30 April 2010

Film Opening at Newseum


The independent documentary film "Chaplains Under Fire" will have its Washington, D.C., premiere, tonite, Friday April 30 at 7:30 p.m. in the Newseum's Theater.

The premier event will include a discussion with filmmakers Lee Lawrence and Terry Nickelson, editor Andrea Hull, Navy Chaplain Ben Sandford, and religious-liberty scholar Charles C. Haynes after the screening.

"The role that chaplains play in the military — and the church-state tensions they face — is not well understood," Haynes said. "'Chaplains Under Fire' is a compelling look at chaplains in action — and a provocative examination of the First Amendment debate surrounding their work."

Filmmakers Lawrence and Nickelson spent three months in Afghanistan and Iraq in 2007 examining the world of military chaplains through the eyes of the troops they serve in combat and the controversies they trigger at home and on the battlefield.

Chaplains of different faiths help soldiers cope with the daily grind of deployment, the rush of risky missions, the pain of losing comrades, the confusion of being medevacked after life-changing wounds. To many, the very presence of chaplains in war spells comfort — to others, it raises questions.

"Are they trying to convert the troops they serve? Is the government muzzling Christian evangelical chaplains? These are the contradictory reports we read in the papers," Lee Lawrence said. "We wanted to get behind the headlines."

The event is free and open to the public, but seating is limited, so secure a seat by contacting Ashlie Hampton at 202/292-6288 or ahampton@freedomforum.org. Enter the Knight Conference Center at the Newseum from Sixth Street, just north of Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. The running time of the film is 94 minutes.

Lee Lawrence is a journalist who has worked in Belgium, the former Yugoslavia and India. Lee has taught seminars on "writing for artists" at the Washington Glass School and she continues to write features for the Christian Science Monitor, American Style magazine, the Wall Street Journal and other publications. Terry Nickelson is a filmmaker who has lived in five sub-Saharan countries, South Asia and North Africa. His work includes producing a documentary on the Rwanda genocide for UNHCR, contributing to a PBS series on preventive diplomacy and contributing to a Court TV series on war-crimes tribunals. He is now part of an effort to stop the genocide in Darfur.

26 April 2010

Matt Szosz Demonstration on how to inflate fused glass

Glass artist Matt Szosz gave a series of lectures and demonstrations here at the Washington Glass School as part of Craft Week DC. Novie Trump filmed one of his explosive demos, where he would take sheets of fused float glass and inject compressed air inside, causing it to erupt in fanstastic shapes and patterns. We will post more of the vids and photos as we get them!

19 April 2010

Eco-Art presentation at Library of Congress


Erwin Timmers will be one of the participants in the Library of Congress' Earthday 2010 Celebration. He will be showing the recycled glass component of his artwork, and will be talking about sustainable design in the arts.

17 April 2010

Matt Szosz Demos Inflating Fused Glass

Matt Szosz Technique: Fused, Inflated Window Glass

Join us for a fascinating and unusual free demo to be held during CraftWeek DC and in cooperation with the James Renwick Alliance's Spring Craft Weekend. Glass Weekend "Rising Star" Matt Szosz will be inflating fused sheets of glass into sculptural "envelopes". Inflating hot glass is explosive - the stillness of the final form is belied by the frenetic urgency of the process. Join us while Matt Szosz shows an amazing kiln process experience. This is a great show!

Using glass and clouds as a material sources, much of Matthew's work stems from experimentation with modes of manipulation. He is interested in developing new ways of transforming sheet glass when it is at fusing/casting temperatures to capture the tactile quality and the complex curves the material achieves when heated.

Artist Matt Szosz
Dates Sat April 24
Time 11 am - 1pm


Born in Rhode Island, Matthew Szosz has received a BFA, a BID (Industrial Design), and a MFA (Glass) from Rhode Island School of Design. He has worked professionally in art and art related fields in Rhode Island, New Mexico and California for the last ten years. Recently he has received the Pilchuck Scholarship, a Stein Fund Grant, the Award of Excellence in Graduate Studies from RISD and the Jutta Cuny-Franz Award in 2009.

15 April 2010

Cast Glass as Public Artwork - Photos of the Case Study


unless noted, all photos by Anything Photographic

The public artwork just completed by the Washington Glass Studio and Alonzo Davis for Prince George's County Circuit Court was just photographed by Anything Photographic. The sculpture is made using the original bell tower cupola salvaged from the disastrous fire that destroyed the courthouse in 2004. The structure and copper dome were cleaned and made good, and modified to accommodate artwork elements that include cast recycled glass formed into images of the community and the legal system, sandcarved panels with the County Seals for each of the Counties served by the Circuit Court, and a neon bell symbolizing the original bell that would toll each day at 9.30 am when the Court was in session.
Titled "Rebirth and Renewal", the artwork is testament to a proud community and its ability to overcome adversity.











Artwork neon lit at night : photo by Aisha Jordan

City Gallery's Nancy Donnelly Show

Glass artist Nancy Donnelly will be featured in a two-artist show at the new City Gallery in the trendy H Street corridor.
Her show "Light And Allusion" will include installation work by Nancy and paintings by Jill Finsen.

Nancy Donnelly "Birds" fused glass
Light And Allusion
May 1 - 29, 2010
Opening Reception with Artists Sat, May 1, 6-9pm


City Gallery
804 H Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002

202.468.4277

14 April 2010

artdc Gallery Call For Artists: 12 x 12 Show

artdc gallery at 5710 Baltimore Ave. Hyattsville, MD
Yep. It's that time again! artdc Gallery has announced it invitation for its successful "12x12" event.
In this all inclusive show artists are invited to submit art limited to one (1) square foot: 12”x12”.
Each 12”x12” space in the show had a $12 hanging fee.
Works will be submitted including, but not limited to, photography, painting, mixed media, sculpture, lead, ceramics, glass, and more.
This show has a 12% commission for sales in the gallery. All prices are limited to $300.
The opening on the 22nd of May and will run the same day as the Hyattsville Arts Festival, with lots to see.
Install Saturday May 1st, 2010 Reception / Party May 22nd in conjunction with the Hyattsville Arts Festival!
The artdc Gallery will install the work.

Make sure you get a spot, and pre-register HERE.
Some of the spots are already booked. To reserve multiple spots, click the button multiple times. $12.00 gets one spot. - there will be a number available.

Details:

-All inclusive show (limited by space)

-Art is limited to 1 square foot, 12”x12”.

-Art may be less than 12" x 12" but does not need to be square.

-Each 12”x12” space in the show had a $12 hanging fee.

-Each work requires a fee.
-Pre-Register 12 spaces and get an extra space for free.
-Works will be submitted including, but not limited to, photography, painting, mixed media, sculpture, lead, ceramics, glass, and more.

-12% commission for sales in the gallery.
-Prices are limited to $300.

-Patron's of artdc get a $1 discount per work.

Install Saturday May 1st, 2010

Reception / Party May 22nd in conjunction with the Hyattsville Arts Festival.

Montgomery College Sculpture Exhibition


April 15-May 10, 2010
Transmuting Craft
Curated by Megan Van Wagoner, this exhibition features the work of ceramic and glass artists who use these craft media along with metal and other traditional sculpture materials to make three-dimensional mixed-media art.
Artists include David D'Orio, Sarah Lindley, Greg Nangle, and John Williams.


The Opening Reception is Thursday, April 15, 2010, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Montgomery College
Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus
The Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation Arts Center
930 King Street, Silver Spring, MD 20910

Gallery Hours M-F, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

240.567.1368

13 April 2010

Busy Day at the Glass School


John Hohenshelt talks kiln talk to Erwin Timmers.

Phew! What A Busy Day!

Turkish glass and mosaic artist Oguzhan Tugrul visited the glass school. "Oz" was visiting the US - he had also come to Istanbul's Glass Furnace when Tim Tate and Michael Janis were teaching there in the summer of 2007.

Oğuzhan Tuğrul started glass studies in antique window restoration in Canada in the 70's. He taught western stained glass techniques in Turkey in the 80's. This was followed by his research of 16th century Ottoman decorated tucco window making techniques. The new and advanced technique of glass fusion calligraphy was the result of his publication of traditional Turkish Islamic calligraphy with acid etching techniques on flash-glass. Moving on to further uncharted territory, Tuğrul designed 3D windows for futuristic architecture projects.



Oğuzhan Tuğrul shows a book of his work to Kirk Waldroff and Tim Tate.

Also today, John Hohenshelt of Paragon Kilns stopped in to talk about kilns and maintenance. The conversation was all about art, glass, and equipment.


John Hohenshelt, Tim Tate, Erwin Timmers and Michael Janis.

12 April 2010

Social Networking Seminar


Nora, The Piano Cat
click on image to jump to cat-certo video

Special Seminar: Social Networking and Marketing Your Art

This special seminar will be held during CraftWeek DC and in cooperation with the James Renwick Alliance's Spring Craft Weekend. Come and explore with us the possibilities for advancing your artwork using today's popular social networks. Get shows, sell your work, approach galleries, blogs, newspapers.... so many forms for the new face of art to investigate.

Find out how Tim Tate was able to turn a Facebook posting of a cat playing a piano into a show at New York's Museum of Arts and Design - that alone is reason enough to participate in the seminar!

The seminar speakers are some of DC's art stars that are at the forefront in the use of the internet and social media:

Rania Hassan studied art in college in Lebanon and moved to Washington to work for the White House. More recently, Rania has been getting attention for her alt-craft "knit paintings," and last year she received an award from the James Renwick Alliance, which is affiliated with the Smithsonian's Renwick Gallery. Rania has kept her day job working for the government but finds herself devoting every spare moment to her craft. She actively sells her artwork with Etsy, and Crafty Bastards.

Click HERE to jump to Washington Post article about Rania.

F.Lennox Campello studied art at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington. In 1996 he was the co-founder of the Fraser Gallery, a leading independently owned fine arts gallery in Washington, DC and he has been the recipient of many art awards as well as having exhibited widely in the United States, Latin America and Europe. He is also often heard on National Public Radio (in the USA) and the Voice of America discussing the visual arts from the Greater Washington, DC region. Lenny is an award-winning artist, and his art news blog; DC Art News is one of the highest ranked visual arts blogs in the Blogsphere. Lenny is well known for his "Boot Camp for Artists" seminars on how to survive as an artist.

Click HERE to see his website.

Tim Tate is the Co-founder and Co-Director of the Washington Glass School. 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.

Click HERE to see his website.

Seminar 222 - Special Seminar: Social Networking and Marketing Your Art

InstructorRania Hassan/ Tim Tate and F Lennox Campello
DateSaturday April 24
Time1 pm - 3pm
Tuition$20
Click HERE to jump to the Washington Glass School class list & use PayPal form at top of webpage.

08 April 2010

Spring Craft Weekend Approaches!

More event updates for CraftWeek DC 2010 -
The
James Renwick Alliance
invites you to join them for an Après Dinner Reception and silent auction featuring unique, one-of –a kind craft items from regional and national artists. The reception consists of a delectable dessert buffet catered by Top Chef Season 5 finalist Carla Hall and will include the opportunity to mingle with art lovers and artists from the Washington area and beyond.

Carla Hall
Tickets are $50 and can be purchased online at http://www.jra.org/ or by calling 301-907-3888.
Proceeds from this event will help support the Renwick Gallery of the
Smithsonian American Art Museum.

Please RSVP by April 19, 2010.

When: Friday, April 23, 2010 from 9:00 PM - 11:30 PM.

Where: Long View Gallery
1234 9th St, NW
Washington, DC

Long View Gallery
Click HERE to jump to the Spring Craft Weekend JRA list of events.

06 April 2010

Pecha Kucha with NoVA's AIA


As part of Architecture Week 2010, the Northern Virginia Chapter of the American Institute of Architects will have a Pecha Kucha mashup (a series of short slide presentations - approx 6 minutes each- on cool, entertaining topics held where conversation, ideas and drinks can flow) - and I am one of the scheduled speakers - talking about art, architecture and glass (so you know it will be a cool and entertaining night!). Other speakers include: Kevin Wyllie, Architect, Catholic University School of Architecture; Ron Anzalone, Archeologist; Tom Kamm, Theatrical Stage Designer; Chul Park, Graphic Artist, Forest Allread, Artist, Corcoran School of Art; Brian Frickie, Architect; and others.

Come and join us! - A great way to meet other artists, architects and designers - @ the Light Horse Restaurant in the Old Town section of Alexandria.


What: NoVA's AIA PechaKucha 20 x 20 Night
When: April 13
Doors open at 6:00p with presentations beginning at 7:00p
Where:
Light Horse Restaurant & Bar, 715 King Street Alexandria, VA.
Enjoy food and drink and discover a fun way to share ideas and experiences as presenters illustrate something they are passionate about with only 20 images, shown for 20 seconds each. The event is free, although attendees will be purchasing their own refreshments. Reservations are not required.

05 April 2010

Kiln Klassics

The Washington Glass School's kilns are all from the same manufacturer - Paragon Kilns. The president of Paragon, John Hohenshelt, will be at the Washington Glass School next Tuesday, April 13, 2010 from 2-4pm and will be available for you to ask questions (in person only) about kilns; how to choose the best kiln for your use; how to repair insulated firebrick; relay questions; what new kilns are coming out; what is Mesquite, Texas really like.

John Hohenshelt and the Paragon Iguana Kiln

Paragon is having a video competition where the prize is one of their kilns - for more info - click
HERE.

The contest ends midnight, August 31, 2010, central time.

03 April 2010

Taos Institute for Glass Art "Call for Entries"

2010 TAOS ART GLASS INVITATIONAL & WALKING ON GLASS TOUR
ARTISTS: Call for Entries
Call for Entries is Now Open
TIGA is announcing the 2010 national call for entries for this year's ever expanding Taos Art Glass Invitational. The event, produced by the Taos Institute for Glass Arts, is also sponsored by Glass Alliance - New Mexico, the Taos Gallery Association and the Town of Taos and has begun attracting top collectors from around the country. These events will be promoted in national and regional publications, with special emphasis given to personally invite national collectors.

The entry does not require submission of exact works proposed to be shown by the artist. Artists are selected on merit of the body of works submitted, which must be representative of the works the artist will be delivering for exhibition. This type of submission is for the artist's benefit, in that it enables the artist to show the most recent works he/she has completed instead of a work made 6 or more months before, photographed, and held back for this particular opportunity of exhibition.
Deadline for submission is April 22, 2010. The jury for the Invitational Exhibition and exhibition selections for the Walking On Glass Tour will be announced on May 11, 2010. Works must be shipped or delivered by June 18, 2010.

The show will be mounted on July 1-4, with Private Collector Previews slated for July 5 -6 and Public Openings and Receptions on July 10-11. The show closes August 15, 2010.

Click Here to see the call for entries
Click Here to jump to the application form


Click HERE to jump to TIGA's website

02 April 2010

Tim Tate & Marc Petrovic Show @ Museum of Arts + Design


In April, New York's Museum of Arts and Design will open "Dead or Alive", an exhibition showcasing the work of more than 30 international artists who use organic and once-living materials-such as insects, feathers, shells, bones, silkworm cocoons, plant materials, and fur.

"In the hands of these artists mute materials are brought back to life as works of art," states Chief Curator David McFadden. "With profound and provocative associations, organic materials are transformed and resuscitated. This exhibition evokes our deepest emotions about mortality, but at the same time celebrates the new life given to lifeless materials by these talented individuals."

Dead or Alive, on view until October 24, 2010, features new site-specific installations and recent work by contemporary artists from around the world, including Jennifer Angus, Nick Cave, Tessa Farmer, Damien Hirst, Alastair Mackie, Kate MccGwire, and a collaborative installation by Tim Tate and Marc Petrovic.

Dead or Alive follows upon themes of a slightly macabre nature. Once-living parts of flora and fauna are recombined and rearranged into works of art that address the transience of life, and all that is elegant and alarming about the natural world.

Artist Nick Cave uses leaves, hair, twigs, and other found objects to create bold costume-sculptures called Soundsuits. When worn, the Soundsuits are brought to life and create a loud swell of noise as the performer moves-a meditation on the power of ritual and ceremony.

Jennifer Angus also subverts familiar forms with her site-specific architectural installations. Built to mimic interiors furnished with traditional wallpaper and textiles, the works are actually ornamented with thousands of dried insects pinned directly to the wall. These installations blur the distinction between decoration and expression, and between domestic comforts and disturbance.

Cuban artist Fabian Peña employs insects to explore the endless cycle of life and death, and to comment on the foulest conditions of human existence. For The Impossibility of Storage for the Soul (2007), Peña has rendered an image of the human skull using only clipped cockroach wings. Mounted on a light box, the wings cast an eerie amber glow into the gallery.

Washington Glass School's Tim Tate and Marc Petrovic's collaborative work "The Apothecarium Moderne" is an installation referencing a 19th century apothecary.......but represents cures for the ills of modern man.

The nine cures represented are (Left to Right From Top) : Loss Of Faith, Financial Insecurity, Identity Theft, Over-population, Erectile Dysfunction, Infertility, Family Dysfunction, Intelligent Design and Ennui.

Marc Petrovic on the collaborative process: "I really enjoyed being able to add and subtract elements and ideas with another artist. It seemed to take some of the mental pressure off not having to come up with the entire concept and execution all on my own. I often have input from my wife, Kari Russell-Pool, when I work on my own pieces, but I almost always execute my own pieces entirely by myself from start to finish. This was a lot of work, but a great experience."

"After a majority of the components were made I went to Tim’s studio in DC and we laid out all of our fabricated parts along with all our found objects. After we went over each bottle one at a time putting all of the parts for each bottle together to get a better visual of our concepts manifested, we then edited the pieces further and added or subtracted components to get them to work visually as well as to strengthen the concepts."

"We then split up the components again and, each in our own shops, worked on assembling the more complex components. Tim did the final engraving of text on the bottles. The division of labor worked out to be pretty equitable."
Detail: Ennui Materials: Blown, engraved and lampworked glass; firecrackers; matches. Dimensions: 6" x 6" x 18"
The top finial contains an exclamation point. Inside is filled with unlit matches, save for one atop a dome filled with firecrackers. The text is in German....the chorus of Beethoven's 9th Symphony's "Ode To Joy".

Infertility Materials: Blown and engraved glass; bird eggs. Dimensions: 6" x 6" x 18"
The finial is of an X/Y....suggesting chromosomes. The interior is filled with many varieties of eggs.....cockatiel, mallard duck, quail, etc. The text is an elaborate voodoo cure for infertility.

Click here for a NY newstation coverage of the show.
Click here for NY Times coverage.