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Connections and Conversations at Montpelier Arts Center

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L-R: The Divided States of America; Trish Kent, Le Singe; Patricia de Poel Wilberg, Rejoice O Windup Bird; Kate Barfield, Twisting, John Henderson

Get ready to experience an artistic revolution and discover the future of sculpture. The Montpelier Arts Center of the M-NCPPC, Department of Parks and Recreation in Prince George’s County, proudly presents its 43rd annual invitational sculpture exhibition. Curated by Howard Cohen, this show, titled “Connections and Conversations” features the visionary talents of artists of the Washington Glass School, with a spotlight on the transformative medium of glass, where boundaries are pushed and traditions redefined.

Echoes; Michael Janis

Join us to see how these remarkable artists illuminate the diverse worlds we live in, using glass to spark conversations and create profound connections. This isn’t just an exhibit—it’s a vibrant conversation about our diverse world. Don’t miss this chance to see how glass can tell stories, bridge gaps, and ignite inspiration through community engagement and artistic innovation. 

Don’t miss this chance for an unforgettable journey through art, innovation, and community and discover the endless possibilities of glass as a medium.

Connections and Conversations: Works by Artists from the Washington Glass School

Exhibition Dates: June 7 – July 28, 2024

Public Reception: June 7, 2024, 7 – 9 PM

Lunch and Lecture: June 14, 2024, 12 Noon (Reservations Required – Call 301-377-7800)

Montpelier Arts Center

9652 Muirkirk Road   Laurel, MD 20708

www.pgparks.com

Posted in "washington glass studio", artists of the washington glass school, contemporary art glass, contemporary craft, contemporary sculpture, content driven glass, howard cohen, Montpelier Arts Center, Post studio glass, washington glass school, wgs contemporary

WGS’ Michael Janis Selected as Artist to Create New Washington, DC Memorial

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New Memorial Concepts for Washington, DC

As the nation’s capital, Washington, DC is home to many monuments and memorials honoring individuals and events of national significance mainly within the monumental core, the original L’Enfant City, and mostly in Wards 1, 2, 3, and 6. Many of these subjects participated in slavery, systemic racism, and the mistreatment of, or took actions that suppressed equality for, persons of color, certain groups of people, and women.
The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (CAH), in partnership with the DC Office of Planning (OP) selected WGS Director Michael Janis as the artist to create DC’s Ward 5 Public Art Memorial to commemorate the Enslaved People Who Built the US Capitol.
Contributions of more than 200 enslaved people helped build the U.S. Capitol, an international symbol of Democracy.

Artists engaged by DC CAH to create the new Public Art

From 1792 to 1800 enslaved people, many from the Baltimore area, arrived in DC on Bladensburg Road and were forced to quarry stone, clear the building site, create sculptures, and work long hours in inhospitable weather six days a week.

DC Ward 5 Public Art Memorial

The Capitol would not have been constructed without their labor and craftsmanship, yet much of their history has yet to be documented and brought to light.

Michael has been meeting with the Ward 5 community groups and the first community presentation of the concept is scheduled for June 22, 2024, from 2-4 pm at the Landon Park Recreation Center, 2901 20th St NE, Washington, DC 20018.

Promotion of Public Art Project featuring Michael Janis “The Artist”.

If you are interested in participating – click link to sign up (at bottom of page) for updates from Commemorate DC. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to be a part of history!

Posted in Art In Public Places, glass public art, michael janis, Public Art, washington DC

Tim Tate & Joyce Scott = 😍 The Art of Glass

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Goya Contemporary – where for the past 25 years has built a progressive reputation for creating visionary, historically relevant exhibitions, features glass artists Joyce Scott and Tim Tate together in a show titled “Now: Collaborations by Joyce J Scott and Tim Tate“. The centerpiece of the show is a 9ft long cast glass wall entitled “Now”. This was a 7-month project with Joyce and Tim that deals with societal issues that were being discussed in our culture while we were producing it. Issues included racism, homophobia, misogyny and the war in Ukraine.

Goya Contemporary

Mill Centre Studio 214, 3000 Chestnut Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21211

NOW: Collaborations by Joyce J. Scott and Tim Tate
Reception: April 20, 2024, 4:00 – 6:00 pm
April 12- June 12, 2024

Posted in 21st century glass, 21st century sculpture, african american artists, african american glass, joyce scott, Tim Tate, twenty first century glass, twenty first century sculpture

Join The Artists: The Art of Glass at ARTOMATIC

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Join the Artomatic Glass Reception on April 26th and meet with artists from what Washington Post Arts Critic Mark Jenkins called “…internationally renowned arts group, the Washington Glass School.” In the galleries: Artomatic: Unpretentious, approachable, convivial – Washington Post, April 5, 2024
There will be artists talking of their works and inspirations, nibblies, and fun glass prizes!

Come and see how the DC area has become the Awakening Force of Glass… or at least the Rebel Alliance!

ARTOMATIC 2024 2100 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20037

Posted in artomatic

Washington Post on the DC Glass Scene Seen at Artomatic

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Washington Post article on 2024 Artomatic exhibit

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

November 10, 2004

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

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

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

JRA Craft Picks Top 10 Favorites at Artomatic

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The James Renwick Alliance for Craft (JRA) is a vibrant group of art enthusiasts, collectors, artists, educators, students and art professionals who share a passion for contemporary American craft. Their group explored Artomatic on Sunday March 25th- and for fun, picked their favorite works of craft-based art that they found. Great to have the collector group be introduced to new art and artists!
No particular order to this list (with AOM Room listed)

Erwin Timmers (5th Floor Glass Lobby)
Jun Lee (7057)
Davide Prete (808)
Griffon Dillon (L5 Glass Lobby rear)
Michael Sirvet (6108)
Melissa Burley (5103)

Full Top Ten pList: Erwin Timmers (Glass lobby L5), Jun Lee (7057), Davide Prete (808), Michael Sirvet (6108), Jeff Wilson (7058), Valerie Theberge (808), Laurel Lukazewski (5094), Griffon Dillon (Glass Lobby L5), Anthony D’Amico (818, 5100) & Melissa Burley (5103). Congrats to the JRA picks- but all at AOM are winners!

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Washington’s Innovative Glass Scene Seen at Artomatic 2024

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

artomatic 2024

Artomatic, 2100 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20037

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

Book Signing at Artomatic

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The first comprehensive book about the Washington, D.C., art world, this study features humorous and unique stories about the artists and art districts of one of the U.S.’s most visited cities. The city’s many firsts include are the first modern art museum, the first African-American gallery, and the first art fair. Important in the feminist art movement, it hosted the opening of the National Museum of Women in the Arts.

Featuring trends in portraits and landscapes, galleries and museums, nonprofits, cooperatives, art fairs, family stories and the “Artomatic Experience”! 

Meet Author Brett Abrams -On Level 5 Reception/Glass Lobby

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Artomatic Event: The Washington Glass Scene, March 16th, 5-7PM

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Step into a world where glass transcends its ordinary form and becomes a canvas of boundless creativity. The Washington Glass Scene on display in Artomatic’s Level 5 invites you to celebrate the kaleidoscopic fusion of artistry and craftsmanship on April 16th, 2024 from 5-7PM. Prepare to be captivated as the magic of glass takes center stage in a creative showcase unlike any other. Join us as we celebrate the transformative power of this versatile medium, where every piece tells a unique story and invites you to explore the depths of imagination. Meet the artists that are making the Washington Glass Scene a distinctive voice and push the boundaries, redefining the possibilities of glass. Event is Free and open to the Public!

Artomatic 25th Anniversary Event: Celebrate DC’s Glass Scene!

2100 M Street, Washington, DC 20037

Posted in " glass studio", 21st century glass, american glass, american studio glass, art glass, art glass today, artists of the washington glass school, artomatic, conceptual glass, contemporary art glass, content driven glass, cool glass, creative glass, fused glass, fused glass sculpture, glass, glass art

A Look Into Museum of Glass’ “A Two-Way Mirror”

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The Art Alliance for Contemporary Glass (AACG) online First Friday Fired Up! program on Friday, March 1, at 1 p.m. ET presents a virtual tour and panel discussion with artists in the current exhibition at the Museum of Glass in Tacoma, A Two-Way Mirror: Double Consciousness in Contemporary Glass by Black Artists. See the works and hear from several of the artists who have used glass to create work that deconstructs social, cultural, gender, and racial identity concerns. The artists range in background from African American, to British, to Puerto Rican. Each artist uses glass to reflect thoughts and bodies that have historically been fraught with exploitation. Due to its reflectivity and translucence, glass is an apt medium to interrogate identity constructs such as the theory of double consciousness presented by W.E.B. Du Bois in his seminal work, The Souls of Black Folk. Artists from the exhibition participating in the panel are Layo Bright, Crystal Campbell, Chris Day, and Leo Tecosky. The panel’s moderator is Jabari Owens-Bailey, Museum of Glass Curatorial Education Program Manager.Layo Bright, from Nigeria, explores migration, legacy, and identity through hybrid portraits, textiles, and mixed media. She has participated in Art Basel Hong Kong, and is the recipient of Pittsburgh Glass Center’s Ron Desmett Award and Urban Glass’ Visiting Artist Fellowship.Crystal Campbell is a 2021 Guggenheim Fellow in Fine Arts, and she uses underlined archival material to consider historical gaps. She received the 2022 Creative Capital award and the Pollock-Krasner Award.Chris Day is a biracial glass and ceramic artist who uses the beauty of glass to make comments on issues of race. He received a special commendation at last year’s British Glass Biennale, and was selected to participate in the prestigious Artrooms Awards in London.Leo Tecosky deconstructs iconography through an impressive range of glass-making techniques. He juxtaposes the complexity of visual language with the fluidity and transparency of glass. He is the recipient of the 36th annual Corning Museum Rakow Commission as well as the 2023 Maxwell/Hanrahan Award in Craft. The AACG FIRED UP program is free and open to the public, so please spread the word and join this engaging and important discussion!


Exhibiting Artists: Anthony Amoako-Attah, Radcliffe Bailey, Layo Bright, Crystal Z. Campbell, Chris Day, Cheryl Derricotte, Alejandro Guzman, Mildred Howard, Jason McDonald, Parfums de Vigny, Ebony G. Patterson, Pellatt & Green, Related Tactics, Salviati and Company, Joyce J. Scott, Shikeith, Therman Statom, Renée Stout, Barbara Earl Thomas, Hank Willis Thomas, Leo Tecosky, Kara Walker, Fred Wilson.
Click here to register for Fired Up!

Posted in Cheryl Derricotte, museum of glass | Tagged ,