Happy Holidays All!
Blog
Class 5007 Glass Holiday Wreaths!
Want to make your own decoration like you’re living your best Hallmark Christmas movie?! In this special class you will create your own festive colored glass wreath, or you can make a larger one with a partner or friend. Easy to hang in the window or in the tree! Create memories that would work great as you go home for Christmas while creating art, for yourself or as a gift (for that special someone -perhaps a secret prince of some sort- or someone who may or may not be Santa?). No glass experience is needed.
10th Annual Glass International Opens!
Virginia’s Lorton Workhouse Arts Center opened their 10th Annual Glass International, an exhibition highlighting the depth and breadth of contemporary functional and sculptural glass art. This year, in celebration of Workhouse Arts’ 10th year exhibiting glass they opened eligibility to include artists working internationally.
Washington Glass School was well represented by WGS Resident Artists Kate Barfield, Patrica de Poel Wilberg, and April Shelford- congratulations!
Exhibiting Glass International Artists:
Karen Abbott, Kate Barfield, Denise Bohart Brown, Beryl Brenner, Lee Campbell, Guillermo Castaneda Jr., Marcy Chevali, Anthony D’Amico, Patricia de Poel Wilberg, Jeanne Marie Ferraro, Olga Gobernik Kon, Ruth Gowell, Jennifer Hand, Mollie Hansen, Jennifer Hecker, Marla Heiner, Sara Hitchcock, Mary Jones, Martin Kremer, Kelly Lacy, Becca Low, Sandi Martina, Kimberly McKinnis, Shawn Messenger, Paul Messink, Jack Schmidt, Michael Scupholm, April Shelford, Madeline Shir, Ori Shir, Aric Snee, Chuchen Song, Tim Spurchise, Heather Sutherland, Tabitha Thierjung, Katherine Thomas, Exer Thurston, Michael Tracy, Snuffy Wright
Workhouse Arts Center is located at: 9518 Workhouse Way Lorton, VA 22079
Vulcan Gallery, W-16 1st Floor
On View: November 2, 2024 – January 12, 2025
Winter Open Studio Is Coming!
Winter Open Studios Set for Dec 14th! Mark Your Calendars!
Join us in the DC region’s largest one-day visual arts event! On Saturday, Dec. 14th, from Noon til 5PM, Washington Glass School and its Resident Artists, Teachers and Students will participate in the Winter Open Studios! See what we’ve been up to!
Come visit hundreds of working artist studios in the Gateway Arts District, along Route 1 from the DC line/ Mount Rainier up to Hyattsville, MD.
The Way to Save Democracy is Clear (& Gorgeous) as Glass.
This Election Day 2024 is SO important! Make your voice heard! Washington Glass School’s Resident Artist Patricia Kent’s glass art shines light on democracy!
5006 Introduction to Mosaics
Did you ever wonder about the mosaic art pieces you may have seen in archeological sites? Mosaics are one of the most beautiful and ancient ways to create art and express ideas. There are several materials that can be used to create mosaics. In this class, you will be able to learn different techniques to create your own mosaic art that will endure the passing of time. You will learn how to prepare a mosaic substrate, learn to cut glass, design and finish 2 plaques of 8 by 8 inches on your own. Most of the work will be done on the first workshop day. The mosaic has to truly dry before applying grout, therefore, we will meet the next day to apply the grout and do final touches.
5000 – Night Light Delight
A brand new class that will shed some light on the world of glass! No prior experience is necessary! (just a little patience!)
You’ll have a chance to work with glass powders, stringers, and frit, and to experiment with cutting shapes and selecting color schemes. We’ll have plenty of samples to inspire your own design.
You make the glass, we’ll take care of firing them and fixing them to their base.
Two night lights are included in the workshop price. If you want to make more, additional night lights are $25 a piece.
Washington Glass School: A Legacy of Art, Resilience, and Community
In the aftermath of the 2000 Artomatic show, renowned glass artist Tim Tate and metal/eco-artist Erwin Timmers felt the need to create a space for the growing glass art community in Washington, DC. Their solution was the founding of what was first called “Meltdown”—the future Washington Glass School. The school’s very first class, held on September 13, 2001, came in the shadow of one of the most tragic days in American history. While the founders initially considered canceling the session, the overwhelming desire of the students to move forward created an indelible bond. The class became a healing space, where sadness and fear were channeled into creativity and connection.
From those early days, the Washington Glass School (WGS) has embraced community and resilience as core values. In 2003, the school relocated from its original home—now the Rubell Museum in DC’s Southwest neighborhood—to the Washington Sculpture Center. Michael Janis, an innovative artist who joined the school that year, became a director by 2005. His leadership, alongside Tate and Timmers, continued to steer the school as it grew in reputation.
In 2006, a turning point came when the school’s building was taken by eminent domain to make way for the Washington Nationals’ baseball stadium. Unfazed, the WGS team moved just outside the District to Mount Rainier, Maryland. It’s been their home ever since, where they continue to teach, collaborate, and create public art.
WGS has evolved into a dynamic hub for artistic exploration, encouraging artists to challenge the conventional limits of glass as an art medium. Their collaborative spirit thrives, with glass artists working alongside creatives from other disciplines, producing public art that speaks to the heart of the community.
9/11 Remembrance
On this 9/11 day of remembrance, we reflect on the resilience embodied by the “Survivor Glass”—the only window to remain intact out of over 40,000 at the World Trade Center. Found near Ground Zero, this piece of glass from the 82nd floor of the South Tower stands as a symbol of strength amid unimaginable loss. As artists who work with glass, we understand the qualities of the material and the powerful stories it can hold. Today, we honor the lives lost, the strength of the survivors, and the enduring spirit of our nation. On this day of remembrance, we reflect on the resilience and strength found in the smallest things.
Mount Rainier Arts Commission (MRAC) Social at Washington Glass School
Mount Rainier Arts Commission held its August social at the Glass School, and despite the heat, conversation flowed!
