Co-Director Michael Janis of the eclipse: “whoa”.
September
Artist Sean Hennessey became a proud papa, introducing his best work yet: Atlas Leif. Mazel tov!
The James Renwick Alliance’s (JRA) annual Distinguished Artist Series (DAS) brings notable craft artists from around the country – and in September, the season started off great with Alex Bernstein as the distinguished artist in Glass. Alex took the JRA workshop attendees along a journey from billet to awesome in about 3 hours! The JRA Distinguished Artist walked the audience thru his signature process of “Bernstein-ing” his work, and everyone loved it!
DAS Alex Bernstein begins his workshop demo at the Washington Glass School. photo by Diane Charnov
October
Washington Glass School said farewell to Studio Artist Veta Carney as she retired from her law practice and headed out west with her husband to join her son Daniel Carney’s glass studio in Arizona.
Changes at the Glass Studio are best addressed with food.
November
The Sculpture Objects Functional Art and Design (SOFA) Fair in Chicago this past November was focused on three-dimensional art and design. Artists Tim Tate and Michael Janis were shown at Habatat Galleries space at Chicago’s Navy Pier.
Seen in Chicago SOFA 2017 at Navy Pier
Also in November, the Washington Glass Studio installed the site specific commission for the William Beanes Community Center in Suitland, MD. The internally illuminated artwork was commissioned by Prince Georges County for the new community center named for William Beanes, MD, who played a pivotal role in the history of The Star-Spangled Banner.
The William Beanes Community Center in Suitland, MD.
The images were designed and selected by the community after a series of interactive meetings and finalized with the help of local council members. The LED illuminated discs were mounted to a powder coated structure that was mounted to the building structure.
December
Tim Tate’s definitive profile by William Warmus in American Craft Magazine.
The December/January 2018 American Craft magazine issue features a story by author/critic William Warmus explores WGS co-founder Tim Tate’s history in the glass world. Titled “The Spaces Between“, William writes about what drives Tim’s work, and about the development (and controversy) of the Facebook “Glass Secessionism” page.
Miami Art Week 2017 featured works by WGS crew Michael Janis, Laura Beth Konopinsk, Tim Tate, Erwin Timmers & Alum Audrey Wilson.
December 2017 finished up with an amazing feat – ALL the principal staff of the Washington Glass School were featured as part of the worlds largest and most prestigious art fair – Art Basel/ Miami Art Week. The enormous art fair envelopes Miami and one cannot help but be inspired and encouraged.
Looking Ahead
2018 promises many new opportunities – looking ahead on the calendar:
New classes at the glass school! Michigan’s Habatat Galleries will again feature WGS artists in this year’s 46th International Glass Invitational in April. Michael Janis will be teaching an intensive session at Pittsburgh Glass Center in May. Tim Tate’s artwork will be part of the LA activist art show “Into Action!” curated by John Legend, Shepard Fairy, Rosario Dawson, Harry Belafonte and other notable activists, artists and museum curators. Never a dull moment!
Washington Glass School and Studio Wishes All the Best for the Holidays! May the New Year give wings to all of our dreams and let them come true in 2018!
2016 Washington Glass School Year-In-Review
As 2016 winds down, The Washington Glass School remembers what brought us together in 2016, and look forward the connections we’ll make in 2017.
It was a year to be confounded, shocked, outraged, exuberant, and saddened. Whether you loved 2016 or hated it, one thing is clear: It was a year full of the unexpected.
January
Marvin Lipofsky, 1938-2016
Studio Glass great Marvin Lipofsky passed away January 15, 2016. Marvin Lipofsky was one of the six students that Studio Glass founder Harvey Littleton instructed in a program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in fall 1962 and spring 1963. Marvin’s work has been an integral component of modern sculpture in glass for some 50 years while his personality was a challenge for many.
WGS alum Cheryl P Derricotte had a great year! Cheryl was a finalist in the 2016 Society for Contemporary Craft (SCC) LEAP awards. Later in the year, Cheryl received rave reviews with her solo exhibit “Ghost/Ships” at San Francisco’s Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD).
February
Protesters surround the BE factory in Portland after high hexavalent chromium levels were found.
It has been a tumultuous year for art glass makers. Researchers found elevated levels of toxic heavy metals near Uroboros and Bullseye Glass factories in Portland, OR, prompting ramped up regulation of the industry. Oregon’s EPA had focused its regulations that control emissions. The new regulations require costly industrial filters that prevent the release of glass production’s toxic byproducts. The EPA regulators later identified 14 factories that may make art glass using heavy metals.The cease and desist order threw art glass production in the US for a loop, with the glass companies struggling to comply. Bullseye Glass voluntarily stopped using the metals in its manufacturing process. Later it said it would never again use arsenic. It also suspended the use of chromium. The EPA story would play out all year long, closing a number of US art glass makers and shifting fabricators out of the country.
On a happier note, the Corning Museum of Glass (CMoG) announced the appointment of Susie J. Silbert as curator of modern and contemporary glass.
CMOG’s Curator of Modern & Contemporary Glass, Susie Silbert.
In February, members of the National Capital Area Glass Guild (NCAGG) visited at the Washington Glass School in February for a presentation on public art works. Tim Tate, Erwin Timmers and Michael Janis covered how possible site-specific projects are identified, how proposals were put together, and how a team is created to create the public art and installations – a real soup to nuts presentation.
The NCAGG at WGS.
Speaking of site-specific commissions, also in February, Washington Glass Studio completed two commissions for artwork in a refurbished downtown Bethesda building lobby. Working with art consultants, Directions in Art, Washington Glass Studio designed and fabricated artwork for two levels of an office building that was undergoing a major renovation.
Site specific illuminated glass artwork by Washington Glass Studio.
March
In March, the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery’s Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition selected Penland resident artist Dean Allison‘s cast glass sculpture as one of the 43 finalists selected from the competition’s more than 2,500 entries received in its celebrated competition, held every three years.
Michigan’s Habatat Galleries exhibited at New York Art Fair SCOPE featuring works by Tim Tate, Sean Hennessey and Michael Janis.
Art Fair Scope NYC 2016
April
Sean Hennessey teaching at Penland School of Craft in North Carolina in April.
In April, Sean Hennessey taught his bas relief cast glass and color techniques at NC’s Penland School of Craft, with Audrey Wilson as his teaching assistant.
The Laurel Library public artwork community glass “quilting bee” workshops began in April – and making the sculpture would continue most of the summer.
Laurel Library artwork sought involvement by the residents and the community.
May
In a move that shocked many in the art glass world, Spectrum Glass company announced that they were going out of business. Spectrum, which made System 96 fusing glass and numerous varieties of stained glass stated that “due to several factors, it’s no longer financially feasible for Spectrum Glass to continue to operate.” These factors included the EPA regulations imposed as of February 2016. In September, Spectrum announced that they “…finalized the sale of Spectrum Glass and System 96 brands, equipment, and formulas to world-renowned glass manufacturer Oceanside Glasstile (OGT) in Carlsbad, CA.”
Sibylle Peretti at the Smithsonian Renwick Gallery.
The James Renwick Alliance “Distinguished Artist” series – glass artist Sibylle Peretti was in Washington, DC for a workshop. On Sunday, May 22, Sibylle Peretti presented her works to the audience that gathered at the Smithsonian Renwick Gallery.
June
Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Craft/Material Studies student Sandhya Kiran Chiluvuri did a stint of independent study at Washington Glass School. Sandhya graduated VCU in just 2 and a half years after a career at a male-dominated computer job.
Sandhya Kiran Chiluvuri working in glass.
2016 Americans for the Arts Annual Leadership Awards.
The Americans for the Arts annual convention was June 17 – 19, 2016, held in Boston, MA. The Washington Glass Studio is proud to have made the awards for the 2016 Annual Leadership Awards.
July
The permanent collection returned to the refurbished Smithsonian Museum’s Renwick Gallery with a dynamic new presentation of 80+ objects celebrating craft as a discipline and an approach to living differently in the modern world. The installation, titled “Connections” featured favorites alongside new acquisitions made during the museum’s renovation. Nora Atkinson, The Lloyd Herman Curator of Craft, selected the objects and conceived the innovative presentation.
Pokémon Go — the augmented-reality game that sent the classic Japanese franchise into a new age — took the world by storm in July. The Washington Glass School was listed as a Pokestop, with the nearby Mt Rainier Mini-Park was designated a Poke gym. Go Figure.
Pokemon Go DC Destination: Washington Glass School.
August
Josh Hershman works on the Laurel Library artwork.
The Laurel Library public art sculpture continued in both the workshops and in assemblage. Glass artist Josh Hershman joined in on the process.
Curator Jennifer Lindsay brought together two sculptors, Laurel Lukaszewski (ceramics) and Joseph A. Corcoran (glass) to create site-specific installations for the Brentwood Arts Exchange in the show “Other Worlds of Imagination and Wonder“. Using collaborative installations as a way to intensify the viewer’s immersion in a transformative or revelatory experience, Lindsay juxtaposed works by both artists, from miniature to monumental, illuminating each artist’s individual responses to materials, nature, culture, and the environment.
September
2016 DC Mayor’s Arts Award
Washington, D.C.’s 31st Annual Mayor’s Arts Awards ceremony was held at the Historic Lincoln Theater and Washington Glass School Co-Director Michael Janis was awarded the “Excellence in the Arts” honor! The DC Mayor’s Arts Awards are the most prestigious honors conferred by the city of Washington, D.C. on artists, teachers, nonprofit organizations and patrons of the arts and humanities.
Artist Klaus Moje, who founded the Glass Workshop at the Australian National University School of Art, passed away in September at the age of 79. Klaus Moje had been recognized internationally as one of the most significant innovators in the medium of glass, and as a highly influential educator who has inspired several generations of young artists. Born in Hamburg, Germany, Moje established his first studio, in 1961. He relocated to Australia in 1982, where he founded the Glass Workshop of the Canberra School of Art and the modern art glass movement in Australia.
Klaus Moje 1936-2016
Michael Janis’ solo exhibit at Maurine Littleton Gallery – “Echoes of Leaves and Shadows” opened to great reviews. Dr Claudia Rousseau – Professor of Art History at Montgomery College – reviewed the show in the East City Art “glass works that cross the line between sculpture (as in relief sculpture) and painting, and which stand out in brilliant color….From both a technical and subjective viewpoint this is a striking show.” Washington Post Arts Critic Mark Jenkins wrote that Janis’ work “combine the stateliness of stained-glass windows with the vivacity of pop art — half medieval cathedral, half 1960s Vogue”.
October
Uroboros Glass Company- also located in Portland- announced that they will be shutting down after almost 44 years in the business. In December, Uroboros announced that the company had been sold and will continue production in Mexico. Bullseye Glass had announced that, under the supervision of the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Bullseye has implemented an environmental protection capital investment program, installing baghouses on 12 of their furnaces. Permanent rules adopted by the Oregon’s Environmental Quality Commission in September require the installation of additional technology, which were planned to be in place in December. Bullseye plans to resume full production of glass in early 2017. Until then, they are not be able to produce glasses containing chrome. BE continues to develop new chrome-free greens and have reformulated other styles. One of the styles BE reformulated is 0100 Black, which appears to be slightly more transparent than it was in the past. BE has advised that this will be the case until they can once again use chrome.
November
Opening of SOFA Chicago at Navy Pier.
SOFA Chicago! Once again, a number of artists from Washington Glass School were featured at SOFA CHICAGO – one of the longest running art fairs in the world, and the oldest art fair in Chicago.
Go CUBS! Audrey Wilson shows her support for the World Champs at Wrigley Field.
After 108 years of waiting, the Chicago Cubs won the 2016 World Series with 8-7 victory in the final game over the Cleveland Indians. Awesome.
Vitrum’s Judith Conway and Kevin O’Toole.
Vitrum Studios announced that their glass resource center would close at the end of 2016. Vitrum Studio was started by Judith Conway and Kevin O’Toole in 2001.
The Washington Glass Studio (WGS) completed installation of a community based site specific public art commission for Prince George’s County Laurel Library. On opening day the community members that participated in the creation of the over 100 glass panels eagerly sought out the location of their artworks.
Glass and steel artwork, titled “Involve Me and I Learn” installed at the new Laurel Library, Laurel, MD. photo by Pete Duvall.
December
The international contemporary art world descended on Miami, Florida for the infamous Art Basel Miami Beach exposition, and its numerous satellite events. The exhibits were as outrageous as ever, and Washington Glass School artists Tim Tate and Audrey Wilson’s work were featured at the shows. Tim Tate had a solo booth at SCOPE Miami, and Audrey Wilson at CONTEXT, showing at Alida Anderson Art Projects.
Tim Tate (and his artwork) = babe magnet.
PBS’ Maryland Public Television (MPT) tapped our Michael Janis to be Co-Host on the fifth season of the series ‘Artworks’ with host Rhea Feikin.The show features intriguing profiles of established, emerging and experimental artists from across the country working in all creative categories: musicians, performers, visual artists, writers, designers, and artisans.
Michael Janis and Rhea Feiken on Artworks episode 514
So much to absorb. Yet if 2016 was a world turned upside down, just wait until next year!
The instructors and artists at the Washington Glass School and Studio wish All a Happy New Year!
2015 Year In Review: Washington Glass School
The year of 2015 started off with some great shows – and that is how the year ended! Some highs, some lows, some sad farewells. The circle of life in a glass studio. Have a quick trip down Memory Lane for the past 12 months:
January
Maryland’s Salisbury University Galleries presented an exhibition of 21st Century glass artworks that showcased the expanded nature of contemporary sculptural glass art. Steven Durow, the Head of SU’s Art Department Glass Area was the curator of the exhibition. Said of the show: “Harvey Littleton, the recognized founder of the Studio Glass Movement in America famously quipped, “Technique is cheap.” Today, it is free. Now that an artist working in glass can do whatever they want, the focus becomes what will they choose to say with it? That [was] the focus of this exhibition.”
American University Museum in the Katzen Arts Center featured the insightful and disturbing kiln cast work by Silvia Levenson. Silvia channels her identity as a survivor of the Argentinian Dirty War and her work brought crowds to the AU Museum and talks about her work in January.
Sally Resnick Rockriver
The Brentwood Arts Exchange featured works by Ellyn Weiss, Pat Goslee and glass artist Sally Resnik Rockriver in “Unmapped”, where each artist presented art as a method of discovery, responding to forms and materials and explored their qualities as method of expression. Sally Resnick Rockriver’s sculpture combines ceramic glazes with hot glass, creating a thermal reactivity.
February
Erwin Timmers investigates Robert Kincheloe’s cast glass guitar before the jam session started.
March
Otis Street Arts Project (OSAP) opened its group studio in Mt Rainier. Founded by artists Sean Hennessey and David Mordini, OSAP’s studio spaces adjacent to the Washington Glass Studio have been a welcome addition, engaging the arts community with exhibits, presentations and discussions.
The James Renwick Alliance and the Smithsonian American Art Museum hosted the annual Spring Craft Weekend in March, culminating with the Spring Craft Gala at the Willard. The soiree also honored David & Clemmer Montague with the JRA Distinguished Service Award.
Howard Cohen has been presenting a course on the American Glass Movement at the Osher Institute at Towson University. Part of the course was to view contemporary glass artists and their studio. WGS’ Michael Janis gave a talk on his work and influences and had the class visit the Glass Studio and Maurine Littleton Gallery in Georgetown.
Towson University visited Maurine Littleton Gallery in Georgetown to be enlightened about the history of glass art.
April
Michigan’s Habatat Galleries‘43rd International Glass Invitational Exhibition was held at in Habatat’s spectacular Royal Oak, MI gallery. This huge exhibition featured over 100 artists from 22 countries with each exhibiting two glass artworks.
Artist Sean Hennessey has his cast glass and video artwork featured in Pittsburgh’s Morgan Contemporary Glass show “Teapots“. 
The American Center for Physics (ACP) explored the interplay between science and art. Sarah Tanguy was the Guest Curator for the show “FLOW” that featured sculptures by Washington Glass School artists Allegra Marquart, Syl Mathis, Debra Ruzinsky, Tim Tate, Erwin Timmers, and Audrey Wilson.
May
The Brothers De La Torre were the JRA’s Distinguished Artists in May. Einar and Jamex de la Torre showed their process at DC Glass Works studio and the mixed media artists spoke at the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
Visitors to the Glass School & Gateway Arts District might have noticed some artists had their faces plastered along Rhode Island Avenue – in the good way. Created by “Art Lives Here” an organization founded in Mount Rainier, MD, that seeks to partner the arts community with local businesses, used images of the area’s artists on the construction site hoardings as a way to increase the regional visibility of the Gateway Arts District. 
As of yet, no one has defaced any of the artist’s mug shots. 
Groundbreaking for the new Prince George’s County’s new Laurel Library – with WGS ‘ winning public artwork proposal.
Artist Elizabeth Ryland Mears curated an exhibit of contemporary glass art at Roanoke, VA Jacksonville Center for the Arts. Focusing solely on glass as a medium for creativity, “Rhythms of Glass” feature artists working in the style of stained, fused, cast, blown, and flame-worked glass.
Washington Glass School was also represented in West Virginia in May. The Ice House Gallery in Berkeley, WV featured their “Glass!” exhibit – with a number of works by WGS artists, including Erwin Timmers, Laurie Brown, Veta Carney, Trish Kent, Diane Cabe and Erin Antognoli.
June
Art and glass authority William Warmus discusses reticulate aesthetics with Corey Hampson.
Wheaton Arts GlassWeekend 2015 biennial event bought together an international array of acclaimed artists, collectors, gallery dealers, and museum curators for exhibits, demonstrations and lectures. WGS artists Sean Hennessey, Michael Janis, Allegra Marquart and Tim Tate were showcased again at New Jersey’s Creative Glass Center of America.
The American Glass Guild (AGG) held their 10th Anniversary Conference in Washington, DC in June. Speakers include University of Sunderland’s Dr Cate Watkinson, and WGS’ Michael Janis.
Dr Cate Watkinson is introduced as she presents @ the AGG conference held in Washington, DC.
July
Glass sculptors Jason Chakravarty and WGS’ Sean Hennessey had a 2-man show at Santa Fe’s William & Joseph Gallery. Both artists have an affinity for mixing glass with other mediums and create intriguing and evocative narratives. The show featured the cheeky title of “Kiss My Glass”.
August
Artist Susan Taylor Glasgow talks about her glass dress/chandelier at Penland.
North Carolina’s Penland School of Craft’s 30th Annual Benefit Auction was a rousing success: it smashed the previous record for attendance. The featured work, a glass dress by Susan Taylor Glasgow, was the centerpiece of the Northlight art exhibition.
Glenn Adamson, Director Of NYC’s Museum of Arts And Design talks about Tim Tate’s sculpture.
Audrey Wilson, Laurie Brown and Erwin Timmers go for a swim in the ocean of plastic balls.
The National Building Museum presented an interactive installation designed to bring the experience of going to the beach to downtown Washington, DC. The Museum’s Great Hall was turned into a “Beach” with an “ocean” of nearly one million recyclable translucent plastic balls.
September
Washington Glass School hosted artist Joseph Cavalieri for a workshop on Silk Screening and Painting On Glass. Joseph’s class was a wonderful experience – and many have asked that we repeat this class!
Joseph Cavaleri addresses the class.
Local glass artist Chuck Ireton passed away in September. He was an active voice in the DC glass scene will be missed by all.
Chuck Ireton at WGS plate glass class.
The Society For Contemporary Craft located in Pittsburgh opened a show ““Mindful: Exploring Mental Health through Art” that examines creativity’s role in mental health. The exhibit (that runs through March 12, 2016 and then travels) has more than 30 works by 14 contemporary artists. The exhibit looks at the impact that mental illness has on society, and the role the arts can play to encourage positive self-expression and guide effective mental-health treatment.
Pope Francis came to Washington, DC for a mass and a bit of a chat. His Holiness came by the glass school and was impressed by what he saw.
Pope Francis came by the Washington Glass School and was overwhelmed by the artwork on exhibit.
October
With the Pope’s blessing, Catholic University’s Architectural Fab Lab invited Michael Janis and Tim Tate to give a lecture on glass and new technology.
Catholic University’s Architecture department posts about Tim Tate & Michael Janis.
Washington Glass School instructor and artist Debra Ruzinsky was the only artist from the United States invited to the international Glass Heap Challenge competition held this year at Sweden’s Glass Factory Museum in Boda Glasbruk.
The Washington Glass Studio worked with art consultants Directions in Art to create a major site specific artwork installation in a downtown Bethesda, MD office building. Installed on the two main entry levels, the floor-to-ceiling artwork is illuminated with full width LED panels.
Erwin Timmers directs the installation of the first phase of the Bethesda artwork installation.
Superstar glass artist Laura Donefer came by the Glass School and talked about her work and inspirations on Halloween.
Laura Donefer talks about her work.
It was all treat and no tricks!
November
Chicago’s S.O.F.A. Art Fair – featured a number of artists from the Washington Glass School showing galleries at the international art show. This year the show included a number of galleries that were outside its traditional “media specific” focus.
The website for the international art fair SOFA featured work by Michael Janis on its home page.
After a two-year, major renovation that included completely renewed infrastructure, enhanced historic features and other upgrades, the historic Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum re-opened. A centerpiece of the reopening is the special exhibition, WONDER, featuring site-specific installations by nine major contemporary artists.
December
Tim Tate had a very successful exhibition at Habatat Galleries.
The Washington Glass School got a new glass & ceramic kiln – a hot pink beauty! The winter open house was our excuse to break in the newbie with something delicious – pizza!
Erwin Timmers loads the kiln… with cheese pizza! Cooking time can be very fast – when set at 1800 F.
Whew! That was a very busy year! Ok, enough of the auld lang syne – let’s get to work on the coming year projects!
The Washington Glass School Wishes Joy & Happiness in 2016 to All!
Washington Glass School Year in Review 2014
2014 started with an ambitious solo show at the Glass School gallery and turned into year of transformation and shows. There were exhibitions, installations, articles, talks and television spots.
Needless to say, a lot has happened. You can be caught up by looking thru the monthly list of events:
January
Audrey Wilson’s exhibit “The Aberrant Collection of the Spurious Calamus”
The year started with artist Audrey Wilson’s solo show at the WGS Gallery. The Gallery Beat section of the Old Town Crier newspaper has a great review of the exhibit – “The Aberrant Collection of the Spurious Calamus” – describing Audrey as “another giant signpost in the evolving art history of glass.”
American Craft’s Chris Amundsen takes a quick pic of Audrey at her show.
One of the visitor’s to the exhibit was the Exec Director of the American Craft Council, Chris Amundsen, who later sent a note to the artist praising the “thoughtfulness and execution” of her work.
February
Miami’s international contemporary art fair “Art Wynwood 2014″ had featured international galleries presenting emerging, cutting edge, contemporary and modern works. Works by WGS artists Tim Tate, Sean Hennessey, Audrey Wilson, Michael Enn Sirvet and Novie Trump were on exhibit.
Artist Erwin Timmers reviews construction of the steel framework for the glass public art sculpture.
At the end of 2013, the DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities (DCCAH) had awarded the commission of a new public art sculpture to the Washington Glass Studio. Fabrication of the monumental sculpture took place, as did the community workshops to create the art glass panel insets.
D.C. Ward 7 residents participate in the creation of the District’s newest public art sculpture at workshops held at WGS.
The workshops took place throughout Spring of 2014, and each was filled beyond capacity.
March
American Craft Magazine article about Glass Secessionism.
The American Craft Council issue of American Craft Magazine featured an interview held by Editor-in-Chief Monica Moses and WGS artist Tim Tate about “Glass Secessionism” and how artists are exploring and advancing the medium. Titled “The World Beyond Studio Glass” the story became one of the magazine’s most controversial article in many years.
Later in the month, glass powder guru – Michael Janis – saddled up and headed out West to talk with the New Mexico and Arizona’s AACG groups about his technique and his artwork.
Michael Janis talks to the Art Alliance for Contemporary Glass (AACG) in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
April
Michigan’s Habatat Galleries is the oldest and largest gallery in the United States devoted exclusively to artists working with glass as their medium. The gallery hosts an annual “International Glass Invitational“, which for 42 years has introduced and exhibited the greatest artists working creatively with glass. In April,three artists from the Washington Glass School – Sean Hennessey, Michael Janis and Tim Tate were included in the exhibition.
Habatat Galleries 42nd International Invitational.
Tim Tate addresses the Arizona Art Glass Alliance.
April also brought the AACG group from Arizona to Washington, D.C. The collectors, artists, and glass aficionados visited notable local collections, Maurine Littleton Gallery and wound up their tour of the Nation’s Capitol with dinner and a show at the Washington Glass School.
Josh Hershman’s cast glass cameras.
Glass artist and photographer Josh Hershman shows his kiln cast glass cameras, and integrated the visiting AZ crew and the artists showing into a new artwork. Josh’s artwork piece later received an International 1st Place GAS award, and was exhibited at Chicago SOFA.
May
The James Renwick Alliance (JRA) named WGS’ Michael Janis a “Distinguished Artist”. In early May, Michael presented at the Smithsonian’s American Art Museum’s McEvoy Auditorium. He outlined his career, process, and artwork. The talk at the museum was broadcast live and is now online.
Michael Janis talks about his artwork at the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
UK artists Criss Chaney and Robyn Townsend came to do a residency at the Glass School. The Sunderland artists dove into the projects that were ongoing at the glass studio.
Criss Chaney and Robyn Townsend work with Audrey Wilson.
One of the ongoing projects that started in May was the overhaul of one of the studio’s big casting kilns. The daunting project was one of the all-hands-on-kiln and even involved having Steve Durow, of the glass program at Maryland’s Salisbury University came to help out on this major project.
Head of the Glass Program at Salisbury University – Steven Durow – looking overwhelmed at rebuilding the casting kiln.
Also in May, Tim Tate was awarded Habatat Galleries 2014 Brilliance Award for “working on the highest level of innovation, intensity, and imagination within the contemporary glass community” .
Tacoma Museum of Glass Exec Director Susan Warner came to the glass school to see what is shaking on this side of the country. Susan Warner – Exec Director of Tacoma Mog – in the other Washington – came for a visit and to get some ideas to take home. Perhaps an East Coast/West Coast thing can result!
L-R Tim Tate, Susan Warner – Exec Director of Tacoma Museum of Glass, and Michael Janis
June
The D.C. Gateway Community Arch public art sculpture continued in its creation. In June, after firing and sizing over 300 individual glass panel insets, installation on site took place.
Artist Derek Thomas joined the studio to work on the sculpture.
The steel arrived onsite, and the entire studio participated in the assemblage. Miles Lark joined WGS from Michigan to be part of the sculpture team.
Miles has hit the ground running, helping to install the DC Gateway Arch on his first days in the studio.
July
Bon Voyage Nancy Donnelly!
One of our long-time Studio Artists – Nancy Donnelly said farewall to WGS and Washington, D.C. Off to travel through Europe and ultimately return to Seattle, WA.
Taking over the financial bookkeeping role is artist Laurie Brown, and she now keeps the studio running like clockwork.
Laurie Brown throws up her hands as she goes thru the books.
WGS often has international artists and come to work and learn at the studio. This year we had Macadonian designers & glass artists Janko and Mimi Gogusevski working at the glass school.
August
Audrey Wilson had a great year for exhibitions! In August, her work was featured at Asheville, NC’s Bender Gallery. Simultaneously, Virginia’s Portsmouth Art & Cultural Center (near Norfolk’s Chrysler Museum) joins with the TCC Visual Art Center featured her artwork in a glass exhibits that celebrated the next generation of the studio glass movement.
Audrey Wilson at North Carolina’s Bender Gallery.
Michael Janis was off to teach a class in using glass frit to create narrative imagery at Penland School of Crafts in August. With WGS Alum Evan Morgan as his Teaching Assistant, the workshop was non-stop excitement in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Michael Janis and Evan Morgan discuss kiln schedules at Penland School of Crafts.
Also during August and at Penland – the annual Penland Auction took place. The event is always a favorite – and next year- 2015 – promises to be even bigger, with Tim Tate bringing 100 collectors from the AACG to the party!
Saturday auction pieces at Penland.
September
Sean Hennessey’s mixed and multimedia series “Alice Revisioned” solo exhibit was held 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.
Washingtonian Magazine September Issue listed the WGS Beginner’s Class among the Top 87 cool classes in DC.
Sean Hennessey finishes set-up at the College of Southern Maryland.
Washingtonian Magazine’s September issue featured the top 87 cool classes in DC. Under the category of “Unleashing Your Inner Artist”, the head of the class is Washington Glass School’s beginners class.
October
The ISC conference returned to New Orleans for the 24th International Sculpture Conference: Sculpture, Culture, and Community. This conference had a panel discussions, “Glass as Sculptural Medium in the 21st Century” that had Professor Gene Koss, arts writer/critic/historian/scuba diver William Warmus, and WGS Professor Tim Tate, moderated by Patrick Blythe.
ISC Panel discussion. L-R Patrick Blythe, Tim Tate, William Warmus, Gene Koss.
Omaha’s Gallery 72 held an exhibition that showed the arc of development from the start of the U.S. Studio Glass movement in a show titled “The Greatness of Studio Glass“. The exhibit featured works by WGS’ Michael Janis and Allegra Marquart. The newspaper “The Reader” gave the exhibit a glowing review – Gallery 72 has given us an engaging array of pieces from art glass’s past and present. It is not to be missed. Harvey Littleton would be proud.”
In October, Washington Glass Studio was on a shortlist for a new public art project to be created for the West Palm Beach, Florida International Airport. After an intense review and meeting with the arts review jury of Palm Beach County, WGS was awarded the exterior public art projects for the Sheriff Department and the Tourism Office.
Erwin Timmers is briefed on the requirements for the Palm Beach project.
November
Tim Tate’s stunning installation was on the main aisle.
The month started with the extravaganza that is S.O.F.A. Chicago. WGS artists Sean Hennessey, Michael Janis, Allegra Marquart and Tim Tate were all exhibiting at the international contemporary art fair.
SOFA Chicago artists : L-R Michael Janis, Sibylle Peretti, Alex Bernstein, Tim Tate, Laura Beth Konopinski, Ashley McFarland and Josh Hershman.
One of the best aspects of this show is the number of famous glass artists that are actually there in person at the show. It was great to hang out with so many glass stars! More images of the SOFA Chicago show are online – click HERE to jump to the Flickr album.
Memorial Day, 2014 also was the dedication of one of the Washington Glass Studio’s public art projects completed this year. County Executive Ike Leggett and Council president Craig Rice dedicated the plaza and its Fallen Heroes Memorial, which is part of the Judicial Center Annex construction project in Rockville, MD.
Fallen Heroes Memorial at Montgomery County’s new Judical Annex and plaza.
December
The pace was non-stop up til the end of 2014. December started with the HUGE Art Basel/Art Miami fairs. WGS’ Audrey Wilson did well at the Context Fair with Alida Anderson Art Project. The Washington City Paper mentioned her work and had her comment on the international art fair in an article “What D.C. Galleries Brought to Two Miami Art Fairs, and What They Got Out of It“. Glass Secessionism (GS) moved forward with founders Tim Tate and William Warmus gathering information about glass artwork that is outside the traditional Studio Glass realm shown at the art fair.
William Warmus with artwork by Ai Weiwei titled Crystal Cube.
Maryland Public Television (MPT) aired the third season of its weekly arts series “Artworks”. The show features profiles of artists from across the country working in all creative categories: musicians, performers, visual artists, writers, designers, artisans – and experimental others who defy definition. Each program gives viewers insider access to outstanding artists they might never see otherwise. December’s Episode 310 featured artwork by Washington Glass School’s Michael Janis in its “Pop Ups” segment.
Washington Glass School Artist Michael Janis featured on Maryland’s PBS station.
Whew! That was a very busy year! Ok, enough of the auld lang syne – let’s get to work on 2015!
The Washington Glass School Wishes Joy & Happiness in 2015 to All!
The Year That Was – 2013 Review
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| 2013 Year In Review |
From beginning to end (and we’re not done yet), everyone at the Washington Glass School has been extremely busy throughout this year. We are excited to share a snapshot of what’s been going on and hope it will inspire you as much as it has inspired us!
January
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| AACG website |
2013 Started off right – the Art Alliance for Contemporary Glass (AACG) featured WGS’ Michael Janis as the “Artist of the Month“. The Art Alliance for Contemporary Glass is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to further the development and appreciation of art made from glass.
Erwin Timmer’s sculpture made from recycled glass was selected as part of the Arlington Arts Center ‘s national exhibit INTERWOVEN: Art. Craft. Design.
February
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| Architect of the Capitol inspects the cast glass. |
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| Erwin Timmers provides thrills for visiting UK artists. |
The Washington Glass Studio project of designing and creating cast glass doors for the Library of Congress continued, with an inspection and review of the glass by the Architect of the Capitol. Arrangements for the International Glass & Clay exhibit – the third collaborative exhibition organized by Artomatic and the DCCAH between Washington, DC artists and artists from DC’s Sister City of Sunderland, England took place in February, with the visiting artists arriving late in the month. Erwin Timmers made sure the Brits staying with him had a taste of American adventure, being caught up in a too-fast police car chase that included the escaping fugitive ramming Erwin’s van. The UK artists were told that car chases and gun shootings are as common as they appear in any Bruce Willis movie.
March
Sister Cities Washington, DC and Sunderland, England collaborated to create an exhibition of artwork in the mediums both cities are renown for – glass and ceramics.
The International Glass & Clay opened March 1, and the show featured exhibits, lectures, workshops and talks that integrated artists from the UK and the USA.
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| Intl Glass & Clay opening night at Pepco Edison Gallery |
This was the third collaborative exhibition organized by Artomatic, the DCCAH, Sunderland City, the University of Sunderland and the UK National Glass Centre.
The show garnered a lot of interest from international sources. The British Council USA enlisted Michael Janis as a its US Cultural Ambassador, providing stories to the UK’s blog about artist Phil Vickery and how the relationship between the two glass centers enabled Tim Tate and Michael Janis to fulfill their Fulbright Scholar assignments.
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| UK glass artists demo at DC GlassWorks. |
Workshops by visiting artists Robyn Townsend and Criss Chaney at the glass school and hot glass demos by Roger The, Phil Vickery and Colin Rennie gave the DC glass scene lots to see and think about.
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| Many of the visiting artists enjoyed brunch at Artomatic’s George Koch’s place. |
The James Renwick Alliance (JRA) also participated in the international show, holding a High Tea event at the Edison Place Gallery.
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| Tea with the Brits and the JRA formed the closing events. Photo by Miriam Rosenthal. |
The UK organizations that showed in the USA arranged to show works by the DC artists in the UK, and featured the artwork at the Sunderland Museum and the Edinburgh Art Fair later in the year. Nancy Donnelly had created
April
The James Renwick Alliance’s Spring Craft Weekend theme was The Stars of Today and Tomorrow. Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Renwick Gallery had master artists Bruce Metcalf and Adrian Saxe, along with Hunt Clark and Sean Hennessey, and moderator Cindi Strauss, curator of Modern and Contemporary Decorative Arts of Houston’s Museum of Fine Arts in a panel discussion about the direction of contemporary craft.
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| JRA Spring Craft Weekend panel discusion at the Smithsonian. Photo by Miriam Rosenthal. |
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| Audrey Wilson |
The JRA Weekend also had the Glass Fashion Show, MC’d by glass superstar Laura Donefer. Glass artists from around the country participated and modeled the sartorial splendor, including our Audrey Wilson and Susan Taylor Glasgow.
 Susan Taylor Glasgow teaches Michael Janis a thing or two about glass. |
| Susan Taylor Glasgow lashes out at Michael Janis. |
Nancy Donnelly completed a commissioned artwork piece for the Lewinsville Presbyterian Church in McLean, VA.
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| Nancy Donnelly’s Baptismal Font. |
Tim Tate and Sean Hennessey were included in Michigan’s Habatat Gallery’s International Invitational. The exhibition had over 300 works of glass art and 2 separate exhibitions.
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| “Radar” Tim Tate and Sean Hennessey |
May
Erwin Timmers’ colorful eco-friendly glass sculpture was on display in the Brentwood Arts Exchange gallery’s Front Window Gallery in May. Thoughtful and ingenious, Erwin’s sculpture calls attention to contemporary issues through a creative re-engineering of often-overlooked forms and concepts, often focusing on industrial salvage and recycling.
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| Erwin Timmers sculptures in the Front Window Gallery. Photo by Krista Schlyer. |
In May, Duncan McClellan Gallery in St. Petersburg, Florida opened an exhibit centered on works by artists of the Washington Glass School.
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| Duncan McClellan Gallery |
Called DC-5′ – Works by Artists of the Washington Glass School, the show had works by Sean Hennessey, Michael Janis, Allegra Marquart, Tim Tate and Erwin Timmers. St Petersburg Museum of Fine Art hosted a talk by Sean and Tim about their works and process.
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| Sean Hennessey at St. Petersburg’s MFA. |
The American Craft Council’s magazine – American Craft featured Michael Janis with a profile on his glass artwork. The huge 8 page story gave insights to his imagery and process. This issue also included work by Tim Tate, and we have learned that the April/May issue won a national publishing award – no doubt due to the WGS stories.
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| American Craft April/May magazine can’t fit Michael’s head on one page. Photo by Robert Severi. |
Jumping from Sunny Florida to Glamorous Venice, Italy is a daunting task – but Tim Tate’s artwork can handle the leap easily. Tangents, a show featuring works by artists Christopher Baer and Tim Tate opened on the 4th floor of the Palazzo Bembo during the Venice Biennale. June
The biennial International Symposium and Exhibition of Contemporary Glass – GlassWeekend – was hosted in June by the Creative Glass Center of America at WheatonArts and the Art Alliance for Contemporary Glass.
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| Amy Morgan – talks about the glass sculpture in Morgan Contemporary Glass booth during GlassWeekend. |
So much went on
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| Keke Cribbs @ GlassWeekend. |
during the long weekend; a compelling keynote talk by Judith Schaechter; introduction of the 2014 “Rising Stars of Glass”; fantastic demos; looking at the candy storeof glass art, up close and personal; seeing friends, collectors and artists – it was a great time.
American University Museum‘s Katzen Arts Center opened Tim Tate’s show “Sleepwalker”. Tim’s latest work has moved toward video installations. Rich in symbol, metaphor, movement, and mystery, videos, enable us to participate in another reality. The record-breaking show featured collaborations with artists Pete Duvall and Richard Schellenberg.
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| “Sleepwalker” installation at American University Museum. |
Washington Glass Studio was kept busy in June – creating and installing a new commissioned artwork for Kaiser Permanente‘s refurbished and expanded Largo, MD. medical facility.
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| Erwin and Audrey install Kaiser Permanente |
The Washington Glass Studio was also awarded the DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities’ Public Art commission for an outdoor sculpture to be located at DC’s new Unity Parkside Health Care center. The new health center is located just down the road from the Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens, a National Park Service site.
American Craft Magazine featured the collaborative team approach for the Library of Congress cast glass doors.
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| American Craft Magazine June/July 2013 issue re: Library of Congress cast glass. |
July
Big congrats went out to our expat alum Jeff Zimmer. London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, one of the world’s largest museum of decorative arts and design, acquired one of Jeff’s artworks for its permanent collection. Speaking of Brits – Susan Ratliff – a glass artist from the University of Sunderland – came to the Washington Glass School for a summer residency.
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| Susan Ratliff helps Audrey Wilson create the 2013 DC Shorts film awards. |
August
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| Penland, NC |
Sean Hennessey and Tim Tate led a tour for the Penland Auction at North Carolina’s Penland School of Crafts. The guys took the James Renwick Alliance (JRA) group to many of the the artist studios that surround Penland, some of the galleries of Asheville, and then to the beautiful setting in the Blue Ridge Mountains that surrounds Penland for the auction. Accompanying the group was Jennifer Scanlan, independent curator and craft scholar.
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| Aqualino Cancer Center |
In
August, the Washington Glass Studio installed art glass made for the the chapel in Shady Grove Hospital‘s new Aqualino Cancer Care center.
September
UK ceramic artist Philippa Whiteside came to next door Flux Studios to do an artist residency. UK Sunderland City Council reps came to DC to discuss future collaborative proposals and brought Philippa to the meetings with DC and UK agencies.
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| Public Art talk with DCCAH |
Mt Rainier’s Joes’ Movement Emporium hosted an exhibit and talk about how public art comes into being. “Public Art Concepts” gave the public a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to create artwork for a public space. The exhibit featured scale models and proposals for public art works and opening night featured a lively panel of participating artists and reps from funding agencies that have diverse experience in the public art arena.
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| Sean Hennessey |
October
Sean Hennessy had a solo show at The Dunes Gallery in Washington, DC. His show, titled “The Luxury of Dreams” was 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 created a strong and surreal body of works that takes his work to a new level.
School was back in session with Professor Debra Ruzinsky’s lecture on the history of the studio glass movement. Students, including a class from Salisbury University, enjoyed Deb’s talk that included pre-’60s and ’70s works, works by women, European glass artists, kiln casters, and narrative works – all the alternate viewpoints.
Audrey Wilson’s artwork was selected as the best from the Midwest, 28 glass artworks from 21 glass artists have been selected for this year’s Indiana Glass Arts Alliance (IGAA) annual exhibition. Titled “GATHERING: Contemporary Glass from the Heartland,” the exhibition at the Indiana University Kokomo Art Gallery. Nearly 150 applications, from 48 glass artists in six states, were reviewed by a two-member jury panel. Tom Riley, who for 30 years has owned Riley Galleries, in Cleveland, Ohio along with glass artist and director of the glass program at Kent State University, Sean Mercer, collaborated on selecting artwork for the exhibition.
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| Audrey Wilson |
Audrey – who will be having a solo exhibition at the Washington Glass School Gallery – opening Jan. 11, 2014 – had two works selected for the Indiana show.
Baltimore’s gallery and showroom Case[werks] opened its October Group Exhibit, Product Lines: Art & Function Delineated, featuring works of our eco-artist, Erwin Timmers. Ceramics, furniture, glass, prints, textiles, and design samples were displayed in tableaus.
The pitter-patter of little feet could be heard in the studio – a part-time studio dog, Faygo, arrived. A gentle soul, the pup has been marking his territory in earnest, much to Erwin’s dismay.
November
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| Tim Tate at SOFA. |
The 20th year anniversary of the big S.O.F.A. Chicago Art show proved to be a good one for the Washington Glass School artists. The show always promises to be an overload of art, ideas, artists and extravagance, and it delivered.
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| Susan Taylor Glasgow’s mobile chandeliers were stunning. |
Also this year, a number of talks about the future of the glass movement were held;
Glass Secessionism had a round-table talk hosted by William Warmus and Tim Tate centered on Post-Studio Glass and Glass Secessionism. This talk generated a tremendous amount of buzz during the art fair, and is the ideas generated sure to continue to reverberate thru the glass world. Clearly, this is a topic that has the ability to stir passions – expect more to come. Articles about the evolving nature of studio glass and Glass Secessionism have since been published in Urban Glass’ Art Quarterly winter magazine.
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| Glass Secessionism panel talk at SOFA Chicago 2013. L-R Tim Tate, Perry Price, William Warmus and Jennifer Scanlan. |
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| Audrey Wilson at CONTEXT/ Art Miami. |
December
The winter got hot quickly – with many of the WGS artists showing at the Art Basel/Art Miami fairs. Audrey Wilson worked the fair at Alida Anderson Art Project gallery, and her artwork was among the standout pieces.
In December, we congratulated alum Jeff Zimmer on being awarded the 2014 Stephen Procter Fellowship. The international award will be taking Jeff to Australia for a residency at The Australian National University.
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| Harvey Littleton, c. 1978, working at his studio in Spruce Pine, NC |
December also brought the passing of the man credited with defining the start of the American Studio Glass Movement, Harvey K. Littleton. His work, his legacy of taking glass to the university, and his concepts still define much of modern glass.
Time moves us forward, and we don’t always see the end result to which our paths lead. As we look to the future, here’s to keeping our ‘bug eyed’ sense of wonder to the medium in which we work and the people in our lives.
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| Best Wishes for a Great 2014 from Washington Glass School! |
2012 Year In Review
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Before we throw away the 2012 calender, we are looking thru the pages of the Washington Glass School dates and blog postings – noting that events from a few months ago seem like ages ago. The strange phenomena of time flying by is observed once again. Many of the years past events were months – or years- in planning and preparation, and seemed like they would never happen, now seem faraway, and the impact, both good and bad will be here for a while. Month by month – here is a quick review of Washington Glass School’s 2012:
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January 2012
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| “Facture” exhibit at Bullseye Gallery, Portland. |
Michael Janis started the year out west, showing at Bullseye Gallery in Portland, OR. The show “Facture“ was centered on artists that use glass as a canvas with artists Michael Janis, Kari Minnick, Martha Pfanschmidt, Ted Sawyer, Abi Spring, and Jeff Wallin; moderated by Michael Endo. The show ran thru February, and later traveled to Bullseye’s RCBA Gallery
in Emeryville, CA.
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February
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| Rob Kincheloe gets close to the critter. |
Italian flameworker Simone Crestani was here teaching workshops at the new Chrysler Museum of Art Glass Workshop. While here in the area, Simone was working at Rob Kincheloe’s new torch studio out in Virginia.
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| After annealing, the bug was filled with plasma and charged. |
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| The installed sculpture at Smith Farm |
The “Science of Art Laboratory” (SOFALab) project was created to initiate the spark of communication that can bring out new understanding and develop new tools of interactions from both the sciences and arts. Developed as a collaborative effort from the Executive Director of Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, Shanti Norris; the Director of Printmaking at George Mason University, Helen Fredrick; and the Founder of Hamiltonian Artists and physics professor of George Mason University, Paul So, a SOFAlab project was held with Dr. Caroline Wellberry and Erwin Timmers using glass diverted from the waste stream.
The students were from Georgetown University and Residents from the Fort Lincoln Clinic. The resulting glass and steel sculpture was exhibited at Smith Center Gallery.
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| Michael & Christina Bothwell: TLF. |
February is also the month of Love – with American Craft Magazine included Michael Janis in its survey on who was “Craft Crushing”. Michael was all about sculptor Christina Bothwell.
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| The Washington British Embassy hosted the signing of the US/UK Friendship Agreement. L-R Chief Executive of Sunderland City Council Dr David Smith and Washington, DC Mayor Vincent C. Gray |
The cities of Washington, DC and Sunderland, England renewed their Friendship Agreement in February, and the formal connection between the two cities were strengthened. The unique connection has allowed for international exchanges that played out in the year and beyond.
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March
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| Professors Tate and Janis at UK’s Washington Old Hall, ancestral home of US President George Washington. |
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| Sunderland Uni has a world class glass facility. |
Fulbright Scholars Michael Janis and Tim Tate were off to England’s North East, teaching at the University of Sunderland. Joined by Michael’s wife, Kay Janis, acting as chaperone for the lads, the boys were teaching at the National Glass Centre in the expansive glass facilities at the University.
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| DC’s Fulbright duo teach at Creative Cohesion. |
Creative Cohesion, a Sunderland, England artist collaborative was initiated by artists that had participated in one of DC’s Artomatic events. Inspired by and modeling themselves on the Washington Glass School model, the City of Sunderland helped create a non-profit organization which specializes in arts based activities, and provides space, facilities and services to local creative practitioners and the local community. Creative Cohesion’s facilities include a glass hot-shop, which was set to open, and Michael and Tim were invited to teach at the inaugural glass workshops. The gallery component of Creative Cohesion was one of the exhibitors at London’s Affordable Art Fair in March. Michael and Tim were invited to show their artwork at the huge international art fair, and the lads were off to the big city.
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| The artists celebrate at London’s Affordable Art Fair. |
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| Jeffrey Sarmiento, Kevin Petrie and Michael Janis |
Back to the University of Sunderland, for a big wrap up of more workshops. Professor and glass artist Jeffrey Sarmiento – showed Michael how the University’s waterjet machine worked with glass panels, creating a class demo piece.
Hugs to all as the Fulbrighters returned home to Washington, DC, determined to reinforce the connections made. Right after the boys left Sunderland, Creative Cohesion’s artist facility was damaged as the adjacent building partially collapsed during a strong windstorm, closing the artist center until later in the year.
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| Click HERE to jump to video link |
Upon Tim’s return to DC, he appeared as one of the speakers in a TED Talk about “The Creative City”.
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April
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| “Jazz Man” tops the refurbished Howard Theater. |
Sean Hennessey was in the news as Washington’s historic Howard Theater re-opened to fanfare. Working with Brower Hatcher and Mid-Ocean Studios, Sean created the concrete and glass trumpet form for the team.
At the opening, Sean was interviewed by National Public Radio (NPR).
Erwin Timmers was one of the 121 featured artists at the 30th Annual Smithsonian Craft Fair.
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| Erwin Timmers and Mick Coughlin set up at the National Building Museum. |
His cast recycled glass sculptures were a strong point of the show at the National Building Museum.
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| Space Shuttle Discovery does a low flyover the Washington Glass School in April. |
NASA’s Space Shuttle program was retired, and the shuttle “Discovery” flew over the glass school as it headed out across the country. We ate “astronaut freeze dried ice cream” in its honor.
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| Tim Tate’s glass and video sculptures received the “Critics Award” at Habatat Galleries 40th Annual International exhibit in Michigan. |
Habatat Galleries held its 40th Annual International invitational, and exhibited Tim Tate’s video reliquaries. Tim’s work won the Critic’s Award at the show.
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May
May started off running with Glass Art Magazine having an article about Erwin Timmers eco-glass and a cover story about Michael Janis’ frit powder drawings – creating a publishing two-fer! The magazine also late ran a special online feature about Tim Tate & Michael Janis’ Fulbright adventures.
Some great photos by Pete Duvall of Anything Photographic filled the 10 pages of articles about Erwin and Michael.
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| The design concept for the LOC Adams building doors. |
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| Rubber mold from one of the LOC sculptures. |
The Washington Glass Studio began working on the Library of Congress Adams Building doors in May, working to recreate the historic sculpted bronze doors in cast glass. The project integrates a number of artists from the Washington Glass School and connects craft artisans from FireArt Glass in Portland, OR. Sean Hennessey started the process by creating a test panel taken from the original doors. There would be a full size sample made of the cast /laminated artwork panel, submitted to the US Architect of the Capitol for approval.
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| Dave D’Orio’s artwork awarded by the JRA. |
Artomatic 2012 – the month long, non-juried, anything-goes exhibit opened in May. This year, the setting was a soon-to-be-demolished office building in Crystal City. 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. At this Artomatic, the JRA sponsored activities and programs, and had reviewed the 10 floors of artwork, selecting winners in different media.
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| Sean Hennessey’s artwork awarded by the JRA |
Dave D’Orio, Sean Hennessey and Michael Janis were each selected for their works in glass. The JRA also sponsored receptions and artist talks during the event. (FYI- The not-for-profit organization Artomatic.org has been instrumental in organizing international exhibits that brought together Sunderland artists and the Washington Glass School, and some new plans are being developed for the coming year.)
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June
2012 was anniversary year marking the start of the American Studio Glass Movement in 1962. A number of shows were held this summer to give some insight into how the art form has changed during the past 50 years. In the arty city of Asheville, NC, Bender Gallery showcased Erwin Timmers, and Asheville’s Blue Spiral 1 hosted a show about the next generation of glass artists (including Christina Bothwell, Thor & Jennifer Bueno, Susan Taylor Glasgow, Sean Hennessey, Michael Janis, Marc Petrovic, Tim Tate and others).
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| Marc Petrovic demo’s at GAS |
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| Laura Donefer works the runway. |
The Glass Arts Society (GAS) held its annual conference in the nominal birthplace of the studio glass movement – Toledo, OH. Said Tim Tate of the Toledo GAS – “
[Outgoing GAS President] Jeremy Lepisto’s gang did a spectacular job! and Laura Donefer’s fashion show blew me away!”
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July
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| Sean Hennessey gets serious at the LOC. |
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| The panel molds are cleaned in the studio. |
The month of July was a scorcher! Work continued on the US Library of Congress bronze doors in the sun with temps in the mid ’90’s F (mid 30’s C!). The “rockets red glare” refers to how hot it feels. Sean and crew worked in the brutal heat taking rubber molds from the Lee Lawrie bronze sculpted doors.
The Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian Museum opened its spectacular “Craft Futures – 40 Under 40” exhibit. 40 under 40:Craft Futures features forty artists born since 1972, the year the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s contemporary craft and decorative arts program was established at the Renwick.
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| Matt Szosz at the opening of 40 Under 40. |
The show, curated by Nicholas Bell, showed how the youngsters in craft are remaking the world of craft.
This show generated many discussions on how craft is no longer a part of the “apprentice to a master” world, and is one where the young students wish not to be tied to any one craft media.
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| Audrey Wilson models the latest in cold shop fashion. |
Speaking of kids today, in July, Audrey Wilson joined the Washington Glass School as the new studio coordinator. Audrey had met Tim Tate when he was teaching a workshop at the Chrylser Museum of Glass in June, and applied for the position.
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| Elegance comes to the Glass School. |
Audrey soon was teaching classes at the Glass School, and her accessible and welcoming teaching style won over many of the artists at the studio.
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August
In August, the Brentwood Arts Exchange (part of Maryland’s Prince George’s Parks and Recreation) held part of its summer Creative Expressions Camp encouraging the kids to explore a variety of artistic media as well as contemporary reading and writing activities around such themes as animals, nature, and adventure.
The studio was overrun with kids, all eager to try working in glass. Some showed an intuitive knack for the craft – Who knows where these young artists will take the medium and artworld as they grow up!
Ceramic artist Novie Trump worked in the studio, working to incorporate glass into a commissioned artwork piece. Novie wanted to make an illuminated hive for an installation of ceramic bees. Novie made a number of fused glass alternates and presented to the client – a trendy restaurant in Georgetown.
Ultimately, however, the architect selected a ceramic version for the installation. We will get her to glass somehow, we will not surrender.
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| An impressive steed. And a handsome horse too. Michael Janis as a Beltway Cowboy. |
The London Olympics were celebrated here as the Washington Glass School hosted the equestrians dressage events along Otis Street. In Mt Rainier, MD. Ok, the 2012 Summer Olympics did not take place at the Washington Glass School, but the 2012 National Night Out (NNO) did. The NNO is a campaign that involves citizens, police, neighborhoods and local officials to increase crime and drug prevention and to strengthen police-community partnerships.
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| Then & Today Left inset: Engraving (ca. 1860) of battlefield site where Joshua Barney fell by Benson Lossing in “Field Book of the War of 1812 “ ; Right: Washington Glass School on the same site. Over the past 200 years, the topography has been modified and changed tremendously – the creek now flows under the concrete pathway opposite the Glass School. |
Connections to American history was exposed in the August post about how the Glass School’s Mount Rainier building site was part of a key battle in the War of 1812 – in the Battle of Bladensburg. With the US loss at this battle, British forces swept into Capitol Hill and burned the White House, the Capitol and the Treasury.
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| Penland School of Craft Auction Tent, 2012 |
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| Michael Sherrill’s incredible studio |
An ardent support of the Penland School of Craft, Tim Tate took a group of collectors from the James Renwick Alliance to the annual Penland Auction and as part of the “Tim Tate Tour“.
The group visited the artist studios of Hoss Haley, Michael Sherrill, Dan Essig, Christina Cordova & Pablo De Soto and Stoney Lamar.
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| Glass artist Beth Lipman with Susan and Fred Sanders at Penland. |
The excursion also included an art tour of Asheville, NC with a visit to the Glass Secessionism show at Blue Spiral Gallery.
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September
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| Carol Trawick, David D’Orio & Catherine Leggett. Photo: Bethesda Urban Partnership |
September opened big for artist Dave D’Orio, as he was one of this year’s winner of the Trawick Prize.- a visual art prize produced by the Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District that honors artists from Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Virginia. The annual juried competition awards prize money to selected artists and features the work of the finalists in a group exhibition. Dave is the executive director of DC GlassWorks, a glass blowing facility (and sister school to the Washington Glass School) in Hyattsville, MD. At the 2012 Artomatic, the James Renwick Alliance gave Dave’s installation sculpture its ‘Award of Recognition’.
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| Toots Zynsky, William Warmus, Matthew Szösz at Smithsonian Renwick lecture. |
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| William Warmus takes photos of Erwin Timmers’ artwork. |
The 40 Under 40 exhibit at the Renwick Gallery continued its run, with author, independent curator and glass expert William Warmus moderating a conversation about the past, present, and future of studio glass between veteran glass artist Toots Zynsky and artist Matthew Szösz. After the talk, William visited the Glass School – of which he said: “It’s better than I thought it’d be…it’s not as bad as it could’ve been“. Hmmm.
The month of September is usually the start of the exhibition season – and this one did not disappoint.
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| Detail from Sean Hennessey’s “Finding The Right Key“ |
Sean Hennessey opened his solo show at the District’s 410Goodbuddy Gallery.
Based on Alice In Wonderland, Sean’s work in the show: Reimagining Alice incorporates cast glass that was painted with concrete and integrates videos, LEDs, EL panels and other media that pulls traditional glass into new realms.
Tim Tate and Marc Petrovic also had openings in September – at Arizona’s Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum. Under the title “Glass Secessionism”, the show opened to record crowds.
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October
Nancy Donnelly‘s solo show at Foundry Gallery included her “Glass Bouquets” that art critic Lenny Campello described as an update to the Washington Color School saying “… [Nancy’s] new work takes the color stripes from the canvas of the 1960s giants of DMV painting and re-invents it in a fresh new approach to a 21st century dialogue in glass and concrete”.
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| Tim Tate teaching at Penland School of Craft |
Tim Tate returned to North Carolina’s Penland School of Craft in October, this time teaching with Sean Hennessey and Robert Kincheloe.
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| Sean Hennessey explains the dry plaster casting process. |
The class was 21st Century Reliquaries, and the students incorporated techniques that included Rubber Mold Making, Wax Casting, Plaster/Silica Mold Making, Lost wax, Dry Plaster Casting, Painting Glass, Cutting Glass, Glass etching and Flameworking.
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November
November started with the big show in Chicago – SOFA!
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| SOFA Opening Night at Chicago’s Navy Pier |
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| Allegra Marquart’s panels on exhibit at Maurine Littleton. |
Michael Janis and Allegra Marquart were shown at Maurine Littleton Gallery and Tim Tate was shown thru Habatat Galleries. As the focus on both craft and art at SOFA is so high, this show is where the artists have stretched a bit to show they have game.
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| Michael Janis’ works were huge! |
Michael’s new colorful works involved optical distortion and the resolution of the imagery.
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| Tim Tate’s works at Habatat Galleries space. |
Tim’s new works were a larger scale – and he was thinking outside the dome.
Upon return to Washington, DC – the setup of shows continued, as artists from the Washington Glass School were featured in the special exhibit on the 50th Anniversary of Studio Glass at the Washington Craft Show.
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| Visitors gather around Joan Falconer Byrd, author of the new book “Harvey K Littleton: A Life in Glass“. Ms Byrd was one of the show’s speakers at the event. She was one of the first students in the Toledo workshops and was Professor of Art at Western Carolina University. |
Maurine Littleton Gallery’s show-within-a-show was the centerpiece to the Washington Convention Center.
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| Historical works by some of the Studio Glass Pioneers were featured. |
Works by Tim Tate, Allegra Marquart, Sean Hennessey, Erwin Timmers, Alison Sigethy and Michael Janis were shown as where the next generation of glass artists are heading.
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December
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| Art Miami’s Aqua show brought throngs. |
Miami became the focus of the art world with the Art Basel/Art Miami juggernaut as the world seems to head south for the huge art extravaganza. Washington Glass School artists were well represented, with Tim Tate, Erwin Timmers, Sean Hennessey and Audrey Wilson’s works at a number of international galleries.
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| Audrey Wilson showing at Alida Anderson Art Projects space at Aqua |
Audrey did very well, selling a major work to a NYC collector and a museum has asked about having her work for an upcoming art exhibit – awesome!
Everyone at the Washington Glass School sends a big THANK-YOU to all for the love & support this past year…
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So – should one survive the Zombie Mayan Long Count Armageddon –
Whats coming up in 2013?
We can divulge some news scoops for the coming year –
Michael Janis will be the Art Alliance for Contemporary Glass (AACG) calender boy for the month of January, as the “Artist of the Month”. January… starts the year off right…
Artomatic is planning to host a variation of the Glass 3 (the international exhibition US & UK artists) however, this year, it will be an international Glass + Ceramics showcase at downtown DC’s Edison Gallery – the month of March is being blocked out for the opening, gallery talks, workshops, and events.
Glassweekend will take place at New Jersey’s WheatonArts this coming June 7,8,9, 2013. The international symposium of contemporary glass will have demos by Beth Lipman, Davide Salvadore, Hiroshi Yamano; the keynote speaker will be Judith Schaecter.
Best Wishes to all for the Coming New Year!
2011 WGS Year-In-Review
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Looking thru the Washington Glass School postings (both official school blog and the more casual Facebook page) and events from a few months ago seem like ages ago. The strange phenomena of time flying by is observed again. Many of the years past events were months – or years- in planning and preparation, and seemed like they would never happen, now seem faraway, and the impact, both good and bad will be here for a while. Some high points, some sad loss. Month by month – here is a quick review of Washington Glass School’s 2011:
January 2011
The year started out with some new artistic directions.
Jeff Zimmer works on his layered glass imagery.
WGS Alum Jeff Zimmer worked on some new pieces for the school’s 10th Anniversary show. Its been a great year for Jeff – his work was part of the Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show in Oct.
artist: Christina Bothwell media:clay & glass.
The foundation for “Glass Secessionism” was outlined as a challenge for the aesthetics of the 21st century.
Matt (m l duffy) checks for tin side. The school’s new-fangled digital tin-o-meter also arrived in 2011.
Matthew Duffy began working on fabrication of the Washington Glass Studio’s public art project for Safeway Bethesda.
Susan documents Rob Kincheloe’s lampwork process. 
Susan’s strong photographic skills will be part of her book series.
Susan Lomuto (aka Daily Art Muse) arrived into the area to do a residency in the glass school and the surrounding ceramics studios.
February
artist: Kirk Waldroff media cast glass, led lighting, wood
Kirk Waldroff opens his mixed media/glass print exhibit at Glenview Mansion. Dr Claudia Rousseau reviewed his artwork.
March
photo by : Pete Duvall
American Craft Magazine has a large feature of the collaborative works by Tim Tate and Marc Petrovic.
April
This glass work is good enough to shout about.
Kirk Waldroff’s printmaking with glass class is one of the stronger design class of the year, with a number of students taking off in creative directions.
Ready for framing and the Smithsonian.
Glass artist Judith Schaechter held a creativity workshop for the JRA at the Washington Glass School.
artist: Elizabeth Ryland Mears, Tex Forrest 
Crowds packed the gallery
The Washington Glass School 10th Anniversary exhibition opens at Long View Gallery in Washington, DC.
Post critic Michael O’Sullivan’s in-depth review of the show.
The Washington Post reviews the Long View show, asking “Is Glass Only Pretty?”.
June
Gallery 555 exhibit of WGS student work.
Gallery 555 also hosted an exhibition in honor of the 10th Anniversary of WGS, with a successful show of student works.
Rob Kincheloe coldworks the glass, evaluating the quality of the recycled float glass casting.
National Geographic commissioned the Washington Glass Studio to create a special “environment” award for singer Jack Johnson. The development of the award design and creation was documented in the blog’s new feature column “The Process”.
Tim Tate’s work at Wheaton Arts. 
View of Maurine Littleton Gallery space during GlassWeekend.
Rising Star – Michael Janis
The Bi-annual “GlassWeekend” was this year with a huge show at WheatonArts The Creative Glass Center of America (CCGA and theArt Alliance for Contemporary Glass (AACG) named our Michael Janis a “Rising Star” at the event.
July
Tim Tate is filmed by PBS documentary crew as he speaks to the tour group.
Wendy Rosen brought a contingent of international guests – leaders of national craft federations and craft advocacy groups, as well as diplomats and government officials – as part of the World Craft Council held in Washington, DC.
yeah, hand-forged steel is nice and all… but what about the glass?
Chris Shea’s forged metal and glass sculpture/furniture was added to the Smithsonian’s permanent collection of the Renwick Gallery.
Conner Contemporary hosted a book release party in honor of F Lennox Campello’s book “100 Artists of Washington, DC” – one of the more successful in the Schiffer Books line of artist reference series.
August
An unusual month in terms of “natural events”. An earthquake hit DC, causing some minor damage to the glass display area in the student gallery of the school. Later in the month – a massive heatwave sent temps over 100 degrees F, and also Hurricane Irene hit DC.
Michael talks with art patrons about the imagery in glass. Michael Janis’ solo show at Fuller Craft Museum opened. Perry Price – the Associate Curator of the Museum later commented that they had some of the highest media coverage of the show, and that the Docents worked the educational aspects of the show with the visiting school students.
Installation began on the Safeway public art project. Evan Morgan returned to help install.
WaPo columnist Kris Coronado interviews Erwin and share a laugh. Erwin Timmers was featured in the Washington Post Magazine on the “Art of Recycling“.
Jason Burnett showcases Tim’s video reliquary at the auction.
Tim Tate’s artwork was part of the Penland School Auction – and sets a new record!
September
Architectural artwork by artists, instructors and students commemorating the 10th Anniversary of the Washington Glass School was installed on the facade of the school.
Zenith Gallery hosted a book release exhibition for the “100 Artists of the Mid Atlantic” that featured each of the WGS directors.
The national organization Art Alliance for Contemporary Glass (AACG) held its annual meeting in Washington, DC this year. Part of the events included tours of glass spots – museum tours, collector’s homes, gallery talks and a fun night at the Washington Glass School. A huge bar-be-que was on the menu that night, with an ice cream truck dispensing Good Humor to all.
October
Safeway’s new public art lights up the Bethesda streetscene.
The public art and architectural installation created for Safeway supermarket in Bethesda opened in spectacular fashion. 
DC’s Seed Charter School had a class at WGS that mixed art, history, chemistry, mathematics and physics.
November
Maurine Littleton Gallery space at SOFA Chicago 2011. 
Marc Petrovic’s work at Heller Gallery. 
Tim Tate’s work at Jane Sauer Gallery.
The BIG show – SOFA Chicago. Allegra Marquart, Michael Janis, Tim Tate each did well at the huge international art fair this year, and the hope that the trend continues to the next year is held by all!
The United States Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) celebrated its centennial with glass. The organization commissioned special artwork for families of Edward Kennedy and Dwight Eisenhower in memory of the work each had done. The red carpet gala event feature celebrities and performances by Wyclef Jean.
December
As Rob Kincheloe sets up a dedicated Torch work studio in Virginia, Mick Coughlan joined the school as the new studio coordinator.
The Fulbright Program named Tim Tate & Michael Janis each as recipients of Fulbrights. In 2012, both will be off to University of Sunderland starting in March.
Nicole Puzan, 1983-2011, Studio Coordinator, Artist, Friend
After a battle with cancer, our Nicole Puzan passed away in December.
There are so many stories from the last year, this posting started as a short list and there were so many events and shows that these are the ones that made it to this (almost) final posting for the year.
Here’s to the hope that 2012 will be a good year for all!