New DC Public Art Project Announced!

Glass archway proposed by Washington Glass Studio for DC's new Unity Parkside Health Care Center.

The Washington Glass Studio was recently awarded the DC Commission on the Arts& Humanities' Public Art commission for an outdoor sculpture located at DC's new Unity Parkside Health Care center, now under construction. The new health center is located just down the road from the Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens, a National Park Service site that boasts some of the most beautiful water lilies and lotus flowers in the months of June and July. 

Architectural rendering of the finished Unity Parkside health care center in Ward 7.

The Washington Glass Studio proposed making a 16 foot high arch of colorful glass and images of healing. 

Inspired by the comments from the community meeting and site review– our objective was to create a sense of place for DC’s Kenilworth - Parkside community.

The design and documentation of the artwork was to be outlined in detail in the presentation.

The site in early May, 2013. The mound of dirt is the artwork location.

The fabrication work for both the glass and the steel framework will soon start. Completion is targeted for early 2014.

Audrey Wilson works on constructing the half-scale maquette created for the presentation to the Council.

Washington Glass Studio sends a big thank-you to the DC Creates! Public Art Program selection committee, the DCCAH Council, Unity Parkside Health Care, and the Ward 7 community!

Dinner with the Board of University of Sunderland and More Workshops!

UK based glass artist Jeffrey Sarmiento shows Michael Janis his artwork. I'm sure he has not yet noticed the panel I'm holding is missing yet.

Artist Jeffrey Sarmiento popped into the University of Sunderland's Architectural Glass studio where our Fulbright workshop classes were being held with an invitation to show how he uses the National Glass Center's waterjet to cut intricate and delicate glass elements for his artwork. Naturally, I was excited to see 1.) how the waterjet works and 2.) Jeffrey at work.

Jeffrey Sarmiento and Michael Janis

Jeffrey offered to make one of the component layers for the demo piece I was using to show how the sgraffito process can be achieved in glass, and he explained the process. We looked thru some of his images that were in the computer to save time, and selected one of his images of the nearby Tyne bridge that was part of his series "Invisible Cities".

Using a CADD program, Jeffrey cleans up the cut-off sections and outlines areas that will be positive or negative.

Jeffrey checks on the initialization of the process.

The pressurized water cuts through the glass and wood support panel.

The grit overflow tub.

The compressor unit located beyond the waterjet machinery.

The verticals of the waterjet cut Bullseye glass panel section are 3mm (less than 1/8") thick.

Jeffrey pulls apart and assembles the positive and negative.

The connector nibs are pulled off each element.

The panels section loaded and fused in the kiln.

The fired panel integrated into the demo piece.

Washington Glass Fulbright duo of Michael Janis & Tim Tate (plus Kay Janis as chaperone) soldiered on with dinner at the National Glass Centre, hosted by the University of Sunderland Board of Directors. The food at the dinner was a treat - my first Yorkshire Pudding. I was told that Yorkshire pudding and was told the story that the origins of the dish was to provide a cheap way to fill the diners - thus stretching a lesser amount of the more expensive ingredients as the Yorkshire pudding was traditionally served first. The dinner was nothing but elegant.

L-R Fulbright Scholar Tim Tate; Graeme Thompson, Dean of Faculty of Arts, Design and Media; Dr Kevin Petrie, Leader of Glass & Ceramics; (not shown in photo Shirley Atkinson, Deputy Vice-Chancellor; Peter Fidler CBE Vice Chancellor & Chief Executive and James Bustard, Director of the NGC).

The Yorkshire Pudding served.

L-R Cathy Barnes, Chair of the NGC Board; Kay Janis; Chris Jobe, Governor of the Board

For dessert, Tim Tate said he hoped it would be the traditional English (and to American sensibilities, questionably named) "spotted dick". We were served a beautiful light custard filled confection that was dubbed "spotted hemorroid" as a way to keep in the spirit of the night.

Though not "lite" in the sense of calories, it was a delectable, light dessert that was served.

It was a lovely, fun evening that was filled with discussions on how we can create opportunities in both countries that would facilitate the exchange artists, ideas and ways we can strengthen the relationships we have developed.

We had time for one more workshop, held at Sunderland's not-for-profit artist center, Creative Cohesion. This was to be a much more casual workshop, more a conversation - about the differences in the perceived US and the UK approach towards art and education, the changes that social media had on the art world, how artists can survive in tough economic times, the advantages of creating artist covenants.

Anne Tye, the Creative Industries Development Manager at Sunderland City Council introduces Tim and Michael to a packed audience.

The talks were packed with artists from Sunderland, Newcastle - as far away as Edinburgh, Scotland.

Tim Tate tells all.

The evening talk was the last of our scheduled Fulbright Scholar events. Our short project length had us fly out of town the next morning, heading back to Washington very early.

UK Artist profiles Part 3:

Andrew Livingston

Andrew Livingston works as an artist and is also Leader of CARCuos Ceramic Arts Research Center and MA Ceramics Program Leader at the University of Sunderland, The National Glass Center, Sunderland, UK.

Andrew’s work uses a range of media which acknowledges the interface between both traditional practice and new media. His continued exploration aims to challenge and expand contemporary locations in respect of the traditional positioning of ceramics. The integration of digital media and new technologies has become central to his artwork where new media is often positioned and juxtaposed with more traditional elements.

Andrew's Parallax View series works in creating a fresh perspective on Tullie House's porcelain collection and explores preconceived notions of ceramics.

Surfeit 621 621 cast ceramic components, looped video, and drawings made from clay & graphite.

Britannia. ceramic and glass vitrine.

________________________________________________

Roger Tye

Roger Tye graduated from Manchester Poly in 1975 with a BA(Hons) in 3D Design - Glass and Metal. Roger to concentrate his work on sculptural and installation pieces that integrated glass and other media. Roger is the guiding force of the new not-for-profit artist studio – Creative Cohesion, located in Sunderland. Though Roger often works in creating beautiful traditional blown glass forms, he also works with slate and cast glass.

glass and slate

cast glass sheep, slate and steel

Up next posting: One more workshop video link and final thoughts on the Fulbright program.
Click HERE to jump to first posting about the Sunderland trip.

Click HERE to jump to the start of the postings about some of the super-cool UK artists.

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.

Opening at Gallery 555

Gallery 555DC

The champagne opening of the Washington Glass School student exhibition at Gallery 555 in downtown Washington, DC was this weekend.

Sculpture works by F to R: Robert Kincheloe, Brenda Dean, Teddie Hathaway, Erin Antognoli, Patrick Truby.

Many long-time friends and students of the glass school stopped in, and catching up with them and with the artists and students exhibiting at the gallery - is was a lot of fun!

Here are some pix from the opening: The exhibit will be up the rest of the month - get in to see the work first-hand!

Artists Brenda Dean and Patrick Truby.

Erwin Timmers catches up with painter/blogger Anne Marchand.

Work by Graham Fox.

The Washington Glass School 10th Anniversary Student Sculpture Exhibit Gallery 555dc 555 12th Street NW Lobby, Washington DC 20004 202-393-1409 or 240-447-6071
Gallery555dc.com

Exhibition Dates: Now thru June 30, 2011.

Sneak Peek @ WGS Sculpture Market

Sean Hennessey's glass, steel and concrete panels being installed.

The Washington Glass School has its sculpture market tomorrow, Saturday, December 11, from 2 - 6 pm.

As the class areas are transformed into the SOHO gallery in our minds eye - here are some snapshots of some the works - to whet your appetite:

L-R Erwin Timmers' cast recycled glass panels and Nancy Donnelley's kilncast glass dresses

A flotilla of Syl Mathis' cast glass boats.

Erwin Timmer's interconnected cast recycled glass and steel installation.

The Glass and Steel Sculptural Development class are also having an exhibition of their final projects in the gallery.

Joanna Viudez's cast glass and recycled steel installation "Seeds To Sow".

L-R LeeAnn Taylor's sculpture and Faz Besharation's kinetic mixed media work.

Tracy Benson's cast aluminum and glass sculpture.

Erin Antognoli's steel and glass wall-mounted sculpture.

Come to the Washington Glass School and see the rest of the artworks in person - the photos taken from a cell phone don't do these works justice!

WASHINGTON GLASS SCHOOL
December Sculpture Market & Holiday Open House
Date: Saturday, December 11, 2010

Time: 2:00 til 6:00 pm

Location: Washington Glass School

3700 Otis Street

Mount Rainier, MD 20712

Admission: Free

202.744.8222