WGS Gets Wood Artist Drew Storm Graham

The DC-area knows that Strathmore Hall houses the incredible Baltimore Symphony, but Strathmore is not just for the performing arts anymore - Strathmore features fine visual arts. The organization is in its second season of its Fine AIR program, where the center cultivates local visual arts talent by pairing emerging artists with established professionals in the community in its Fine Artist in Residence (Fine AIR) program and exhibition. Fine AIR residencies last six months, during which time participants expand their craft, build their audience, create a curatorial proposal, solidify their artistic voice and, ultimately, premiere a new body of work commissioned by Strathmore.

"Twisted" Drew Storm Graham

2012-2013 Strathmore class of fine artist-in-residence Drew Storm Graham expands his knowledge of artwork media by working in glass at the Washington Glass School.
Multidisciplinary artist Drew Graham's artwork references imagery steeped in the counter cultures of tattoo and graffiti art. Normally working with airbrushed laminated wood veneers,  under the mentorship of writer and artist F. Lennox Campello, Drew has been exploring new artistic possibilities. 

Drew Graham begins sifting crushed glass powder onto panels of glass for color samples.

Color, texture, patterns, sequence and how depth can be achieved are the goals of the glass workshop.

The culminating Fine Artists in Residence Exhibition  will be on view in the Mansion at Strathmore beginning August 31, 2013.

About Strathmore

Strathmore presents and produces exemplary visual and performing arts programs for diverse audiences; creates dynamic arts education experiences; and nurtures creative ideas and conversations that advance the future of the arts. The hallmark of the arts center is the Music Center at Strathmore, a 1,976-seat concert hall and education complex. The Music Center at Strathmore, located at 5301 Tuckerman Lane in North Bethesda, MD, is immediately adjacent to the Grosvenor-Strathmore station on Metro’s Red Line. For more information, call (301) 581-5100 or visit www.strathmore.org.

Breaking Headline News... Washington Glass School in Washington Post

The Friday Washington Post  newspaper had a couple of articles that featured Washington Glass School instructors - Mark Jenkins gives a review of Rockville's VisArts 25th anniversary exhibit "Review, Review" that featured two of Professor Tim Tate's glass artwork sculptures. 

The Dec 21st Washington Post uses Tim Tate's "Lexicon Primer" (inset and detail of glass) as the teaser for the VisArts exhibit review.

The Weekend Section also featured Washington Glass Artists - Sean Hennessey and his lovely wife, Rania Hassan.  

Rania & Sean - together they are one of DC's power arts couples

Sean and Rania were judges of the Washington Posts' Holiday Wrapping paper contest for kids, and the winning design, by Carolin Vorona was featured in the section, along with a pull-out printing of the paper.
From the Post article about the selection of the Carolin's work:"Each of the entries had something I liked,” Hennessey says. “Some had a great use of patterns, others had a sophisticated use of color and many had a fun sense of imagination. The glittery snowmen had a balanced sense of all of the above.”

10 yr old Carolin Vorona's snowman entry. The judges particularly liked the Western snowman, complete with mustache, hat and horseshoe, but the sensitive and insightful use of the glitter medium cinched the win.

 Click Here to jump to the article and photo gallery of the honorable mentions.

Prince George's County Puts Its Money Where Its Mouth Is

Maryland's Prince George's County Arts and Cultural Heritage Division had made purchases of artwork for their permanent collection. Congratulations to Ric Garcia, Celestine Ranney Howes and our own Robert Kincheloe! 

"Night Wave" (with detail showing texture) by Robert Kincheloe, fused glass

Robert's work "Night Waves" is fused glass that references iconic prints in his version of 'meta-art'

Prince George's County has further demonstrated its commitment to high-level support for the arts.

Congratulations to Prince George's County and the artists!

Washington Glass School New Class Schedule

In time for a leisurely read during the holiday break - the January - April 2013 Washington Glass School class schedule! 
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scroll down to bottom to pay deposit online via PayPal.

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Class 1350 - Beginner's Glass Lover's Weekend

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 a professional glass artist 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 session.

Instructors      Audrey Wilson
Dates             Session A - Sat/Sun Feb 16 & 17
                      Session B - Sat/Sun Apr. 6 & 7           
Time              1pm to 5pm each day          
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Class 1351 - Bas Relief In Glass  (Deep Relief Dry Plaster Casting)

Tired of working flat? Want an easy way to get some real depth into your glass? Here's a fun class where you will learn one of the easiest methods of kilncasting sheet glass to achieve bas-relief sculpture. This incredibly versatile method has endless fine art and architectural applications. In this two day class, we will discuss different types of glass and their firing schedules. Working with color and how it can affect dimensional casting will also be explored. Bring items you may want to cast with this method or choose from our image library. All materials and firings included.

Instructor:      Michael Janis 

Dates :           Sat afternoons  Feb 2, 9  

Time :             2pm to 5pm   

Tuition :          $350 per student (all materials included) 

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Class 1352 - MIG Welding for Dummies!

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 :         Session A : Wed. eves in January (9, 16, 23)

                     Session B : Wed. eves in April (10, 17, 24) 

Time :           7pm to 9:30 pm
Tuition :        $350 per student   

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Class 1353 - Architectural and Industrial Lighting Design 

The transmission of light is one of the most compelling features of glass. Using recycled found metal objects and architectural elements, this class will highlight several glass techniques including kiln casting and fusing/slumping sheet glass. You will also learn the basics of safe wiring and electricity. Some glass experience is helpful, but not necessary. Electrical experience is not required. This will be a fun class with lots of hands on projects. As part of this class, we will discuss LED's, light panels, fluorescent and incandescent sources.  

  

Instructor:    Erwin Timmers / Tim Tate  

Dates:         Sunday afternoons in March (3, 10, 17)

 with open studios on Wed. eves in March (3, 13, 20). 

Time:           Class : Sundays - 1pm to 4pm

                    Open Studios : Wed. 7pm to 9:30pm 

Tuition:        $450

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Class 1354 - More Welding! 

Now that you've tried your hand at MIG welding, the hot glue gun of the metal shop, why not expand your horizons? We will offer a truck load of new techniques. You can compare welding stainless steel vs. aluminum, and pit the plasma cutter vs. oxy-acetylene. You will also improve your MIG skills, and spend more time on grinding, polishing, finishing and patinas. Bring ideas for a small project and you'll walk home with it.   Remember--this is a real, live, active, working shop. You will get dirty. Wear closed toed shoes and long pants.    

Pre-requisite: At least one MIG welding class or equivalent.

Instructor       Erwin Timmers

Dates             Wed. evenings in Feb (6, 13, 20)

Time              7pm - 9:30pm

Tuition            $350 (all materials provided)

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Class 1355 - Pate De Verre with Audrey Wilson 

This is a rare opportunity to learn Audrey's own unique style of pate de verre, which is described as alive with energy and effervescent shapes that evoke emotion - just like Audrey herself!

Pate de verre is an ancient and widely varied art form using glass powders and frits melted, fused, and cast at different and specific temperatures to achieve a variety of results in glass. Although her own style is to work intuitively, Audrey will provide a solid base of technical information and a straightforward approach that can easily be accomplished in the studio.  Students will learn how to create two open faced bowl forms.

Instructor :     Audrey Wilson 

Dates :          Thursdays in March (14, 21, & 28)

Time :            7pm - 9:30 pm    

Tuition :         $350    

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Deposit for class

1350A - Beginner's Glass Lover's Feb $50.00 USD 1350B - Beginner's Glass Lover's Apr. $50.00 USD 1351 - Bas Relief $50.00 USD 1352A - MIG for Dummies Jan $50.00 USD 1352B - MIG for Dummies Apr $50.00 USD 1353 – Architectural and Industrial Lighting Design $50.00 USD 1354 – More Welding $50.00 USD 1355 – Pate de Verre $50.00 USD 1356 - Open Studio $50.00 USD

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Has Tim Tate Gone MAD?!

Well, yes, but Tim's feeling much better...Playing With Fire @ NY MAD Museum

Tim Tate, “I Want To Run Away and Join the Circus", 2009, blown and cast glass, electronic components. Photo: Anything Photographic.

This year, New York's Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) celebrates the 50th anniversary of the American Studio Glass movement with an exhibit titled "Playing with Fire: 50 Years of Contemporary Glass"  - which featured more than 100 works of glass from the MAD collection,  and additional contemporary works on loan.  Ever since 1962, when a legendary workshop led by renowned glass artist Harvey Littleton demonstrated the potential of glassblowing as a medium available to individual artists, artists and designers have continually pushed the material in new directions and used the complex, fragile, and highly versatile nature of the material to create an astonishing diversity of works.

"Playing with Fire" looks at the breadth of innovative processes and artistry in contemporary glass, from pieces by early adaptors such as Dale Chihuly to installations by Israeli designer Ayala Serfaty. The exhibit is organized by the Museum of Arts and Design and is curated by Jennifer Scanlan, Associate Curator. “As a sculptural material, glass has unique properties: its ability to hold, emit and reflect light renders color more brilliant and animates figures and forms,”says Jennifer Scanlan. “In ‘Playing With Fire,’ we wanted to show how artists and designers play with the properties of this fluid medium — often in extraordinary, and sometimes unexpected ways.”

The exhibition is made possible, in part, by the Art Alliance for Contemporary Glass. 

Playing with Fire: 50 Years of Contemporary Glass.

November 6, 2012 thru April 7, 2013

Museum of Arts & Design

2 Columbus Circle 

New York, NY 10019

 

In Memoriam: Boyce Lundstrom 1944 - 2012

Ray Ahlgren, Dan Schwoerer, Boyce Lundstrom

Boyce Lundstrom, a true iconic legend in glass fusing history,  passed away this week of brain cancer. This is a huge loss to the fusing world. Boyce was an innovator, author and glass craftsman and a founding member of modern fusing.  He had written many books on glass - his book "Kiln Firing Glass, Glass Fusing Book One" is referred to by many fusers as the "bible" for fusing process. In 1974, three self-described "hippie glassblowers" (Dan Schwoerer and Ray Ahlgren and Boyce Lundstrom) started the Bullseye Glass Company. Boyce later sold his interest in that company to his partner in 1985, then created a glass school called Camp Colton, outside of Portland, Oregon.

Boyce at the Fusing Ranch

In 2004, Boyce said of his work in the late 1970's as he was developing the technology and practice of fused glass: "My enthusiasm for fusing demanded endless experimentation and my endeavors soon caught the attention of a number of glass artists who became, along with me, pioneers of a sort. Our work, our workshop, and the push to spread the word about glass fusing somehow became known as the Fusing Ranch."

In recent years Boyce has continued to experiment with new and rewarding ways to play with glass. He has published three new books (2010-2012), each covering one area of exploration and providing several projects to assist the reader in undertaking a new method or material.

He also taught classes as a guest teacher in studios across America and hosted seminars in his Oceanside, California studio.

In his passing, we celebrate the craftsman, pioneer, educator, scientist, artist, man. 

Washington Goes Miami - The Miami Art Fairs Open

The serious art contenders have set up in Miami for the extravaganza that is Art Basel/Art Miami Art Fairs. Some consider this fair to be most prestigious art show in the Americas, 1,087 galleries will be trekking down to Miami this week to participate in more than 20 art fairs around the city. Expect celebrities, glitz, glamor, hype, good taste, bad taste, shock art, schlock art, and showstopping wonderful art.

So Much Art and So Little Time

If you are going to the shows - be sure to stop in and visit Washington Glass School artists:
Tim Tate is showing his work at Art Miami at Dublin, Ireland's Blue Leaf Gallery (C-9)
Erwin Timmers, Sean Hennessey and Audrey Wilson's artworks are at Aqua, exhibiting at Alida Anderson Art Projects (Room 116).

Which fair should one not miss?
The Huffington Post has a rundown of each of the Miami Art Fairs - as if coded into high school stereotype cliques - 
* Art Basel Miami Beach: The Golden Boy
The football player with whom most want to be in good graces, Art Basel Miami Beach is the biggest, most well-known fair of them all. As in high school, there is no shortage of people who think the popular kid is overrated and maintain they have no interest in gaining his approval. That may be true. But its status as prom king is hard to dispute.
1901 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, December 6-9.
* Pulse: Teacher's Pet
Never one to step too far outside the lines, Pulse is nothing if not reliable. You know you'll find strong paintings, photographs, and drawings in an efficiently laid-out space at reasonable prices. The fair organizes its own installation, performance, and video programs, but you won't see too many galleries giving over their booths to such impracticalities. Most are more interested in making money than in making a statement. Still, that's no reason to skip over it: Like Brian Johnson in the Breakfast Club, Pulse might surprise you.
The Ice Palace, 1400 North Miami Avenue, Miami, December 6-9.
* Art Miami: The Super Senior
As the super senior is to the football star, so Art Miami is to Art Basel Miami Beach. It is the only player to rival the golden boy in size and know-how. Plus, it's been around since before Miami was cool, and doesn't need to try particularly hard to draw visitors or exhibitors. (It was founded 12 years before Art Basel Miami Beach arrived.) Its old school attitude can border on stodgy, but Art Miami undoubtedly fills a niche: It is one of the few fairs outside ABMB where you can find secondary market material like Picassos, Matisses, and Pisarros.
3101 NE 1st Avenue, Wynwood, December 5-9.
* Scope: The Frat Boy
The frat boy may not technically be a high school archetype, but high schools are filled with future Greeks. Those rowdy, sometimes macho, always devil-may-care personalities are a good analogy for Scope. Plus, in a bizarre example of analogy collapsing into reality, some real live frat boys made an appearance at the fair two years ago in New York. (Artists Richie Budd and Will Robinson invited four New Jersey Greeks into a glassed-in cube to drink beer for hours on end and generally make mischief as part of an art installation called "Come on Guy.") We can't imagine that kind of stunt would fly at any other fair.
100 NE 36 Street at Midtown Boulevard, Miami, December 4-9.
* Aqua Art Miami: The Girl With Glasses
At first glance, Seattle-born Aqua Art Miami might not look like anything special. Like many small fairs, it is based in a hotel. But if you look past its modest exterior (think Rachel Leigh Cook in "She's All That"), you'll see it has a great bone structure. You may even spot the beginnings of a very promising career or two.
Aqua Hotel, 1530 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, December 6-9.

Washington Glass School Open Studio / Holiday Sale

Come out of the cold to where its warm (glass)!

The Washington Glass School invites you to our Holiday Open House, Saturday, December 15th, 2012, opening around Noon, through 5:00pm on Saturday. 

Works by superstar artist Tim Tate will be available.

The artists and instructors of the glass school will be exhibiting artworks. From the small child to the serious art collector, the Washington Glass School Holiday Open House has something for everyone's taste.

Beautiful works by Syl Mathis will be on exhibit and for sale!

Get yourself a Sean Hennessey - his work is hot, hot, hot!

Metal artist Chris Shea will be there with his stunning forged iron work.

We invite the community to and experience a unique DC area arts venue. Adjacent studios - Red Dirt and Flux Studios will also be open - a great chance to see whats going on in the Gateway Arts District!

Check out Nancy Donnelly's colorful artwork.

Also - this might be your last chance to get glass before the end of the Mayan Calendar. - the perfect gift since "Glass is Forever".

Holiday Open House & Sale
Saturday, December 15, 2012, from Noon til 5 pm.
Washington Glass School
3700 Otis Street, Mount Rainier, MD 20712

"Constructing Content" Exhibit Artists Explore Glass as Sculptural Medium

Erin Antognoli mixes together steel, glass and imagery in her evocative sculptures.

Constructing Content brings together three artists from the Washington, DC area that explore the ways in which ideas are translated and transformed as artists move from one medium to another. Arriving at kiln-glass from diverse backgrounds, these crossover artists bring new concerns and techniques to the medium. Working at the Washington Glass School, Erin Antognoli, Sean Hennessey and Erwin Timmers are kindred spirits, and their 3 person show opens this weekend at the Delaplaine Arts Center in Maryland.

Sean Hennessey creates narrative cast glass panels.

“We are not in pursuit of the perfect object, or even, necessarily, beautiful objects.” explains painter and sculptor Sean Hennessey, “We are all driven by the narratives that we bring to our work. Our content drives and informs the imagery and the form. We treat glass like another artistic media, using it as an exploration of ideas” 

Erin Antognoli, "Heading West To Find a Bridge", detail.

“I made the switch to glass and steel sculpture after nearly two decades as a photographer,” explains photographer and sculptor Erin Antognoli, “doing anything by hand seems to have become a lost art. Therefore, as a challenge to the age of digitization, it seemed fitting to me to hand-work the physical sculpture by grinding the glass circles, welding the steel frames, and showcasing handwritten letters.”

Erwin Timmers explores ecological implications in his recycled glass sculpture.

Other artists, through kiln-glass, find a reinforcement of their artistic beliefs. “There is a directness, freedom, and honesty I feel working in glass,” says Washington Glass School co-founder, Erwin Timmers. “I’m not sure I felt quite the same way in my years of sculpting metal.” Erwin works with recycled glass, and environmental integrity informs his work. He feels that material and content are intertwined. “I believe there are no neutral materials,” explains Erwin, “I try to use materials for their intrinsic and philosophical content.”

Sean Hennessey, "Promise Locks" detail.

These artists, with work as diverse as their backgrounds, are brought together because their unique visions have helped build a new direction for glass sculpture.

Erin Antognoli, "The Optimist"

Constructing Content

December 01-31, 2012

Reception: December 01, 2012,  from 3pm to 5pm

Delaplaine Arts Center

40 S. Carroll Street, Frederick, MD 21701

Historic Gallery of Glass @ Washington Craft Show 2012

Maurine Littleton Gallery Exhibit at Washington Convention Center.

The Washington Craft Show was just held this past weekend. The juried event brings nearly 200 Contemporary Craft Artists (glass; furniture; ceramics; silver, bronze, and copper; mixed media; decorative and wearable textiles; jewelry; paper; and wood) to the Washington Convention Center, with an emphasis on quality and originality. 

The Washington Craft Show 2012 included a special 50th Anniversary glass exhibit.

This year, Washington, DC's celebrated glass gallery - the Maurine Littleton Gallery held a special exhibit that was dedicated to the 50th Anniversary of the American Studio Glass Movement. 

Dale Chihuly glass artwork next to a Thermon Statom ladder.

As a show-within-the-show, the center of the Convention center featured seminal works by the man considered to be the father of the studio glass movement,  Harvey Littleton. The show included works from the famed 1962 Toledo Workshop, where artists were invited to look at glass as a viable sculpture medium. 

Michael Janis examines one of the 1962 Harvey Littleton original blown glass pieces from the Toledo Museum workshop - shown in period photo (inset). 

Some pix from the show: 

William Morris glass artwork foreground.

Visitors gather around Joan Falconer Byrd, author of the new book "Harvey K Littleton: A Life in Glass". Ms Byrd was one of the show's speakers at the event. She was one of the first students in the Toledo workshops and was Professor of Art at Western Carolina University.

Contemporary works by the artists of the Washington Glass School were included in the Maurine Littleton exhibit. L-R in above photo, works by Tim Tate, Erwin Timmers & Allegra Marquart.

Alison Sigethy's glass sculpture.

The show also had some favorite DC craft based media artists exhibiting, like Ani Kasten showing her great ceramics, or Alison Sigethy's recycled glass sculptures. 

Ani Kasten's ceramic works.

Click HERE to jump to a photo gallery of artwork seen at the 2012 Washington Craft Show.