Best Wishes for 2011

The artists & instructors of the Washington Glass School wish everyone good health, happiness and creativity in the coming year -
Happy New Year!

Jobs Available at Washington Glass Studio

Two Part-Time Art Positions At The Washington Glass Studio

Come join one of the most nurturing and successful art communities in the region.

Position #1 – Project Coordinator for Short Term Architectural Installation and Production

This person will use deep bas-relief dry plaster casting techniques to help cast glass tiles for a building project. The technique is simple, and we will train the candidate to perform the tasks required, which include:

~ Casting Individual Tiles
~ Cutting Glass Tiles To Size with Tile Cutting Saw
~ Some Lifting of heavy panels
~ Adhering Glass Tiles To Metal Frame
~ Assisting With Installation At Site

This position will take place on Mondays, Wed, and Fridays from 10am to 5pm each day. The pay is $10 per hour. The job is estimated to last approx 3 months in early 2011. During that time, the candidate will have access to the studio and may produce work here.

Position #2 - Small Scale Clay Sculptor

We are looking for a person who is able to sculpt realistic figures of clay. These figures are approx. 3"- 4 “. This is an ongoing project that will continue for sometime. We pay $50 per figure, and go thru many dozens each year. This is perfect for the artist who wants a small money-making job on the side. You just must be proficient with your sculpting abilities.

During the times that you are sculpting, you also will have use of one of the best and most well equipped glass studios in the country.


The most important quality for each of these positions is reliability.

Please contact Tim Tate with a statement of interest & artist resume to: washglassschool@aol.com

What Compels An Artist To Buy Art

DC based artist Sean Hennessy - writes in his blog "Paint and Plaster" insights on how he and his wife - artist Rania Hassan - actively collect artwork and how they seek out work from local artists.

I wanted to share something very personal to me. our art collection. not pictures or anything, but the artists that we collect. My wife Rania and I have, over the last few years, been trying to collect works of DC area artists. We're pretty committed to promoting and supporting local art and we have a lot of great friends that happen to be great artists. Place and community and important to us. We also want to shape our collection into something very personal and a narrative of sorts or our life, people and things that we want to be close to. Our collection is one venue and outlet for our creativity. I've talked to a number of people recently that want to collect DC art but were uncertain where to begin. I hope this helps those people... as well as just serving as a list for me to remind myself to buy art... and yes, its 100% subjective...

It is great that these artists choose to support the local art scene. I encourage everyone to go to local shows, galleries and artfairs - there are many ways to support the artistic life of your community.

Click HERE to jump to Sean's list of artists and what compels him to purchase the works.

Foundry Gallery's "Celebrate Gay Marriage" Exhibition

The Lovers by Michael Janis
kilncast glass, steel 19"W x 37"H

photo by AnythingPhotographic

Foundry Gallery celebrates DC's historic passage of the same-sex marriage bill with a timely show called 'Celebrate Gay Marriage' in January 2011. The gallery had invited artists to submit art work for a juried show that depicts and celebrates gay marriage. Awards for the best pieces will be presented at the Opening Reception on January 7.

The gallery will present a talk titled 'Artistic Representation of Gay Life', by Dr. Jonathan Katz associate Professor at the University at Buffalo, and director of its Doctoral Program in Visual Studies, as well as Guest Curator at of the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery’s (and now controversial) Hide/Seek:Difference and Desire in American Portraiture exhibit at the Smithsonian Portrait Gallery. The special guest lecture will be held at the gallery on January 15, 2011, starting at 4 pm.

The following artists were juried into the show:

David Amoroso, VA Michael Auger, MD Jill Bateman, MD Kathy Blakeslee, DC Matthew Duffy, MD Michael Janis, DC Michel Jantzen, DC Rebecca Kallem, VA Margaret Kroyer, DC

Tom Hill, MD Stephen Honicki, NY Julia Latein-Kimmig, MD Mark Monteleone, NY John Paradiso, MD Susan Singer, VA Bill Travis, DC Bea Riley, MD

The Foundry Gallery
1314 18th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036

Celebrate Gay Marriage Exhibition
Exhibit Dates: January 5- Jan 30, 2011
Hours: Wednesday – Thursday 1 to 7 pm; Saturday & Sunday 12 – 6 pm
Show Dates: January 5 – 30, 2011
Opening Reception: featuring The Gay Men’s Chorus Potomac Fever January 7, 6 – 8 pm
January 15, 4 pm talk by Dr. Jonathan Katz, co-curator of Hide/Seek

Warmest Holiday Wishes From WGS

Seasons Greetings to all Our Family & Friends
from the Washington Glass School

& Best Wishes for the New Year!

The video is from Tim Tate's mixed media artwork "Winter Warmth" - the full piece and other companion season pieces were shown on an earlier posting.

Tim Tate Winter Warmth

Blown and Cast Glass, Electronics, Video18 x 8 x 8

Inside are cast glass snowflakes and pine cones. The finial is of holly surrounding a teapot. The video is a cityscape of rooftops with snow falling. Photo by AnythingPhoto.net

Smithsonian Resident Associates Tour Glass Studios

A Day of Glass - All-Day Tour - Saturday, January 22, 2011

The Smithsonian Institution has a Resident Associate Program (RAP)—offering opportunities for education, fun, and community to the Washington, D.C., area. The RAP presents about 750 programs each year, including lectures, seminars and study tours.
The most recent offering includes a tour of work and the studios of some area leading glass artists.
From the Smithsonian RAP website:
A rare opportunity to visit glass artists at work and at home. These local artists will give us demonstrations, invite us to view their art, and explain how they use techniques that run the gamut from ancient to 21st century. Begin at the home/studio of Eric Markow and Thom Norris as see how they bring their disciplines to their complex, enigmatic woven glass sculptures.

Next, visit St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church in Springfield to meet artists Jimmy Powers and Lisa Osgood Dano.
Powers, a stained glass artist who has lectured and demonstrated at the Smithsonian’s Renwick Gallery and American Art Museum, will discuss how he created a newly installed stained glass window in the church and, with Elizabeth Ryland Mears, 48 other stained glass panels there. Dano combines the ancient art of mosaics with contemporary methods and materials to achieve a balance of texture and movement.
We will also visit St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Burke, where Mears designed the stained glass windows in the sanctuary and chapel.

Conclude the day at Mears’ home/studio, where she will demonstrate the workings of the bench torch by creating a small, solid sculpture in clear glass. The group will have an opportunity to enjoy her glass-filled home, which showcases her work and that of other artists.

A three-course lunch is included. This tour is led by museum education consultant Sheila Pinsker.

Saturday, January 22, 2011, 8:15 a.m. to 7 p.m. by bus from the Holiday Inn Capitol at 550 C St., S.W. (corner of 6th & C Sts.)

Click HERE to jump to the Smithsonian RAP glass tour site.

Float Glass Fun Facts

Molten float glass floating atop liquid tin.

Since the earlier posting about BE's glass forming process, many have asked us about how float glass is made so smooth. The answer is due to the manufacturing process.

The first advances in automating glass manufacturing were patented in 1848 by Henry Bessemer, (of steel-making fame), who developed a steelmill-like, but very expensive process to produce a continuous ribbon of flat glass force under heat between rollers. Another old method formed large sheets of plate glass by casting a large puddle on an iron surface. Both of these processes required secondary polishing.

Then in the 1950s, Sir Alastair Pilkington and Kenneth Bickerstaff created the first successful commercial application for forming a continuous ribbon of glass using a molten tin bath on which the molten glass flows unhindered under the influence of gravity. By floating on the bed of tin, the glass sides are smooth and flat, however the glass does pick up a tin residue - which often needs to be addressed when kilnforming.

Not as motivational as Bullseye Glass' Mitchell Schou's wicked dance moves - but educational.

Click HERE to jump to an industry video about the float glass process.

Hamiltonian Artists Fellowship Program

The Hamiltonian Artists Fellowship Program is now accepting applications for its 2011-2013 term. Hamiltonian Artists offers a competitive two-year fellowship program for new innovative visual artists in all media. All promising visual artists who are currently not represented by a gallery are eligible to apply.

Deadline: Monday, February 28, 2011

This is the fourth annual open call to emerging artists to apply to their two-year Fellowship Program, aimed to aid in the professional development of contemporary visual artists.

Please refer to their website for application requirements, restrictions and forms. The application process will close at 6:00 pm on on Monday, February 28, 2011, and any applications received after that date will not be considered.

Hamiltonian Artists is funded in part by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, an agency supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.

More Glass Fun Facts

Ever wonder how the clear sheets of Bullseye glass are made - how they get that distinctive ripple texture?

Well - thanks to Facebook - we can see exactly the point the glass gets its wiggle :

click on images to jump to video of BE glass rolling process

Apparently, each and every sheet gets its shimmy from the BE staff as it gets pressed from molten glass ladle out and roll-pressed into sheet form.

The Bullseye glass factory is more fun than the Keebler hollow tree.

Sneak Peek @ WGS Sculpture Market

Sean Hennessey's glass, steel and concrete panels being installed.

The Washington Glass School has its sculpture market tomorrow, Saturday, December 11, from 2 - 6 pm.

As the class areas are transformed into the SOHO gallery in our minds eye - here are some snapshots of some the works - to whet your appetite:

L-R Erwin Timmers' cast recycled glass panels and Nancy Donnelley's kilncast glass dresses

A flotilla of Syl Mathis' cast glass boats.

Erwin Timmer's interconnected cast recycled glass and steel installation.

The Glass and Steel Sculptural Development class are also having an exhibition of their final projects in the gallery.

Joanna Viudez's cast glass and recycled steel installation "Seeds To Sow".

L-R LeeAnn Taylor's sculpture and Faz Besharation's kinetic mixed media work.

Tracy Benson's cast aluminum and glass sculpture.

Erin Antognoli's steel and glass wall-mounted sculpture.

Come to the Washington Glass School and see the rest of the artworks in person - the photos taken from a cell phone don't do these works justice!

WASHINGTON GLASS SCHOOL
December Sculpture Market & Holiday Open House
Date: Saturday, December 11, 2010

Time: 2:00 til 6:00 pm

Location: Washington Glass School

3700 Otis Street

Mount Rainier, MD 20712

Admission: Free

202.744.8222

Michael Janis featured in Lit/Arts Magazine SJU

The latest issue of the South Jersey Underground (SJU) literary / arts online magazine features the work of WGS artist Michael Janis.

SJU is a bi-monthly magazine providing a forum for writers and artists alike, fusing the mediums of fiction, poetry, and visual art with every issue.

Click HERE to jump to the acrobat hosted magazine website - Michael's work appears in a number of pages - most between pages 23-28.

New Lampwork Class Schedule

The New Winter Schedule for the Lampwork Concentrations is now online! - Have a squiz!

Class 1048 - Borosilicate Casting - Learn to cast components for use in Flameworked Sculpture
Learn the process of borosilicate glass casting for component assembly in Flameworked sculpture. Students will review the process of casting as it relates to borosilicate glass. Once cast the component elements will then be flameworked into sculptural works of art. Come learn the process and develop your skills in this one of a kind class!
In this 4 day class students will make rubber molds of various items, review "lost wax casting" process, discuss firing schedules for casting borosilicate glass, practice coldworking processes to clean up the cast elements, and learn how to assemble numerous components at the bench torch for creating flameworked sculpture.

Day 1 - Class overview, Project Discussion, Rubber Mold Creation
Day 2 - Rubber mold prep, Wax and plaster investment, casting schedule and color discussion
Day 3 - Divestment and coldworking of components
Day 4 - Flameworking components into final sculpture

Instructor: Rob Kincheloe
Dates: Sat/Sun, Jan 22 & 23 and 29 & 30
Time: 10am to 1pm (the 1:30pm to 5pm open studio session directly following this class is free to any class member)
Tuition : $500 plus $100 material fee. (Pay material fees to instructor in class)
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Class 1049 - Beginning Sculptural Flameworking

Learn the basics of making objects in the flame from borosilicate (Pyrex) glass. This 2-day class will focus on skills that are the basis of working with glass on the torch. You will come away with knowledge and some fine objects too! Rob is an energetic, knowledgeable instructor and artist who is ready and willing to help anyone learn this fascinating art form. The materials fee provides student with initial pack of glass, fuel for the torches and the loan of a full set of hand tools. Additional glass and supplies are available for purchase as the class progresses. Take this class more than once to reinforce your skills! Class Limit: 6 students

Dates: This class will be offered 2 times this semester
Session 1049A - Sat/Sun Feb 5 & 6
Session 1049B - Sat/Sun Feb 26 & 27

Time: 10am to 1pm (the 1:30pm to 5pm open studio session directly following this class is free to any class member)
Tuition : $250 plus $50 material fee (Pay material fees to instructor in class)
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Class 1050 - Glass Beadmaking - Developing Your Style

Glass beads have been objects of adornment for thousands of years, and are experiencing a popular revival. We will begin the class with a technical exploration of various foundation techniques essential to the success of all beadmakers and then progress to color, types of glass and ways of utilizing the properties of the medium. Whether as a component of a necklace or alone as a pendant, glass beads can also be an element of creative expression. Together we will begin a conversation about forms of jewelry, finding your palette and individual style.Class Limit: 6 students

Instructor : Clare J. Nykolyszyn
Dates : Sat/Sun March 19 & 20
Time : 10am to 1pm
Tuition : $250 plus $50 for materials (Pay material fees to instructor in class)
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Class 1051 - Flamework Club - Open Studio For Flameworkers

Already know the basics of flameworking? Want to join others in a social atmosphere while you work? Our Flamework Club gives each student the opportunity to work independently in a world class studio while meeting some great new friends! Materials extra.Class Limit: 6 students

Instructor : Robert Kincheloe
Dates : Sat / Sun afternoons (call to confirm appointment)
Time : 1:30pm to 5pm
Tuition : $300 for 4 sessions or included with Instructor Classes

New Winter Class Schedule!

Its Here! The Winter 2010/2011 Class Schedule is now available! Huzzah!
Part One - below - is the WGS warm glass course listing. Part two - posted on the blog tomorrow -are the Lampworking Courses.

For more info - or to register online - click HERE to jump to the Washington Glass School course lisiting.

Class 1040 - Beginner's Weekend - 3 Technique Glass Class
Our most popular class, this is the fastest way to learn all aspects of warm glass in the shortest amount of time! Under the supervision of several professional glass artists you will learn the fundamentals of fusing, slumping and dimensional kiln casting. Everything from bowls and plates to sculptural objects... this is the perfect way for a beginner to learn the basics of glass... and you will leave with several very cool items! Offered 2 times in the winter schedule.

Instructors: Tim Tate / Robert Kincheloe

Dates: Session 1040A: Sat/Sun Jan 22 and 23

Session 1040B: Sat/Sun March 12 and 13

Time: 1pm to 5pm each day

Tuition: $300 per student (all materials included) __________________________________________________

Class 1041 - Lighting Solutions For Your Home
This class will bring some serious color to your life, and brighten up your living space. This is the perfect way to use glass in a most practical application: ceiling lamps. You will design your own colored glass, determine your own shape, and have your choice of several different hanging or mounting options. For considerably less than the price of a designer fixture, you can put your own name on one. Tuition includes glass, mold materials, and mounting hardware. No glass experience is needed, and electrical experience will be provided.

Instructor : Erwin Timmers

Dates : Wed evenings in Jan 26 and Feb 2 & 9

Time : 7pm to 9:30pm

Tuition : $300
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Class 1042 - Reverse Relief Casting
Explore a range of techniques for making reverse imagery using fiber blanket, fiber board and papers. You will learn how to cut thick glass and to make re-usable molds, as well as ways to
add color with powders, frits and sheet. Firing techniques and schedules for versatile
float glass will be covered. You will take home several cast glass pieces made by using the reverse relief technique.

Instructor : Michael Janis
Dates : Sat / Sun Feb 12 & 13
Time : 2pm to 5pm
Tuition : $300

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Class 1043 - Going Green - Recycled Glass Art Workshop
Green up your life by doing something creative to help the environment! This is an exploration into using recycled glass to make sculptural pieces, architectural elements, and tableware. We will delve into multiple techniques, including casting, fusing and slumping. Glass chemistry, coloration, and firing temperatures will be explained for each particular application. It is a fantastic way to learn aspects of any warm glass work while focusing on recycling! And now we have it concentrated into a long weekend class - over the President's Day Weekend!
Once you start down the path of recycled glass, you will see more and more opportunities for experimentation around you. No prior experience is necessary - you are encouraged to bring in materials you'd like to try...and you will leave with several very cool items!

Instructor : Erwin Timmers
Dates : Sat/Sun/Mon on Feb 19, 20 & 21
Time : 10am to 4pm
Tuition : $400

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Class 1044 - Beginning MIG Welding
Ever wondered about learning to weld? Want to impress your friends, your older brother and that cute bartender? It's easier than you think! In three evenings you will learn how to lay a bead, and handle all sorts of sharp and dangerous tools. You will be able to complete a small project and leave with lots of ideas and know-how for other projects. This class will teach you the basics of welding, metal work and design, joining, bending and finishing. And you will get dirty!

Instructor : Erwin Timmers
Dates : Wed evenings in March 16 23 & 30
Time : 7pm to 9:30pm
Tuition : $325

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Class 1045 - Sculpt A Glass Bowl : Introduction To Lost Wax Casting
The goal in this class is to make a vessel form in glass using the lost wax process. Students will begin with a pre-made wax form that they carve into and alter. We will be asking students to research surface decoration ideas for their project before coming to class. Students will bring these ideas to class in the form of sketches, Xeroxes, magazines, etc.
I
Instructor : Debra Ruzinski
Dates : 3 Day Class - Sat/Sun. Mar. 26/27 and Sun. Apr. 3
Time : 10am to 2pm
Tuition : $350

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Class 1046 - Turning Your Wood-Cuts and Lino-Cuts Into Cast Glass Panels
This incredible process will allow your wood cuts or lino cuts to be duplicated in a cast glass panel with out harming your original cut piece! What a miraculous way for that printing technique to be used architecturally! You can also print from the glass plate. Imagine a wall of your wood cuts all translated into glass, then gridded out within in a metal frame....and made into a 10 ft high x 20 ft long wall. Or as simple a single back-lit glass panel! ....The possibilities are myriad! This is the perfect way for a lino cut printer to enter the world of large scale public art or to incorporate a quality of translucency into their work. The process is very simple to learn ....... and it will expand your artistic dialog exponentially .... All while using your own imagery!

Instructor : Kirk Waldroff
Dates : Saturdays in April 2, 9 & 16
Time : 1pm to 5pm
Tuition : $300

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Class 1047 - Work at Your Own Pace - Open Studio
Already know the basics of casting or fusing? Open Studio gives each student the opportunity to work independently in a world class studio. Tuition includes a kiln firing per session, clear base glass and colored scrap glass, use of studio tools.

Instructor : Studio Staff
Dates : Wed/Thurs/Sat afternoons (call to confirm appointment)
Time : 1pm to 5pm
Tuition : $300 for 4 sessions

Tommorow's posting will feature the Flameworking Classes!

December Sculpture Market

The Washington Glass School proudly presents: Artworks, Sculpture, Fine Art Furniture and other handmade goods by some of the area’s finest artists in the December Sculpture Market!

See some of the new directions the artists of the Washington Glass School are moving the traditional craft with integration of modern process, mixed media, and narrative.Some of the artists showing include: Erwin Timmers, Tim Tate, Elizabeth Mears, Chris Shea, Allegra Marquart, Michael Janis, Nancy Donnelly, Robert Kincheloe, Sean Hennessey and Rania Hassan.
Music, Demos, Class Specials and more are on the agenda for the day!

The recent Glass & Steel Sculptural Development class will present their final projects in one of the galleries at the school - this semester's class has created some of the most impressive works yet! See what happens when you have set loose a class at DC Glass Works and Washington Glass School and toss in some aluminum pour castings & metal welding - you will be impressed and wanting to know when the next class occurs!

Erin Antognoli's kilncast glass and steel sculpture

The adjacent Flux Studios will also be open - see the works of some of the area's best ceramic artwork!

WASHINGTON GLASS SCHOOL
December Sculpture Market & Holiday Open House
Date: Saturday, December 11, 2010

Time: 2:00 til 6:00 pm

Location: Washington Glass School

3700 Otis Street

Mount Rainier, MD 20712

Admission: Free

202.744.8222

Project 4 Gallery Yuletide Art Festival

Yuletide: a year-end art festival at Project 4
December 4 - 22, 2010

Yuletide marks the 1st year-end art festival at Project 4 Gallery. The exhibition features a selection of small works by artists who frequently collaborate with Project 4. All works of art are priced under $1,000.

Yuletide considers and presents art of all media including: recycled glass, LP records transformed, drawings, watercolors, ceramics, wood sculpture, and more.

Featured artists include: Margaret Boozer, Beau Chamberlain, Justin Gibbens, Kate Hardy, Tricia Keightley, Laurel Lukaszewski, Thomas Müller, Foon V. Sham, Erwin Timmers, and Paul Villinski.

Project 4 Gallery

1353 U Street NW, Suite 302

Washington, DC 20009

The exhibition runs December 4 - 22, 2010

Opening reception on December 4, 6:30 pm- 9:30 pm.

The opening reception will feature a musical performance by Saïs Kamalidiin and Rick Peralta from the group MIN from 7:00 -8:00 pm followed by an artist talk at 8:15 pm.

The gallery will be open Monday to Saturday, 12 to 6:00 pm.

For more information: (202) 232-4340 or email: info@project4gallery.com.

The Grinch In Art

Gaylord National Harbor Hotel Strictly First Glass shop

A number of years ago, the Washington Glass Studio was commissioned to create custom glass elements for the Gaylord National Harbor complex’s presidential suites lighting and for the signature glass sculpture in the center's “Strictly First Glass” art gallery. Made from recycled glass, the ceiling mounted sculpture was intended to allow lighting to filter thru from recessed lights mounted in the ceiling.

Erwin Timmers installs the components made from recycled glass into the ceiling mounted sculpture.

A waggish designer commented that ribs that made up the steel support framework for the glass resembled an umbrella, and due to the tapered form, alternately to an upside down Christmas tree. Soon the artwork was compared to a scene from the 1966 animated Chuck Jones "How The Grinch Stole Christmas" television special where both a Christmas tree and umbrella are combined.

The Grinch steals the Whoville Christmas Tree.

So, somehow it is fitting that the sprawling resort and convention center features a sculpted holiday wonderland with scenes carved in ice based on Dr. Seuss’ classic story, on now thru January 9, 2011.

The Grinch in Ice

Click HERE to jump to the Gaylord National Harbor site.