SOFA Chicago Preview Oct 2nd

Join the James Renwick Alliance members for a sneak peek of work made for the upcoming international shows SOFA Chicago and Art Basel Miami by glass artists Tim Tate, Michael Janis, Erwin Timmers and collaborative work by Tim Tate and Marc Petrovic: Seven Deadly Sins and Seven Waking Dreams. * Just added * click HERE to jump to American Craft Magazine article on Tim & Marc's work.

Marc Petrovic & Tim Tate The Seven Deadly Sins

The adjacent Flux Studios is also hosting a preview showing of work by its renown artists.

SOFA CHICAGO 2010 PREVIEW

WASHINGTON, D.C., ARTISTS

Washington Glass Studio

AND

Flux Studios Artists New Work

Saturday, October 2, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Flux Studios

Fall Preview

Works of Novie Trump, Laurel Lukaszewski, Jessica Beels and Judit Varga.

3700 Otis Street Mt. Rainier, MD 20712

202-744-8222- Washington Glass Studios - 703-346-5284-Flux Studios

Inspired By Nature - Glass BUGS!

Glass Insects by Michael Mangiafico

Michael (Fig) Mangiafico graduated with a BFA in glass art from Carnegie Mellon University in 1985. He has been teaching torchworking and glass blowing for over 20 years. He owns and operates his own glass studio in Pittsburgh, PA and has exhibited and taught across the US. Fug is member of the Glass Art Society, The International Society of Glass Beadmakers, and The Pittsburgh Craftmen’s Guild. His work is available in galleries nationwide and has been featured in numerous art magazines and publications - his glass insects are some of the finest examples of lampwork worldwide.

Fig will be one of the superstar lampworkers that will be teaching in the new lampworking program this fall at the Washington Glass School. The weekend class will be held October 9 & 10.

Inspired by nature, Fig will cover covers techniques for sculpting various insects from torchworked glass - both literal renderings of insects and more abstract interpretations.

Students will learn to work with soft glass while observing nature. Students will explore heat control, cane pulling and the basics of soft glass sculpting.

Michael Mangiafico working a demo during the recent ISGB conference in Rochester, NY.

For more information on the upcoming lampworking class click HERE.

Click HERE to jump to Fig’s website.

Spotlight on Susan Taylor Glasgow

Susan Taylor Glasgow 'You Are My Sunshine'.

On of the features of the blog is to showcase the work of favorite artists. One of the contemporary leaders of narrative glass is Susan Taylor Glasgow. Susan will be in the DC area soon, teaching a workshop at Weisser Studios.

Susan Talor Glasgow 'Eve's Penance'.

Susan Taylor Glasgow is represented by Heller Gallery, NY, and is exhibited throughout the United States. Her ‘Sewn Glass’ technique embraces the domestic act of sewing in an unexpected medium. Combining text with 1950’s imagery, Susan explores the “complex dichotomy of women’s roles within the household". Each sewn glass sculpture starts out as a flat sheet of glass.

Susan says of her work “In my previous life I was a professional dressmaker and seamstress, so I have a comfortable understanding about how to take a flat sheet of material and give it form. Each panel is cut from a pattern designed to match the form I’ve made for it.”

To establish the three-dimensional shape and holes, each section of the glass is kiln-fired several times. The imagery is imbedded into the glass by sandblasting, and then by rubbing glass enamels into the blasted area to create the black and gray "photo". The components are then re-fired to melt the enamel into the glass. Once cooled, the sections are finally sewn together. Depending on the complexity of the vessel or sculpture, the entire creative process may take two to four weeks to complete.

Susan Taylor Glasgow 'Glamour Legs Model #121757 Set'.

Susan’s studio is in Missouri, in an old 1930's house in downtown Columbia that she and her husband rescued from demolition. She is a 2002 recipient of Pilchuck Glass School emerging artists grant, and a Wheaton Arts fellow in fall of 2003, and most recently a resident artist at the Pittsburgh Glass Center. Susan’s work has earned numerous awards and she has work included in the permanent collection of the Carnegie Museum, Chrysler Museum, Museum of American Glass, and several others.

Click HERE to jump to Susan's website.

Susan's work will be part of a group show titled "Domesticity: How We Live" at Morgan Contemporary Glass Gallery in Pittsburgh, PA, opening in October.

Susan also has a solo show at Gallery One One titled 'Refuge' now on exhibit at Brazee Street Studios in Cincinatti, OH, with the closing reception on Oct 8th.

Ms. Glasgow is also a chair at the upcoming Pittsburgh Glass Center Benefit Auction to be held Oct. 15th in Pittsburgh, PA.

Sculptural Flameworking Class

The Sculptural Flamework class and the Flamework Club got a great start to the fall semester here at the Washington Glass School. Above photo shows the weekend class completely engrossed in their works in the new lampworking stations.
Instructor Robert Kincheloe has advised that there is still space available in the next beginner class coming up in October and the Club is going strong on Saturdays.

Some killer flamework classes with superstars Liz Mears and Michael "Fig" Mangiafico are coming up real soon!

NoVA AIA PK Night

The designers are doing it again! 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) talking about art, architecture and design . Speakers include engineer / metal sculptor Michael Enn Sirvet & ceramic sculptor Leila Holtsman. Other speakers include:Anh Tran, Edna Johnston, Gregory Rubbo and Rado Ivanov.

Come on in for the event! - 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: September 21st
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.

Photos from Glass Festival in Sequim, WA

Nancy Donnelly sent a quick report of the glass exhibit "Transcendence - the Magic of Glass" that is part of the Glass Festival now going on in Sequim, WA. Washington Glass School's Teddie Hathaway was juried into the show, outlined in an earlier posting.

Nancy writes that the museum show is at Sequim's "MAC", where the letters MAC stands for "Museum & Arts Center in the Sequim-Dungeness Valley" in Washington. Nancy also advises that the correct pronunciation of Sequim is closer to "Skwim".

The Sequim show is a large show, with some 50 artists participating. Many are from Washington State, but also from Toronto, L.A., Greece,Turkey, New York, and Arizona. This exhibition is part of Washington's Glass Festival, and is accompanied with workshops and artist talks throughout the month. Some of the artists speaking include Michael Dupille and Delores Taylor.

Nancy writes that the show is well displayed and the work is quite good. They had numerous pieces of cast glass, and she sent some snaps of the exhibit.

photos by Nancy Donnelly

Link to MAC website - click HERE

Houston Arts Examiner on Erwin Timmers

The Houston Examiner has a nice article about Washington Glass School Director Erwin Timmers. Erwin will be teaching classes about recycling and sustainable design this October in the Lone Star State.

Link to the Houston Arts Examiner article - click HERE.

Tom Wolff @ 39th Street Gallery

The artist reception for photographer Thomas Wolff's show of new works is this weekend at the 39th Street Gallery at the Gateway Arts Center. His show, titled: CENSUS: A PHOTOGRAPHIC SURVEY includes portraits of the Gateway Arts District artists, business owners and citizens.

Tom has said of his portraits: “I always like the idea of an almost life sized image of the subject for close scrutiny and finally for the love of their humanity. I almost always come away from my portrait sessions with gratitude and affection for the subjects. They are my collaborators, my co-conspirators. I leave exhausted and dry-mouthed from talking so much; like a one night stand.”

Tom Wolff studied painting at the Art Institute of Boston and Arts Students League in New York, and studied photography at Geo. Washington University and Photoworks at Glen Echo Park. Thomas is a freelance photographer; and adjunct professor at Shepherd College (now university), Shepherdstown, W.Va. 1988-89 and at Photoworks Glen Echo Park 1977-2005. His work has been published in Washington Post Magazine, House & Garden, Garden Design, Smithsonian, Audubon, and New York Times Magazine/Sophisticated Traveler.

Kyle Boozer-Strother & Margaret Boozer

CENSUS: A PHOTOGRAPHIC SURVEY

39th Street Gallery
Gateway Arts Center, Level 2
3901 Rhode Island Avenue
Brentwood, MD 20722
Sept 9 – Oct 29, 2010
Artist Reception: September 18, 5-8 pm

Click HERE to jump to Tom's website.

Arts On Belmont

Adams Morgan Day Festival — Sep 12, 2010 12:00pm to 7:00pm

The Longest Continuous Neighborhood Festival in DC! First held in 1978, this nationally known regional event showcases the international and cultural diversity and creativity that is the hallmark of Adams Morgan. This Festival celebrates the dynamism and innovation that arises from the melting pot of cultures and their interaction together.

The Adams Morgan Day Festival is characterized by two large signature music stages and other innovative & dynamic cultural, music, arts and dance activities. The famous Columbia and Florida Stages feature live music acts from all genres from Central and South America, Latin rock, salsa, jazz, to soul, funk and American rock.

Arts on Belmont (between 18th St. and Columbia Rd.)
The beautiful tree-lined Belmont block is filled with artists who work in a wide variety of styles and mediums. Glass, oils, watercolor, textiles, sculpture, and more.
The Washington Glass School will have a booth at the street fair – come on by!

Glass Meets Art @ the Ratner Museum

INTERSECT: Glass Meets Art
In-ter-sect: (in-ter-sekt) To cut across or overlap each other, to have one or more points in common.

A glass exhibition with a number of Washington, DC area glass artists is opening this weekend at the Ratner Museum in Bethesda , MD.

The eight artists in this exhibit have each been on an artistic journey and perhaps, still are. Their travels have taken them to different places and each unique journey distinguishes each artist from the other. Most of them have crossed paths at some point. In this exhibit, the artists, all independently chosen, converge for INTERSECT: Glass Meets Art. Glass and art are the points they have in common.

Some of the artists exhibiting are Washington Glass School favorites, including works by:

Sean Hennessey, a sculptor and painter, currently working in glass and concrete, creating narrative works inspired by artifacts, mythology, and common everyday objects.
Robert Weiner’s Colorbar Murrine Series, affords him the opportunity to experiment with color, fusing temperatures, and to express a personal style that reflects simplicity with a close attention to detail.
In her dynamic glass and mixed media creations, in which depth and contrast are dominant, Anne Elise Pemberton explores the relationship between plant, human, and atomic structures.
Nancy Weisser is an award winning multimedia artist with a focus on glass since 1980. As owner of Weisser Glass Studio, Nancy has made a substantial contribution to the dynamic growth of the Washington glass community.

Other artists in the diverse show include, Jill Tanenbaum, Judith Busby, Kari Minnick and Benjamin Bornstein.

Dennis and Phillip Ratner Museum

10001 Old Georgetown Road

Bethesda, Maryland 20814

Phone: 301.897.1518
Artist Reception, Sunday, September 12, 2010
1:30 - 3:30 pm

www.ratnermuseum.com

Glass Fun Facts

Franz Adolf Berwald

Franz Adolf Berwald (July 23, 1796, Stockholm – April 3, 1868) was a Swedish Romantic composer who was generally ignored during his lifetime. Due to this, he was forced to make his living as an orthopedic surgeon and later as a glass blower.

This must be one of the few times that one could make a better living as a glass blower, rather than as an orthopedic surgeon.

In the early 1850s, a German music critic asked Berwald if he was still a composer. His surly reply was, "No, I am a glass blower."

His Piano Concerto, finished in 1855, did not see the light of day until 1904, when Berwald's granddaughter Astrid performed it at a Stockholm student concert. Particularly in its last movement it may be compared to Robert Schumann or Edvard Grieg.

Berwald's music was not recognized favorably in Sweden during his lifetime, even drawing hostile newspaper reviews, but fared a little better in Germany and Austria. The Mozarteum Salzburg made him an honorary member in 1847.

When Berwald returned to Sweden in 1849, he managed a glass works at Sandö in Angermanland, owned by Ludvig Petré, an amateur violinist. During that time Berwald focused his attention on producing chamber music.

Berwald died in Stockholm in 1868 of pneumonia. The second movement of the Symphony No. 1 was played at his funeral.

Click on the YouTube link below to sample Berwald's music - his Symphony No. 3 in C Major, 'Sinfonie Singulière'.

Other Fun Fact Postings:

More Glass Fun Facts: Bullseye Glass
Float Glass Fun Facts
Why is Glass Transparent?

Art Glass Today

As mentioned in an earlier post, Schiffer Books is Pennsylvania based publisher specializing in books about architecture and design, arts and crafts, and collectibles.

Their newest book "Art Glass Today" features a number of works by Washington Glass School artists - Erwin Timmers, Tim Tate & Michael Janis. The handsome book - edited by Jeffery Snyder - features over 60 contemporary, international glass artists and has over 350 color photos of artwork. Besides a strong showing from the Washington Glass School, a number of NCAGG artists are also included in the book.

Other notable glass artists in the book include Christopher Ries, Jamie Harris, David Reekie, and many more.

Congrats To Teddie Hathaway

Washington Glass School resident artist Teddie Hathaway's work was juried into an exhibiton of contemporary glass art from an array of local, regional, national and international artists, selected by a jurying committee that is part of "The Glass Art Festival" held every year in Sequim, Washington.
The juried exhibition was for artwork in any area of including, but not limited to, blown, cast, fused, kiln-formed, torchworked, pate de verre, stained, mosaic, and sand-carved glass.

Teddie Hathaway "WaterSong Triptych", mixed media; recycled glass and slate, 2010.

In her artist statement, Teddie talks about her love of "...the interplay of color and textures, contrasting matte finishes against glossy surfaces and opaque with clear and translucent. All of this is possible with glass, which is why I was attracted to the medium in the first place. I often use recycled glass as a major component in my work; although it can be a challenge to work with I find the transformation in this material exciting and the artwork becomes a reference to our shared environment...".

The Glass Art Festival features an array of events during the month of September. These include glass demonstrations, artist talks, workshops and glass-centric events throughout the picturesque town of Sequim, WA.

Transcendence - The Magic of Glass. MAC Exhibit Center, 175 West Cedar Street, Sequim, WA. September 1 through 25.

Congratulations Teddie on the show selection!

Click HERE to jump to pdf file of the Festival events.

Art and Architecture: Public Art Project

Safeway Bethesda
Rounds VanDuzer Architects

Safeway has started construction of a new supermarket in Bethesda, MD. The new store will be a LEED certified supermarket as Safeway is committed to the greening of its stores. Besides going green, the supermarket will be built to what Safeway calls the urban “lifestyle” market, with high-quality urban design. Safeway is one of North America’s largest supermarket chains with more than 1,700 stores.

As part of the project, Safeway commissioned the Washington Glass Studio to integrate artwork into the architectural façade of the building. The wall of artwork will activate the street along the Bradley Street façade, and marks the first public artwork commission by the national supermarket chain for its stores.

The cast recycled glass and steel artwork is integrated into the architectural façade.

Over 30 feet long and 9 feet high, the glass and steel artwork will be a strong element located in Bethesda. The new building design will act as a "civic gateway" to Bethesda's Central Business District (CBD).

Responding to the architectural design by Rounds VanDuzer Architects the large scale artwork will feature colorful cast recycled glass made from glass salvaged from the original Safeway supermarket on the same site. Ecoartist Erwin Timmers had slogged thru the site demolition, removing glass for the artwork. Erwin's integration of reconfigured and recycled components has made him a leader in sustainable design and he continues his work in multidisciplinary LEED projects.

Cast recycled window glass sample of custom "fresh herb" design for Safeway.

Above is the "bay leaf" pattern.

UPDATE: Click HERE to jump to images of finished project.