31 January 2013

Nancy Donnelly: Transmission at VisArts Common Ground Gallery

Nancy Donnelly's exhibit of new works opens February 22 at VisArts Common Ground Gallery in Rockville, February 22 to March 24, 2013.

Nancy Donnelly’s kiln-shaped glass sculpture and wall reliefs send out a message of spaciousness and calm. Referencing natural forms in glass, glass enamel, steel, concrete and transparent color, her work operates near a whisper, but sparks memory, emotion and imagination.
Nancy Donnelly - fused glass, enamel
An Opening Reception and Artist Talk will be held on Friday, February 22 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Both events are free and open to the public.
Nancy Donnelly: Transmission
February 22 to March 24, 2013
Common Ground Gallery
VisArts at Rockville
155 Gibbs Street, Rockville, MD  20850 

30 January 2013

US/UK International Glass + Clay

Opening March 1, 2013, Washington, DC will host to an international exhibit of glass and clay artwork - the third collaborative exhibitions between Washington, DC artists and artists from the Sister City, of Sunderland, England. A number of the UK artists will come to the opening and will be holding demonstrations - more to come in later posts as the dates are finalized.
The Brits are sure to be posh, shown here in front of the Sunderland glass studios.
The UK will be represented by artists Stephen Beardsell, Cris Chaney, Andrew Livingstone, James Maskrey, Inge Panneels, Megan Randall, Colin Rennie, Jeffrey Sarmiento, Midori Shinmura, Brian Thompson, Robyn Townsend, Margareth Troli, Roger Tye, Cate Watkinson, Philippa Whiteside, and Phil Vickery.
For the Americans, expect plenty of action and Tribbles.
The USA will be represented by artists Margaret Boozer, Nancy Donnelly, David D'Orio, Sean Hennessey, Jeff Herrity, Joe Hicks, Michael Janis, Ani Kasten, Tamara Laird, Laurel Lukaszewski, Syl Mathis, Allegra Marquart, Tim Tate, Erwin Timmers, Novie Trump, Elizabeth Vorlicek and Audrey Wilson. 

It will be an interesting exercise to see if there are cultural differences visible in the works as they are exhibited side by side in Pepco's Edison Gallery. I've noticed that a number of the UK Studio Glass artists works involve components that were created with the waterjet cutter that is at National Glass Centre at the University of Sunderland. Expat Jeffrey Sarmiento, one of the UK artists, gave a quick demo of their waterjet during our Fulbright Fellowship assignment in Sunderland this past March. Click HERE to jump to that post. The integration of digital technologies is transforming glassworking methodology as well the visual language of the artworks by overlapping the realms of applied art, design and craft. We will begin posting some "teaser" images of artwork - from both sides of the pond - in upcoming blogposts. The crates of artwork from the UK have been shipped and are on the way to Washington. Below is an image of the Sunderland artists as they packed. Customs has been notified.
Robyn Townsend will be one of the exhibiting UK glass artists that will be here in DC for the show opening. Hopefully, for Robin's sake, airholes were in the crate cover.
“International Glass and Clay 2013.” Artomatic presents this international glass and clay exhibition, featuring work from DC area artists, as well as artists from Sunderland, England. At Pepco Edison Place Gallery, 702 Eighth Street (between G and H Street), March 1 through March 22, 2013.

27 January 2013

Washington Post Spring 2013 Arts Preview

Something that will shock you out of the winter blues.
The Washington Post's Spring Arts Preview Lists the International Glass + Clay show in this weekend special guide to the whats coming up for the DC area. Jump to listing - click HERE: (scroll down to March 1).

26 January 2013

Glass Comes to Duke Ellington

Tim Tate discusses his imagery and references to students at Duke Ellington School
Tim Tate and Sean Hennessey were invited to speak to the visual arts students of  DC's Duke Ellington School of Arts. The two talked about glass, the business of being an artist and about their work.
Sean Hennessey outlines his process and integration of electronic media into his cast glass panels.
The Visual Arts department offers a sequence of courses in drawing, two-dimensional concepts, painting, sculpture, photography, computer graphics design, and art history.  As they develop and progress, students may also choose elective courses in computer graphics, print-making, AP art studio, sculpting, and painting.  Students will begin assembling their best works into a portfolio in the 11th grade year as a record of production and to use in applications to art schools and universities.  
Tim Tate and Sean Hennessey with art teachers and the principal of Duke Ellington School of the Arts.
Upon returning, both Sean and Tim expressed how impressed they were of the artworks and the interest in artwork media by the students of Duke Ellington. Said Tim of the experience of working with the young students - "I'm not sure who was more inspired, Sean and I or them!".

More interactions between Washington Glass School and the Duke Ellington School of the Arts are being planned.

25 January 2013

Presentation about Penland School of Crafts at Washington Glass School


Have you ever wanted to attend classes at Penland? Not sure what Penland is all about? Come join us for a discussion and power point presentation about one of the most beautiful and supportive artists communities on earth. Topics we will cover are :
~what classes they are offering
~best choices for your experience level
~upcoming scholarships and their application deadlines
~what is the Penland Experience all about
~why are so many artists committed and dedicated for life to help Penland succeed.
 





Please join us Saturday, Feb. 9th at 11:30am at the Washington Glass School for this labor of love. Few places have influenced the artist at the glass school and the artists of the Washington region as profoundly as Penland. If you are already a devotee, come join us and help spread the word about this unequaled opportunity for artists.
Where : Washington Glass School
                 3700 Otis St.
                 Mt. Rainier, Md. 20712   (2 blocks out of DC)
                 202-744-8222
When: Sat, Feb. 9th from 11:30 am to 12:30pm

23 January 2013

DC GlassWorks Hosts Robin & Julia Rogers Demo + workshop

Sculpture Demo and Weekend Workshop, January 25-27

"Crazy Hawk" Julia & Robin Rogers
The visiting artist duo kick things off with a glassblowing demonstration on Friday, January 25 at 8:00 pm.

The husband/wife team are based at the Chrysler Museum of Art Glass Studio, Norfolk, VA, where both Robin and Julia teach, and Robin is the Glass Studio Technician.

The free demo is followed by a special weekend workshop for intermediate to advanced glassblowers--Beyond the Vessel: A Glass Sculpting Intensive.
Check DC GlassWorks website for more info on the class and demo.
Julia and Robin Rogers working at Chrysler Museum Hot Shop. Pouring the magic onto glass.

Also at DC GlassWorks this weekend: Build a Robot
On Saturday, January 26, make your own metal robot! You make a foam robot and the DC GlassWorks casting crew transforms it into aluminum.

DCGlassWorks is located at 5366 46th Avenue, Hyattsville, MD.

22 January 2013

International Exhibit of Glass + Clay : Shared History

Queen Victoria strolls thru the grounds of the Washington Glass School and Flux Studios.
The British Are Coming!

US/UK exhibit of glass and ceramics, March 1 - 23, in Washington, DC.

Using an art exhibition as a bridge between two countries, the Sister City  program will be bringing together Sunderland, England and Washington, DC in a show that celebrates the medias of glass and clay, as well as celebrating the relationships between the two cities.
USA / Syl Mathis / Glass 
Opening March 1, 2013, at Washington, DC's Edison Place Gallery will be an exhibit of expressive glass and ceramic artwork, as well as narrative sculptures that blend craft materials with digital technologies and, in turn remove the boundaries between the traditional categories of craft, art, and design.
USA / Novie Trump / Ceramic
Artists and artwork will soon be arriving from the UK's Creative Cohesion and University of Sunderland, and DC - based artists represented by the Washington Glass School and Flux Studios will be acting as “cultural ambassadors” facilitating the exchange of ideas and images. In addition to a spectacular exhibit, a number of demos and workshops are planned during the month at the gallery and the DC area studios.

UK / Roger Tye / Glass
This will be the third collaboration with DC's Sister City of Sunderland - in 2008 "Glass 3" was held in Georgetown; in 2009, 38 artists from Sunderland participated in the 10th Artomatic, held near the Navy Yard.  
Washington Glass School's Fulbright Scholars Michael Janis and Tim Tate taught at both the University of Sunderland and at Creative Cohesion studios during their Fulbright assignment in 2012, and look forward to renewing the close relationship created by these collaborations.
US Fulbrighters Janis & Tate 2012 workshop at Creative Cohesion studios in Sunderland, England
The International Glass + Clay show opens March 1st and will run through Friday, March 23, The exhibit is free and open to the public.  The Gallery Place Metro station is within walking distance of the Gallery

The Downtown Business Improvement District (Downtown BID), in partnership with Artomatic, Inc., the Office of the Secretary for the District of Columbia, and Sunderland City Council, have together organized the international exhibit, hosted at Pepco's Edison Gallery. 

International Glass and Clay 2013
Edison Place Gallery
702 Eighth Street (between G & H Streets)
Washington, DC 

19 January 2013

Call for Entries! 2013 Trawick Prize

The Trawick Prize: Bethesda Contemporary Art Awards is now accepting applications for the annual juried art exhibition and awards. $14,000 in prize money is awarded annually to the top four artists and a group exhibition of the finalists’ work will take place in September 2013 at Gallery B in downtown Bethesda. With a top prize of $10,000, The Trawick Prize is one of the largest and most prestigious contemporary art awards in the region.
Glass Artist Dave D'Orio won second place in the 2012 Trawick award.
The 2013 competition will be juried by Cynthia Connelly, Visual Arts Curator at Artisphere in Arlington, VA; Alexander Heilner, Associate Dean of Design and Media Studies at Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore; and Vesela Sretenović, Senior Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at The Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C.

Artists must be 18 years of age or older and residents of Maryland, Virginia or Washington, D.C.  Original painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, fiber art, digital, mixed media and video are accepted.  The maximum dimension should not exceed 96 inches in any direction. No reproductions. Selected artists must deliver artwork to the exhibit site in Bethesda, MD. All works on paper must be framed to full conservation standards. Each artist must submit five images (10 for 3-D work), application and a non-refundable entry fee of $25.

Artists may apply online or download an application at http://www.bethesda.org/bethesda/trawick-application.

18 January 2013

Save The Date: APRIL 5-7 JRA Spring Craft Weekend

APRIL 5-7, 2013
SPRING CRAFT WEEKEND The Stars of Today and Tomorrow:
Please join the James Renwick Alliance and celebrate the 2013 Masters of the Medium: Adrian Saxe, Ceramics; Mary Giles, Fiber; Paul Stankard, Glass; Bruce Metcalf, Metal; Willian Hunter, Wood 
Also JRA Founding members Elmerina & Paul Parkman will be honored with “The One-of-a-Kind of Award”. Elmerina and Paul Parkman have been collectors of American studio glass since 1971, with a particular interest in documentation of this movement as it has evolved. They traveled extensively to attend glass events and to visit craft schools, artists’ studios, museum exhibitions, and gallery shows.

14 January 2013

Erwin Timmers Featured in AAC Exhibit "Interwoven: Art. Craft. Design"


Arlington Arts Center (AAC) hosts the national exhibit INTERWOVEN: Art.Craft.Design.
The AAC mounted this exhibition as a way to emphasize and expand the creative dialog around the ever-blurring boundaries between craft, design and fine art.
Juried by Melissa Messina, Senior Curator at the Savannah College of Art and Design and Kathryn Wat, Chief Curator at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, the jurors were especially interested in artists who explore DIY practices, engage in the reclamation of craft-based materials, re-examine design aesthetics, and otherwise reinvent cross-disciplinary genres within the dialog of contemporary art.
Erwin Timmers "Indestructable Formation" cast recycled glass, 2012
Juried Artists: Erwin Timmers, Mt. Rainier MD; Jehanne Arslan, Oakton VA; Gertrude Berg, Brooklyn NY; Allison Bianco, Silver Spring MD; Ryan Brennan, Brooklyn NY; Caroline Wells Chandler, Long Island City NY; RL Croft, Manassas VA; Matthew de Leon, Brooklyn NY; Nikki Farrand, Richmond VA; Samantha Fields, Avon MA; Joe Fish, Fairfax VA; Maggie Gourlay, Rockville MD; Clarissa Gregory, Baltimore MD; Melanie Kehoss, Arlington VA; Lily Kuonen, Jacksonville FL; Heidi Leitzke, Lancaster PA; Shawne Major, Opelousas LA; Susannah Mira, Houston TX; Rebecca Mushtare, Oswego NY; Marc Robarge, Falls Church VA; Katie Shaw, Richmond VA; Kristin Skees, Hampton VA; Jessica Smith, Tybee Island GA; Olivia Valentine, Brooklyn NY; Saya Woolfalk, Brooklyn NY; Martine Workman, Washington DC.

An intriguing array of artwork with unusual subject matter and a surprising range of media—awesome glass work, video, window decals, fiber work, photography, books, light boxes, mixed media sculpture, and an original wall mural in the Tiffany Gallery--from artists working around the corner and as far away as Houston, TX.

Interwoven: Art Craft. Design.
Jan 18 - March 24, 2013
Opening Reception: Saturday, Jan 19, 2013, from 6 - 9 PM
Arlington Arts Center
3550 Wilson Blvd Arlington VA 22201
Metro : Orange Line : Virginia Square

Gallery Hours: Wednesday - Friday, 1 - 7 PM and Saturday - Sunday, 12 - 5 PM. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays

12 January 2013

Miami Art Fairs – Real Deal or Hype? Panel Discussion @ The Hive 2.0

Hip? or Hop?
Miami Art Fairs Panel
First-Hand Perspectives From Experts And Newcomers

Date: Monday, January 14th, 2013, 6:30 – 7:30 pm
Catalyst Projects will moderate this discussion, generously hosted by Arch Development and The Hive 2.0. 
Aqua Show in Miami 2012
The panel is going to feature Lenny Campello, distinguished art dealer, art writer and artist at Aqua; Adah Rose Bitterbaum, owner of the Adah Rose Gallery and exhibitor at Pulse; Tim Tate, mixed media sculptor at Art Miami; Sean Hennessey, glass artist and newcomer to Aqua; and Shaunte Gates, exhibiting artist at Select.

This panel discussion will offer the DC arts community a look at the increasingly important world of art fairs from diverse perspectives.
This event is free of charge and open to the public.
Location:
1231‐B Good Hope Rd SE
Washington, DC 20020

09 January 2013

Laura Beth Konopinski exhibiting at Perlow-Stevens Gallery

"Inside Your Wishing Well" Laura Konopinski

Perlow Stevens Gallery in Columbia, MO is exhibiting new works by glass and mixed media artist Laura Beth Konopinski, from January 5 – March 30, 2013.
Artist reception will be held January 12th from 6-9pm.
Laura received a BFA with glass emphasis from Bowling Green State University in Ohio with professor Lou Krueger (photography). Laura has worked in facilities such as the Pittsburgh Glass Center and the Corning Museum of Glass, which has allowed her to explore the many ropes of the glass-making processes. During 2011, Laura Beth relocated to  Columbia, Missouri to begin assisting in the studio of glass artist, Susan Taylor Glasgow while concurrently working on a local farm.  Since living in Missouri, she has continued to make glass artwork and has recently integrated her interest of organic materials. 
"Everyone's Spine" Laura Beth Konopinski
Laura's works incorporate techniques that combine sandblasted imagery complimented with enamels.
"Withholding the Pain of Discovery" Laura Beth Konopinski

Laura states that her works “address concerns of how human emotion relates with the biological world and what that means with a sense of rationale...The transparency and optical qualities of glass provides a canvas that can be dimensionally distorted and layered in depth to emphasize the parallels between these worlds. I create a place that lends itself for an examination of physical components alongside my perception.”
"Julianne’s Hidden Wishes" Laura Beth Konopinski

Laura Konopinski
2013 Winter Exhibit
Jan 5- Mar 30, 2013
1025 Walnut
Columbia, Missouri 65201

08 January 2013

Pilchuck Glass School's Emerging Artist Program

Deadline: March 13
Pilchuck's  EAiR program supports artists who are making a transition in their professional lives and provides them artists with a place and the time to develop an idea or project in glass, with the potential for realizing a new body of work:

Emerging Artist in Residence (EAiR) Program 
 
 SEPTEMBER 23–NOVEMBER 15, 2013
The EAiR program supports artists who are making a transition in their professional lives. Whether moving from academia to a professional studio practice, taking up a new medium, or beginning a new body of work, artists find this independent residency ideal for contemplation, research, and experimentation. The program provides artists with a place and the time to develop an idea or project in glass, with the potential for realizing a new body of work. 

The residency requires a project proposal and supports kilnworking, coldworking, printmaking, and use of mixed media but not hot glassworking. The EAiR program is an independent artist’s residency, so no instruction is available and some glassmaking experience is required. 

Residents have access to many Pilchuck studios, including the glass-plate printmaking (vitreography) studio; plaster studio; fusing, slumping, and casting kilns; flameworking torch; and coldworking equipment. No hot glassworking is available. 

The residency requires full-time participation by six artists. Residents should expect to partake in communal studio clean-ups and be available to visitors during the Auction Tour, among other activities. 
 
Included in the residency award is a stipend of US$1,000 per artist, open studio space, shared cooking facilities, and a private room in a cottage with shared bath. Materials, instruction, food, and travel reimbursement are not provided.
For more information, please contact Becca Arday, Registrar, at registrar@pilchuck.com or 360-445-3111 ext. 29

07 January 2013

Aussies Into Glass

Family glass fusing workshop
A visiting Australian family did a fused glass workshop this past weekend. The Spiliopoulos family worked with glass as part of their trip across the USA. Washington, DC's museum culture had them looking for ways to get hands-on in art media. 

Two of the students - Victoria and Olivia are from Somerville House in Brisbane, Australia, and lively discussions on the nature of art, craft and design were the order of the day at the glass school. The influence of Australia in the history of fused glass was also touched upon, and the girls were keen to give it a go!



Victoria discuses craft vs art as the workshop continues.


Younger brother Tom incorporated his favorite theme - Angry Birds Star Wars. The couple hours at the studio was the first time since they arrived stateside that he has put down the ipad. 


Tom watches Olivia cut glass, and dons protective eyewear.
The Somerville students impress the instructor with their skills at glass cutting.
Mum gets some quiet time working with the ball of energy that is Tom.
Tom makes his tribute to Angry Birds



Looking for some pigs to shoot.
The girls load the kilns with their glass artwork.
References to Klaus Moje? Contemporary Aboriginal art? After annealing the glass work is presented.

04 January 2013

Glass Art Society Cancels 2013 Boston Conference!

If you have not heard the news by now, you will soon. The Boston GAS conference for 2013 has been cancelled. There is no replacement site. There will be no conference in 2013.
From email:
The Glass Art Society (GAS) has held a continuous succession of conferences since its inauguration in 1971. In 2012, we celebrated glass and its history in an extremely successful event in Toledo. Today, after careful consideration and with deep regret, the Board of the Glass Art Society has decided unanimously to cancel the 2013 conference in Boston.

The Board and staff of GAS are committed to developing an excellent conference for our membership and we recognize that our members would accept nothing less. We understand the importance of your investment in the Glass Art Society each year as you travel to attend the conference and want to ensure that you have the best experience possible. Unfortunately, after nearly two years of planning and working hard alongside the Boston co-chairs, we were unable to secure suitable venues and indispensable funding necessary for the conference’s success this June. This decision is due largely to the internal complexity of the interdependent partnering agencies and the unpredictable time factor in which each independent decision had to be deliberated within each partnering entity. Essentially, the process and unforeseen problems exceeded the time frame required to launch and secure a fiscally responsible and logistically and professional successful conference.


This year, GAS will be providing numerous opportunities aside from a traditional annual conference. We have been working hard on new programs and strongly encourage you to keep watch for announcements of exciting events during the upcoming year. Members can look forward to webinars, regional events, tours and an improved web site with new functionalities, offering you a place to increase your knowledge and understanding of the developing field of creative work expressed in the medium of glass. Meanwhile, a strong and redesigned conference is in preparation for 2014, which will retain popular components but will also allow us to plan programs that reflect the expanded field. We will announce the GAS Conference location and dates in February. Also, ongoing investigations into securing an international conference venue continue.


There is much to look forward to in the coming year and we thank you for your continued support. The Glass Art Society is the largest and oldest organization for glass of its kind and the Board is always making their decisions with the organization and its members’ best interest at heart.


Sincerely,


Jutta-Annette Page, Ph.D.

Board President
The GAS website has no mention. Online rumors are that GAS 2013 is cancelled because of lack of funding and issues in appropriate venue acquisition.  Bummer. 
Jan 10, 2013: Update: Click HERE to jump to Urban Glass' blog online interview with GAS honchos on what happened to Boston.
April 26, 2013: Update: Click HERE to jump to information about GlassBoston - a 4day conference hosted by MIT Glass Lab, NOCA Glass School @ APG, The Society of Arts and Crafts and Strattman Design.

02 January 2013

AACG Starts Year Off Right: Features Michael Janis

visit their site: www.contempglass.org/
The Art Alliance for Contemporary Glass (AACG) names Michael Janis as its "Artist-of-the-Month"

The Art Alliance for Contemporary Glass is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to further the development and appreciation of art made from glass.
Who knew the flavor of the month would be vanilla?
AACG members are primarily collectors of contemporary glass, mostly from North America but also from Europe, Australia and New Zealand, among other international locales. AACG members also include art galleries, artists, schools and museums. Membership is open to anyone interested in contemporary glass. AACG awards grants annually to arts organizations in support of specific educational purposes.

AACG co-sponsors the biennial event, GlassWeekend, with the Creative Glass Center of America at Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center—a weekend of glass where artists, collectors and galleries are present for a program that includes hot shop demonstrations, exhibitions, lectures, and social events. Proceeds of the event support the fellowship program of the Creative Glass Center of America and the educational programs of the Art Alliance for Contemporary Glass. Glass Weekend 2013 will be at the Wheaton Arts Center in Millville, NJ, from June 7 -9, 2013.