The Process: Shady Grove Hospital Glass Artwork

Earlier, the blog had posted about the commission of artwork from Washington Glass Studio to be installed in the chapel in Shady Grove Hospital's new Aqualino Cancer Care center. The artwork was recently installed - here is a look at the process:

Original design sketch

After the concept design, dimensions and glass techniques proposed was approved, the Washington Glass Studio team worked at getting the glass underway.
First, glass of the right size was needed. The glass triptych panels were 5'-0" long, much larger than the glass we had in the studio. Getting large shipments of glass and then (successfully) cutting the glass would be a project into themselves!

Erwin Timmers and Tim Tate receiving the large pane of sheet glass.

The process of cutting such a large sheet of glass involved many from the studio - just to keep the score line straight.

The glass is larger than the pair of work tables.

Erwin Timmers preps the glass for cutting.

The cutting crew: L-R Erwin Timmers, Michael Janis, Audrey Wilson.

After the glass is cut and cleaned, work inside the kilns proceeds. Audrey Wilson set beds of dry sifted plaster within the large kilns, and began creating the molds the glass would be melted into.

Audrey working on the glass mold that is set up in the kiln.

After firing, annealing and cooling the glass panels, the edges needed to be ground and polished smooth - a noisy messy job. 

Audrey takes to working outdoors to do the wet grinding.

Now the glass is ready for the site. Tim and Erwin traveled to the new cancer facility to install the glass panels into the steel slots that were previously set into a concrete plinth. The surrounding area to the glass panels will incorporate a rock garden.

Erwin Timmers and Tim Tate being installing the panels into the steel framework.

Artists Tim Tate and Erwin Timmers stop for a chat about the glass artwork.

The finished work from inside the Aqualino Cancer Center chapel.

 Adventist Healthcare's executive director of Cancer Care Services sent a note about the just installed artwork - she wrote to the Shady Grove Art Consultant Lillian Fitzgerald: "... I was in the ACC today and the whole stone and glass took my breath.  The glass is the most beautiful work I have ever seen.  Thank you for your vision..."

A great note to end the story of the process of the artwork!

Glass Artwork for Shady Grove Hospital

The Washington Glass Studio was commissioned to make cast glass artwork for the chapel at the Shady Grove Hospital. Working with the art consultant - Fitzgerald Fine Arts - the artwork involves integration of glass with a large stone boulder. The artwork anchors and defines the interior chapel of the new Aquilino Cancer Center, now under construction in Rockville, MD.

The stonework required a setting bed and the glass framework was mounted into the concrete. The 5'-0" H glass panels will cantilever out of steel frame behind the stonework, creating a dimensional screen to the meditative room.  The artwork team comes to the Glass Studio for a final review of the dimensions, process and schedule.

(L-R) Don Sebastian, Erwin Timmers, Lillian Fitzgerald and Erica Kemper review the design documents of the 5'-0"H cast glass panels.

Erwin Timmers describes the cast glass process, and discusses color options.

The design calls for bas-relief leaves cascading around the stone element.

Erwin Timmers said of the artwork concept: "The flowing cast glass leaves create a calming vista and reinforce a sense of transformation. Aided by the almost meditative quality of translucent cast glass, the viewer might contemplate healing visions of nature."

More will be posted as the glass panels start being set up in the kilns!

Internet, Images and You

The internet is an interesting place - one the enables commissions to happen between artists, designers and clients from across the country - or even the entire world. As an example - a cast glass-and-steel work by Washington Glass Studio artist/director Michael Janis was seen by an Atlanta-based art consultant looking for artwork for a new hotel being designed by a Hollywood based interiors firm.

The original work "Liar Paradox" - Fred & Susan Sanders collection.
Photo credit: anythingphoto.net

Original schematic architectural lobby design by Cheryl Rowley Design.

In 2006, an Atlanta based art consultancy sourced Michael's work from the internet and approached him to make a 6'-0" version of the work to be the central work in the new Kimpton Hotel that was under construction in the Dupont Circle section of Washington, DC. The new hotel was to be designed and embellished to reflect the hotel's theme of "Art In Motion" The finished three section cast glass-and-steel work titled "The Gravity Between Us" was built and installed in the lobby. The artwork was named Boutique Hotels Magazine's "Best Artwork" in 2007.

"The Gravity Between Us" glass and steel sculpture by Michael Janis.

Detail of "The Gravity Between Us" by Michael Janis.
Washington, DC Palomar Hotel.

Viewing through the slabs of cast glass to the hotel lobby.

The internet was integral to the commission of the original work. After being made, the digital images of the large scale sculpture continue onwards - online.

A new GOOGLE image search function allows one to search online for specific or similar images. By dropping an image into the search box and it not only finds all "similar" images around the Internets, but also all the websites where that image is being used.

Using that function, it was discovered that many of the images of the Palomar Hotel glass artwork are referenced or are reproduced all over...the world! Below is an image of where the artwork was used as the cover of a Hong Kong book on international boutique hotels. This highlights the importance of having good digital images of any art made - they become the strongest selling card for other work.