New DC Public Art Project Announced!

Glass archway proposed by Washington Glass Studio for DC's new Unity Parkside Health Care Center.

The Washington Glass Studio was recently awarded the DC Commission on the Arts& Humanities' Public Art commission for an outdoor sculpture located at DC's new Unity Parkside Health Care center, now under construction. The new health center is located just down the road from the Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens, a National Park Service site that boasts some of the most beautiful water lilies and lotus flowers in the months of June and July. 

Architectural rendering of the finished Unity Parkside health care center in Ward 7.

The Washington Glass Studio proposed making a 16 foot high arch of colorful glass and images of healing. 

Inspired by the comments from the community meeting and site review– our objective was to create a sense of place for DC’s Kenilworth - Parkside community.

The design and documentation of the artwork was to be outlined in detail in the presentation.

The site in early May, 2013. The mound of dirt is the artwork location.

The fabrication work for both the glass and the steel framework will soon start. Completion is targeted for early 2014.

Audrey Wilson works on constructing the half-scale maquette created for the presentation to the Council.

Washington Glass Studio sends a big thank-you to the DC Creates! Public Art Program selection committee, the DCCAH Council, Unity Parkside Health Care, and the Ward 7 community!

WAKEUP! "Sleepwalker" opens at Katzen Arts Center

This Saturday at the Katzen Arts Center is the official opening of the show "Sleepwalker" featuring work and collaborations by Tim Tate, Richard A. Schellenberg and Pete Duvall. 

This exhibit is the result of many years in the making. The show is made up mostly of video components (featuring spectacular collaborations with Pete Duvall and Richard Schellenberg), with a few integrated sculptural objects. Come join in a walk through the mind of a Sleepwalker. Opening is Saturday evening, June 15th, from 6 to 9pm.

Tim Tate: Sleepwalker

The American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center,

June 15 – August 11, 2013

4400 Massachusetts Ave,  NW

Washington, DC 20016 

Judith Schaechter Keynote Speech @ GlassWeekend

Judith Schaecter issues the command to us, her willing minions.

Super-Supreme glass artist Judith Schaechter delivered the keynote address at the biennial GlassWeekend held at WheatonArts this past weekend.

Her talk was referenced throughout the conference and, happily, she has posted it on her blog: "Late Breaking Noose".

Judith's talk muses on the now maligned notion of "craft" -
"I started out as a young Turk completely rebellious against skill.  I was conceptual!  I knew what was important!  And it wasn’t some type of mindless devotion to creating perfect solder seams.  I was so bad, and this is true; that on at least one occasion, my work fell apart at the opening... 
But then something happened…and it wasn’t horror or shame at presenting sub-par workmanship to a possibly paying public. What happened was 30-some years of practice. With little thought to the matter, I gradually improved.  Until, to make a long story short, I now find myself highly skilled.  And having come to this place, I now have the perspective to understand why it is worthy."

Judith's talk is filled with great images.

She continues - "Its preposterous to not value skill—it has undeniable practical value!  We want our surgeons and plumbers to be skilled!  We admire, reward and even worship the skill of athletes.  We even have these weird talent shows on TV that seem to be about skills.  We fetishize craft in so many areas of life, but not in the arts!"
What happened to the idea of mastering one’s art?  Why did it become so déclassé to master one’s medium?  Why did it become de rigeur to make work that is constructed like junk (and looks like junk too?)
Read the entirety of Judith's  talk - where she asks if skill and art are mutually exclusive - to read her full text - click HERE to jump to her posting.

Yet another tragic craft catastrophe that could have been avoided.

Pix From GlassWeekend at WheatonArts

The crew just returned from a great (tho exhausting) show at the Creative Glass Center's GlassWeekend at WheatonArts in New Jersey. WGS' Tim Tate, Michael Janis and Allegra Marquart were amongst the glass artists featured by 20 galleries at the biennial event that has brought together artists, collectors, galleries, and museum curators for a three-day weekend of exhibitions, lectures, hands-on glassmaking, demonstrations and social events.

Maurine Littleton Gallery space at GlassWeekend.

GlassWeekend ’13 was held at Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center, home of the Creative Glass Center of America and the Museum of American Glass.

Amy Morgan of Morgan Contemporary talks about the works on exhibit.

Carmen Lozar - one of the 2013 "Rising Stars" sets up her lampwork sculpture.

Carmen Lozar's sculpture.

Katja Fritzsche's wall mounted works behind works by Bonnie Seeman at Duane Reed Gallery.

Sculptors Christina Bothwell and Robert Bender.

Christina Bothwell sculpture at Habatat Galleries space.

Tim Tate's mixed media work "Cowboy Luvin'". Said Tim of the inspiration behind this piece:
"As a child, my grandmother had a millefiori lamp that fascinated me. It was the one thing she left me, and I still have it. I count this as my initial root inspiration for becoming involved with glass. She also bought me my favorite costume, a cowboy suit. This is the piece that I made as a 21st century tribute to her and her influence."

John Littleton and Kate Vogel sculpture at Maurine Littleton Gallery space.

The 2013 Rising Stars (L-R seated)
Dean Allison, Carmen Lozar, Amber Cowan, Slate Grove, Michael Crowder, Andrew Erdos, Ben Johnson, Harry Pollitt

Glass birds swoop thru Pismo Gallery.

Elmerina and Paul Parkman at the cocktail reception held at the Museum of American Glass.

Tim Tate and Merrily Orsini are introduced as they present a lecture at the conference.

Judith Schaechter's keynote address looks ominous - and was talked about for the rest of the conference.

There are many more photos of Glass Weekend - click HERE to jump to the Washington Glass Flickr page of photos.

James Renwick Alliance names WGS' Michael Janis as Distinguished Artist in Glass 2014

The James Renwick Alliance (JRA) is an independent national nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing scholarship and education on contemporary American craft. 

The JRA assists the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Renwick Gallery in adding to its permanent collection of American craft of artistic significance and superior workmanship, supports scholarly research in contemporary American craft, sponsors public educational activities, and pursues other activities in support of the studio craft movement. Each year the JRA sponsors a “Distinguished Artist Series” when craft artists prominent in their fields conduct workshops and give lectures. The lectures are co-sponsored by the JRA and the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Renwick Gallery.

Michael Janis will talk about his work at the Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) in early 2014.

For the 2013/2014 season, the JRA have chosen Washington Glass School Co-Director Michael Janis as the Distinguished Artist for his glass artwork.
Michael will be giving a lecture and presentation at the Smithsonian in early 2014, with details to be finalized soon. Congratulations Michael! We look forward to posting the details.

2012/2013 JRA Distinguished Artist in Glass - Andy Paiko talks at Smithsonian. photo by Miriam Rosenthal

GlassWeekend In New Jersey Features WGS Artists

Tim Tate

The Next 50 Years Begins Now.....

25 x 14 x 8 inches, Blown and Cast Glass, Video

The biennial International Symposium and Exhibition of Contemporary Glass – GlassWeekend – is hosted by the Creative Glass Center of America at WheatonArts and the Art Alliance for Contemporary Glass. GlassWeekend ’13 features the most current work of 200 professional artists working in glass making this event one of the most exciting and extensive presentations of museum quality glass vessels and sculpture ever assembled in one location. Washington Glass School's Michael Janis and Allegra Marquart will have their artwork exhibited at Maurine Littleton Gallery. Tim Tate will be exhibiting his work at Habatat Galleries space.

Allegra Marquart

The Fisherman's Plea

18 x18 inches, Fused and Sandcarved Glass

The Gallery Exhibition is housed in a 10,000 square foot Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center Event Center, home of the Creative Glass Center of America and the Museum of American Glass. WheatonArts is located 45 minutes from both Philadelphia and Atlantic City and less than three hours from New York City and Washington, DC. 

Michael Janis

Realigning The Stars

2 Parts: 20 x 30; 20 x 10 inches, Fused Glass, Glass Powder Imagery

The weekend begins with a preview reception of the gallery exhibition on Friday evening, continues with a reception in the Museum of American Glass and dinner on Saturday evening and culminates with a private demonstration on Sunday morning by the guest demonstrating artists. In between, participants have the option of attending slide presentations from the guest artists and CGCA Fellowship artists; panels and breakout sessions with contemporary glass artists, museum curators, gallery owners and collectors; and participate in a FunRaising auction. A partial event schedule:

Thursday, June 6

The Gallery of Fine Craft Preview Reception“Creative Glass Center of America Biennial” Exhibit and Sale in The Gallery of Fine Craft.

Friday, June 7

Welcoming Remarks: Sharon Karmazin, President, CGCA; Harlan Fischer, President, AACG; Stan Epstein and Henry Wasserstein. Co-chairs GlassWeekend.

Workshop 9:45 – 10:45   “Spreading the Love: Social Networking Made Easy for Collectors and Artists.” Tim Tate and Merrily Orsini

Ice Cream Social – Presentation of the 2013 Rising Stars

Guest Artist Presentations:Beth Lipman, Davide Salvadore and Hiroshi Yamano

Silent Auction: Wearable Glass Art

Saturday, June 8

Key Note Presentation - Judith Schaechter

"Skill and De-Skilling: Does Technique Enhance or Hinder Creativity"

Panel Presentation - Andrew Page, Moderator, and WheatonArts Fellows “CGCA at 30: An Examination of the History and Future of a Career-Changing Fellowship in Glass Art”

Curator’s Program – William Warmus, Moderator

“Is There Life After 50? Exploring the Role Museums Could/Should/Will Play in the Future of Studio Glass"

WheatonArts: 1501 Glasstown Road, Millville, NJ 08332

American Craft Magazine Features Washington Glass School

American Craft magazine June/July 2013

The American Craft Council (ACC) is a national, nonprofit educational organization founded with a mission to promote understanding and appreciation of contemporary American craft. Their programs include the bimonthly magazine, American Craft, annual juried shows, various workshops, seminars and conferences, and more.

The June/July 2013 issue of American Craft Magazine showcases the cast glass work being made for the U.S. Library of Congress Adams Building. Julie K. Hanus - American Craft’s senior editor and Perry A. Price  -  the ACC's director of education had come to the school in April and made a report on the process and the artists involved. 

From the magazine: The original doors were designed in 1939 by Lee Lawrie, the sculptor whose Atlas graces Rockefeller Center. They’re massive bronze works, depicting 13 mythological and historical figures of language and learning. Over time, they had begun to fail, straining at the hinges, and didn’t meet modern building codes. Rather than altering the historic doors to address these issues, the Architect of the Capitol made a bold decision; in addition to conserving the Lawrie doors, they would reinterpret these unique Adams Building features in glass.

Jeff Wallin and Ray Ahlgren of Fireart Glass in Portland, OR casting the glass panels. Photo by Charlie Lieberman

Review of each of the LOC cast glass panels with the Architect of the Capitol. L-R Paul Zimmerman/HITT Contracting, William Warmus/Art critic, Tim Tate, Michael Janis, Kevin Hildebrand/AOC, Erwin Timmers.

The doors began installation in the spring of 2013 and the entry areas began to transform.

From the interior of East facing building lobby.

The exterior of the first set of six pairs of doors.

The magazine will be on the stands soon - and is online right now! - Click HERE to jump to the American Craft Council website.

Washington Glass Studio team L-R Tim Tate, Sean Hennessey, Michael Janis, Audrey Wilson, Erwin Timmers

Tim Tate & Chris Baer Venice Biennale Exhibit Opens Tonight!

WGS Projects presents Tangents,  a show featuring works by artists Christopher Baer and Tim Tate.  These 2 artists represent a study in contrasts; yet invite investigation into the complicity of their work.  Their work is tangential, yet parallel….both looking deeply below the surface. This compelling show will take place on the 4th floor of the Palazzo Bembo during the Venice Biennale. Opening May 29 through Nov. 24th, 2013; Opening Reception Weds May 29th, 6 - 9pm,Venice, Italy

Left, Christopher Baer;  Right, Tim Tate

Christopher Baer

Working between two studios in Washington D.C. and rural Virginia, contemporary artist Christopher Baer is known for his highly expressive, large-scale mixed-media paintings. His works offer the viewer a glimpse into their process, with previous layers and gestural brushstrokes visible beneath the surface.  Baer emphasizes the boundaries of the canvas by delineating a band along the edge of each painting; each consecutive layer of paint retreats further and further from the border, revealing earlier incarnations of the work.  His long-term series Palisades, named after the part of D.C. where he lives, is a joyful exploration of color, brushwork and line.

Tim Tate

Tim Tate is a Washington, DC native, and has been working with glass as a sculptural medium for the past 25 years. Co-Founder of the Washington Glass School, Tim’s work is in the permanent collections of a number of museums, including the Smithsonian's American Art Museum, Renwick Gallery and the Mint Museum. He was awarded the title of “Rising Star of the 21st Century” from the Museum of American Glass and was also the recipient of the 2009 Virginia Groot Foundation International award for sculpture. His work has been exhibited at many museums, including the Milwaukee Art Museum and the Museum of Arts and Design in New York. He was a 2012 Fulbright Scholar recipient at Sunderland University in England. Working in both video and glass, he is one of the leading artists in the field working with cross over mixed media.

Working in the Studio - Commissioned Artwork for Healthcare Facility Lobby

The Washington Glass Studio is working on a commissioned artwork for Kaiser Permanente's new Largo Medical Center. Audrey Wilson has been a busy girl - chopping up glass components for the art. We will post photos of the finished work.

Colorful glass being readied for a commissioned work to be installed in the lobby of Kaiser Permanente's updated state-of-the-art multi-specialty facility in Largo, MD.