The key personnel for the Washington Glass School have many years of combined experience with glass, steel, sculpture, architecture, neon and public art installation. This includes education, creating and collaborating on public and private art projects. Much of the expertise involving advancements in sculptural design and theory, technological improvements and installation procedures is continually developed and refined.

School Directors

Tim Tate is the Co-founder and Creative Director and Marketing Director. He is a sculptor who has been working in glass, steel, concrete and ceramic since 1989. He oversaw a glass casting production studio in New Orleans for three years. Tate’s artwork has been shown in many galleries and museums including the permanent collections of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Mint Museum, the University of Richmond Art Museum and the University of Virginia Art Museum. Tim was the recipient of the 2009 Virginia A Groot Foundation Grant for his work in sculpture.

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Erwin Timmers is one of the DC area's leading ‘eco-artists’. Erwin is Co-founder and Director of the Washington Glass School. His work in sustainable design are seen in some of the large public art projects he has just completed, including a sculpture project for the Environmental Protection Agency’s headquarter Ariel Rios Building low-impact courtyard, in Washington, DC.

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Michael Janis brings his architecture background and disciplines to the Washington Glass School and Studio projects. He has taught at Penland School of Craft and Istanbul’s Glass Furnace Arts Center. His work is featured in the Corning Museum of Glass publication 'New Glass Review 30', and his artwork is part of the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. He was named 'Outstanding Emerging Artist 2008-2009' by the Florida Glass Art Alliance.

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Current Instructors

The Faculty at the Washington Glass School includes working artists, professionals and educators from across the spectrum of art and sculpture, incorporating many different media. These seasoned professionals teach all aspects of sculptural, functional and decorative glass along with media such as steel, concrete, encaustics, ceramics, neon, and lighting.

Don Daniels earned his degree in Art and Design from Alfred University in May of 2008. While at school he concentrated in glass and photography. He is applying his skills and enthusiasm to kilnformed glass as one of the Resident Artists at the Washington Glass School. Don also does hot glass work at nearby DC Glassworks.

Marty King is one of the Washington area’s most accomplished neon artists and currently the Hirshorn Museum’s safety assurance consultant. Her projects include pieces for film, television and stage. Her body of work includes large scale installations in the Air and Space Museum in Washington and for the CBS television set for the Winter Olympics. In addition to commercial projects, she has worked with hundreds of artists and individuals.

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Pete Duvall graduated from Syracuse University in 1998 with a BFA in Photography and moved back to DC afterward. Pete teaches workshops and classes for the Art League School in addition to the Washington Glass School. Alison Duvall graduated from Syracuse University in 1999 with a BFA in Photography and has lived in the Washington, DC area ever since. She currently teaches art at the Parkmont School and has taught at the National Cathedral School, River School and Corcoran School of Art and Design’s Camp Creativity. She is also a freelance photographer with her husband for their company, Anything Photographic. Check out anythingphoto.net for more information.
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Lea Topping has been an independent studio artist for over 20 years with a gallery at the Torpedo Factory. She has studied at the Tyler School of Art, University of California/San Diego, La Jolla Museum of Contemporary Art and Purdue University.

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Alison Sigethy studied design at Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University and received degrees from Marymount University. She is a member of several glass guilds and was Chairman of the 2004 Glass Arts Festival, a bi-annual event sponsored by the National Capitol Art Glass Guild, the Glen Echo Glass Art Consortium, and the National Park Service.

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Sean Hennessey teaches sculpture and mold making. An accomplished painter and sculptor, he established Scenic Artisans in 2004, following a ten-year career in the theater, where Sean was responsible for all painting and sculpting of stage props and set decoration at the internationally renowned Shakespeare Theatre in Washington DC. His work has been part of Helen Hayes Award winning productions. Sean has also contributed toprojects at other arts and theater venues, such as the Kennedy Center, the Wooly Mammoth Theatre Company, National Geographic, Discovery Channel, Arena Stage, Smithsonian Folk Life Festival, and the Smithsonian Institute.

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Dave D'Orio has a BFA in sculpture from the University of Hartford and has worked in glass for over 15 years. His artwork features mixed media, glass and steel. Dave is Director of DC GlassWorks, one of the DC area's premier public access hot glass shop, located in Hyattsville, MD. DC Glass Works offers both glass blowing and metal casting. The classes formed by the combining the resources of both glass centers promises to create a diverse artistic population whose common goal is to explore glass and the creative process.

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Tim Slagel has been an LED fanatic since getting his mom to buy him a Radio Shack grab bag in the 5th grade. Despite degrees in Engineering and work on optical data storage and digital imagers, Tim's spare time is filled designing and building gadgets that blink and glow. Since moving form Silicone Valley to Washington, DC, he has led LED project workshops for Dorkbot DC and worked with local multi-media artists to add electronics smarts and interactivity to their work.

Jennifer Lindstrom, began exploring warm glass in 2001 when she enrolled in her first glass fusing class. Her love of the medium has taken her to Penland as a work study student. Her elegant and disciplined aesthetic in glass was featured in the Washington Post's Style Section.

Jim Manning has been bending glass for 12 years, and works with DC's neon queen Marty King. Their neon studio Light’n Up Neon, is one of the areas leading neon art centers. Featured in the Washington Post, Jim has work on display at the District Fine Arts Gallery, and had an exhibition of his artwork at the Katzen Arts Center.

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Teaching Assistants and Friends of the Studio

The School also has a number of Teaching Assistants who bring their expertise and enthusiasm to the classes. This provides an excellent instructor/student ratio resulting in quality class time and opportunity for productivity. Friends of the Studio involves volunteers to support the Washington Glass School classes, events and collaborative projects.

Teaching Assistants

Don Daniels
Lisa Dano
Carol Kanga
Jon Gann
Jennifer Lindstrom
Christine Otvos
Lisa Freda
Kirk Waldroff
Daniel Schubmehl
David Pearcy
Nicole Puzan
Becky Williams

 


Special Friends and Supporters of the Washington Glass School

Janet Hirshberg
Kay Janis
Veronique Lanthier
Brett Marden
Liz Mears
Helene Safire


Studio Artists

Leslie Beil
David Cook
Cheryl Patrice Derricotte
Nancy Donnelly
Liane Gould
Allegra Marquart
Syl Mathis
Duncan McClellan
Betsy McCluskey
Anne Plant
Nancy Wasserman
Chr
is Shea