31 July 2010

About "Artists Spaces"


Kirk Waldroff sings the praises about living in the Mather Bldg.

The Posts' Washington Express had a nice article about artist living spaces, featuring photos of painter Dana Ellyn's place
. Other artists are mentioned, including the glass school's next-door neighbor, ceramic artist Margaret Boozer and the Washington Glass School's own Kirk Waldroff.

"For Kirk Waldroff, 36, who lives at the other end of the third-floor Mather hallway from painter Ellyn, the built-in artist community was a huge draw.

"I knew living here would be a really big deal in terms of making connections," says Waldroff, who was living with his parents previously. "It's kind of the other side of the universe from living in your parents' basement, in terms of getting into the art world." His art has benefited, too: Thanks to help from a neighbor who runs the Washington Glass School, Waldroff introduced glass casting to his printmaking."

For the rest of the article - click HERE.

30 July 2010

Update from ISGB Lampwork Conference in Rochester

Robert Kincheloe has been having a great time at the ISGB Conference. He has been working with some lampworking superstars like Michael Mangiafico.

Michael "Fig" Mangiacio performs a torchwork demo for the conference.

Robert has also been working on a
collaborative piece with Milon Townsend.


Milon Townsend
Milon Townsend uses modern technological innovations, traditional Italian techniques such as murrine and filigrana, and flamework methods that he himself has developed to create the sculptures that appear in his mind. He has taught at RIT's School of the American Craftsman, at Urban Glass in NYC, been a visiting artist at RISD and is a regular teacher at The Studio at the Corning Museum. His artwork is in the permanent collections of the Carnegie Museum of Art, American Glass Museum, and the National Liberty Museum.

The collaborative piece involves integrating Robert Kincheloe's cast borosilicate glass figures with Milon's lampworked glass. Below is one of the larger sculptures:


Cast and flameworked borosilicate glass.
Robert Kincheloe & Milon Townsend


Robert at Niagra Falls. Slowly he turns...

Call for Entries: Brentwood Arts Exchange Mixed Media Art



BRENTWOOD ARTS EXCHANGE
CALL FOR ENTRIES

All Mixed Up:
A Juried Exhibition of Mixed Media Work

ALL MIXED UP is a juried exhibition of works in two or more media, sponsored by The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George's County, Arts and Cultural Heritage Division. The exhibition will be on display at the Brentwood Arts Exchange at the Gateway Arts Center, 3901 Rhode Island Avenue, Brentwood, MD from November 1 - 27, 2010.

APPLICATION DEADLINE - September 7, 2010
All submissions must be received by 5:00pm on Tuesday, September 7.

Dates:

  • Deadline for receipt of entries: September 7, 2010
  • Notification of selected works: October 1, 2010
  • Art work drop-off period: October 21-23
  • Exhibition closes: November 27, 2010
  • Artwork pick-up period: November 29-30
Juror:

Philippa Hughes

The juror for the exhibition is Philippa Hughes, the creator of the Pink Line Project . Philippa also runs a consolidated and searchable calendar of all things cool and creative in DC and writes a widely read blog that highlights DC's creative scene. Philippa is active in the arts community through her extensive involvement and collaboration with emerging artists and arts organizations throughout the city including The Phillips Collection, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Cultural Development Corporation, Taffety Punk Theatre Company, DC51, Art Table, Ten Miles Square, Workbook, and many others.

AWARDS
$1000 in cash awards will be made by the juror. The Prince George's Arts Council will make a Purchase Award from this exhibition.

ELIGIBILITY & SUBMISSION CRITERIA
This call for entries is open to all artists 18 years of age or older who live, work, attend school or have studios in Prince George's County, MD, whose artwork is constructed of two or more media ("mixed media"). Artists may submit a maximum of 3 artworks for consideration. All works must be original (no reproductions). Proposals for mixed media installation or performance works should include example images, video or audio of the type of work being proposed as well as a brief document describing the proposed art work.

WHAT TO SEND
Materials should be submitted by mail or delivered in person to 7833 Walker Drive, Suite 430, Greenbelt, MD. Please send:

* A CD/DVD containing images and/or segments of audio/video, each no longer than five minutes in duration.
* A printed list of the works submitted with titles, media, and dimensions.
* If you would like your materials returned, please include an SASE.

MAILING ADDRESS FOR SUBMISSIONS:
Attn: All Mixed Up Juried Exhibition
Arts & Cultural Heritage Division, M-NCPPC
7833 Walker Dr., Suite 430
Greenbelt, MD 20770

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
If you have any questions or would like additional information, please contact: Julia Morelli, Visual Arts Specialist, M-NCPPC julia.morelli@pgparks.com Tel. 301-446-3249; tty. 301-446-6802.

About the Brentwood Arts Exchange and the Gateway Arts Center
Having celebrated it's grand opening on March 19, 2010, the Gateway Arts Center in Brentwood, Maryland is a dynamic space dedicated to presenting and promoting the visual arts. The center is home to more than a dozen artists' studios, Gateway CDC's 39th Street Gallery, and the Prince George's African American Museum & Cultural Center's Gallery 110.

28 July 2010

ISGB Conference Update


Robert Kincheloe has been keeping us posted on the events and demos now taking place at the ISGB Conference in Rochester, NY.

After a road trip that included a swing by the Corning Museum of Glass, Robert arrived and assisted with the set- up at the convention center.



Some of the ongoing demos:

Nomoda “Cedi”Djaba
Cediis from Ghana, West Africa. His family has been making Krobo Powder Glass since the 13th century. Cedi has taught around the world including Penland School of Crafts, Bullseye Glass and The Centre for Global and Development Education in Somerset, England.

Wesley Fleming
Wesley is inspired by the shapes and colors of nature. Here Wesley demos his glass insects showing how he achieves the intricate detail.

Jeanne Menafo and Brett Pierce
Jeanne and Brett have been combining their talents to create blown glass sculpture. A glassblower for 25 years, Brett has taught flameworking and currently is an instructor at The Studio of The Corning Museum of Glass. Here Brett sets up a demo of murrini roll-ups at the torch.


Micro Mosaics, using stringers!

Keep the updates coming Rob!

26 July 2010

Petrovic & Tate Are At It Again

Marc Petrovic and Tim Tate
Fresh from their collaborative work that is now on exhibit in the Dead or Alive show at the Museum of Arts and Design, artists Tim Tate and Marc Petrovic are working on another set of works.
Marc & Tim's M.A.D. installation:
Apothecarium Moderne, resembles a 19th century apothecary. Take a closer look though and you’ll see that the contents of these glass sculptures represent cures for modern day ills such as Loss Of Faith, Financial Insecurity, Identity Theft and Erectile Dysfunction, The show has garnered a lot of reviews and attention, including the NY Times inclusion of an image of their work in the Time's Science section.

Apothecarium Moderne: Glass, mixed media, video.
photography by AnythingPhotographic

This collaboration is one of many such projects that the Connecticut-based Petrovic and DC-based Tate have worked on over the years, since they first met at Penland School of Crafts in 1992.


Word is that the new series is based on the seven deadly sins & they have been busy trying out each and every sin to gain insight.

Marc Petrovic and Tim Tate

23 July 2010

Artist Housing Opportunities


The Cultural Development Corporation (CuDC) has partnered with The Cohen Companies and Union Place Phase I, LLC to develop affordable live/work housing units for artists and their families. Applications are available now for artist housing/work space in the new Loree Grand building at 250 K St NE, in the NoMa area of Washington, DC.

Open to Artist Households, including administrators and educators. Move-in available immediately after eligibility review.

Live/work artist housing are apartments that are primarily designed for living, with studio/work space as an ancillary use. Employees and walk-in trade are regulated by your Home Occupation Permit.

The building, with move-in beginning June 2010, will feature studios, one-bedroom, two-bedroom and two-bedroom with den units. Units range from 596 to 1362 square feet. Additionally, nine of the units, located on 3rd Street, feature entryways with direct street access as either walk-down or walk-up units. Units are priced to be affordable to households earning a maximum of 80% of Area Median Income.

Area Median Income (AMI) is the annual median income level for the Washington, DC metropolitan area, as calculated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The 2009 AMI for the metro area is $102,000 for a four person household.

The Process
CuDC will lease units on a FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE BASIS. Interested households may submit applications on a rolling basis. Applications may be mailed or hand-delivered to 916 G Street NW, Washington, DC 20001. CuDC’s offices are open Monday – Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Click HERE for the CuDC website information about the Loree Grand.
For more information, email: housing@culturaldc.org or phone 202.315.1324.

22 July 2010

Glass Bead Conference Opens July 28



The 2010 International Society of Glass Beadmakers (ISGB) Gathering will take place in Rochester, New York from July 28th - August 1st. This year's conference theme is "Beyond Boundaries: Origins and Influence of the Glass Bead". The conference will have tutorials, presentations, workshops, networking opportunities, and awards.

Leah Fairbanks, Michael Mangiafico, Kirsten Rasmussen, Dan Adams and Cynthia Toops are amongst the artists scheduled to present at the gathering.
Our torchworker extraordinaire, Robert Kincheloe, will be sending updates from the conference.

18 July 2010

Rumors & Whispers: Artomatic 2010


Artomatic - everyone's favorite month-long DC art festival - is rumored to be next held (the talk is either this October, or this coming Spring 2011) at the old Hine School adjacent to Eastern Market. The plans for the redevelopment of the former junior high school were outlined last fall, and the site certainly is well situated.

Artomatic organizers officially have not either completely denied or confirmed the rumor... but who needs signed contracts anymore? Start outlining what you, as an artist would include if it were all a go, as approval to actualization time could be short!

17 July 2010

Timmers in Texas

Our Guru of Green - Erwin Timmers - will be spreading the word of eco-art to the great free State of Texas. Erwin will be teaching a Recycled Glass workshop at Hot Glass Houston.

Erwin's class will be in Mid-October and the class will cram as many techniques and ways of kilncasting recycled glass as possible!

Don't Mess With Texas.

For those of you who aren't in the Lone Star State - you can take the class here at the Washington Glass School - click HERE to jump to the class description.

14 July 2010

Seeking Clay Sculptor

Small Scale Clay Sculptor Needed
Are you really good at sculpting realistic objects out of clay? Do you need some extra money? The Washington Glass School has a project that requires small clay realistic objects…..2 to 4 inch range. This would be ongoing throughout the year. Contact washglassschool@aol.com for further info.

Amerikan Cam

An Istanbul paper reports on Turkish artist OÄŸuzhan TuÄŸru's visit to the Washington Glass School earlier in the year.
Kirk Waldroff, Oguzhan Tugru & Tim Tate review Oz's artwork at the Washington Glass School.

07 July 2010

New Class Schedule Part 2 - Special Lampworking Classes

Lampworking, torchwork, flamework - all mean the same thing - sculpting glass heated over a torch. You will get hooked on the immediate satisfaction that comes from this form of art! The flameworking program at the Washington Glass School has expanded. Take our beginner lampworking classes and build your skill level (and fun level) with the open studio Flamework Club. Or take the next step - with our Intermediate Sculptural Flamework class.

This class session we have brought on some new special classes with super star instructors: Elizabeth Mears and Michael Mangiafico!



Elizabeth Mears is a full time, award winning artist. Whether representational or conceptual, her artwork reflects her strong connection with nature; often combining glass with mixed media. Liz studied and now teaches lampworking techniques at Penland, Pilchuck and Corning Studio. Her book "Flameworking" was published in 2003 by Lark Books. Liz will draw upon her love of nature for her "Lets Make Leaves" class and her "Building Flowers with Bridges" class.



Michael Mangiafico (Fig) graduated with a BFA in glass art from Carnegie Mellon University. He has been teaching lampworking and glass blowing for over 20 years. He owns and operates his own glass studio in Pittsburgh, Pa. His work is available in galleries nationwide and has been featured in numerous art magazines and publications. Fig will be teaching an amazing class on creating bugs "Glass Entomology".

Have a look at the full Fall Lampworking Schedule:

SPECIAL LAMPWORKING CONCENTRATION CLASS SCHEDULE

Class 1032 - FLAMEWORK CLUB - Open Studio for Flameworkers

Already know the basics of flameworking? Want to join others in a social atmosphere while you work? Our Flamework Club gives each student the opportunity to work independently in a world class studio while meeting some great new friends! Materials extra.
Class Limit: 6 students
Instructor: Studio Staff
Dates: Saturday afternoons (call to confirm appointment)
Time: 1:30pm - 5 pm
Tuition: $300 for 4 sessions - or included with Instructor Classes (#1033, 1034, 1035, 1036, 1037)

flamework club



Class 1033 - Beginning Sculptural Flameworking

Learn the basics of making objects in the flame from borosilicate (Pyrex) glass. This 2-day class will focus on skills that are the basis of working with glass on the torch. You will come away with knowledge and some fine objects too! Rob is an energetic, knowledgeable instructor and artist who is ready and willing to help anyone learn this fascinating art form. The materials fee provides student with initial pack of glass, fuel for the torches and the loan of a full set of hand tools. Additional glass and supplies are available for purchase as the class progresses. Take this class more than once to reinforce your skills! Class Limit: 6 students


Instructor: Robert Kincheloe
Dates: Session A Sept 18 & 19, Session B Oct 2 & 3


Time: 10am - 1 pm
Tuition: $250 + $50 material fee


robert.kincheloe.glass



Class 1034 - Intermediate Sculptural Flameworking / Working Hollow

This is a student driven class that will promote techniques not displayed in the beginning class. In this 2-day class, students will learn to work with tubing to create glass sculptures. (materials cost of $50 payable at first class meeting) Class Limit: 6 students


Instructor: Robert Kincheloe
Dates: Saturday / Sunday, November 20 & 21
Time: 10 am - 1 pm
Tuition: $250 + $50 material fee

lampworking.glass




Class 1035 - Glass Entomology - Lampworked Insects with Michael Mangiafico
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. His glass insects are some of the finest examples of lampwork worldwide.

Michael Mangiafico has been teaching torchworking and glass blowing since 1993. While his specialty is making glass insects, he also makes beads, marbles, jewelry, vessels, and paperweights. Class Limit: 6 students
Instructor: Michael Mangiafico
Dates: Saturday / Sunday, October 9 & 10
Time: 10 am - 1 pm
Tuition: $300 + $50 material fee

fig studio.glass



Class 1036 - Lets Make Leaves! with Elizabeth Ryland Mears

Why leaves you may ask. We will pay homage to Nature's small factory (Bio 101...CO2 + chlorophyll, + sunshine = sugar and O2) while we learn to control the bench torch, manipulate hot glass, direct the heat, use tools to create shape and texture, and work with different sizes of clear rod and tube. The focus of our endeavors will be to make "parts" which can be incorporated into larger sculpture at a later time. Class Limit: 6 Students
Instructor: Elizabeth Ryland Mears
Dates: Saturday / Sunday, October 23 & 24
Time: 10 am - 1 pm
Tuition: $300 + $50 material fee
elizabth_ryland_mears



Class 1037 - Building Flowers With Bridges! with Elizabeth Ryland Mears

"Bridges" are to Flameworking what exoskeletons are to beetles...they hold everything together. We will use the technique of "bridging" to make a daisy-like flower. We will make the flower then add the bridging to hold all the parts in place while we thoroughly fuse the glass together in the flame of the bench torch. This technique is invaluable when larger sculpture is created, so we will practice on a smaller object. The instructor will guide you step by step through the process. The bridging is temporary so will be removed to reveal a small object ready for further creative use. Class Limit: 6 Students


Instructor: Elizabeth Ryland Mears
Dates: Saturday / Sunday, November 6 & 7
Time: 10 am - 1 pm
Tuition: $300 + $50 material fee



For more information about classes - or to register and pay for the class using the online PayPal system, click HERE to jump to the school's website class list.

NEW Fall 2010 Class Schedule Part 1

The Washington Glass School's New Fall Schedule is now out! Some fun new classes, some favorites are back, and a new Lampworking Concentration Schedule! This season's new lampworking classes includes some superstar instructors teaching in the special concentration classes. (More on these exciting new classes in following posting.)

New to the DC area? Our glass fusing and casting classes are a great way to get out, meet some new friends, make something beautiful, and get into the Washington arts and craft scene! The evening and weekend classes are scheduled to accommodate the hardworking DMV crowd (District, Maryland, Virginia).

Have a look at the new main glass fusing and casting schedule, then take a look at the super deluxe Lampworking Concentration classes.

Washington Glass School Fall 2010 Class Schedule

Class 1025 - 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 several professional glass artists you will learn the fundamentals of fusing, slumping & dimensional kiln casting. A great class to bring a friend (or make one!). 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! The class is offered 3 times during the fall schedule

Instructor Tim Tate, Robert Kincheloe and Michael Janis
Dates
  • Session 1025A September 25 & 26
  • Session 1025B October 30 & 31
  • Session 1025C December 4 & 5
Time 1 pm to 5 pm each day
Tuition $300 per student (all materials included)
kilnformed glass studio glass

Class 1026 - Going Green - Recycled Glass Art

Green up your life by doing something creative to help the environment! This is an exploration into using recycled glass to make sculptural pieces, architectural elements, jewelry and tableware. We will delve into various techniques, including casting, fusing and slumping. Once you start down the path of recycled glass, you will see more and more opportunities for experimentation around you. Glass chemistry, coloration, and firing temperatures will be explained for each particular application. No prior experience is necessary - you are encouraged to bring in materials you'd like to try.

Instructor Erwin Timmers
Dates Wednesday evenings September 29, October 6 & 13
Time 7pm - 9:30pm
Tuition $300

recycled glass


Class 1027 Bas Relief in Glass - Overview of 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 Saturday / Sunday October 2 & 3
Time 2pm - 5pm
Tuition $350

bas relief in glass, float glass


Class 1028 - Beginning MIG Welding

Want to try your hand at welding? Ever thought about making a metal stand to display your glass? How about a metal frame? You can do it yourself, and it’s easier than you think. In 3 evenings you will learn how to make a display stand or frame to show off your work at its best. You will also 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.

Instructor Erwin Timmers
Dates Wednesday evenings in November (3, 10,17)
Time 7pm - 9:30pm
Tuition $325

erwin.timmers.eco.art


Class 1029 - Bullseye Glass Roll-up

If you've ever been interested in making your fused glass panels into blown vessels- then this is the class for you! Come experience one of the most exciting trends in glass - where you get the best of both worlds. One class will be spent fusing Bullseye Glass into a panel at the Washington Glass School. The next class will be held at DC GlassWorks where you will help blow the glass into a vase, or bowl, or even go more sculptural! This class is for all experience levels, both fusers and blowers who want to see their imagery in blown glass.

Instructor Dave D'Orio, Michael Janis
Dates Saturday October 9 & 16
Time 1:30pm to 5pm each day
Tuition $350

bullseye glass technique Michael Janis roll-up bullseye glass

Click HERE to see video of roll-up process.


Class 1030 - Steel & Glass Sculptural Development

For this incredible class, we are teaming up with our sister school at DC Glassworks to form this amazing collaborative experience. For anyone who has dreamed of creating true sculptural work, this is the class for you! This unusual class will feature 6 Sunday workshops, some discussing sculptural theory, while most are simply hands on with material in both studios. Students will be introduced to the basics of metal working, glass casting and fusing, and aluminum casting. This class is designed for anyone from beginner to the most advanced, no prior knowledge of glass, steel or aluminum are necessary. (An 18" height restriction will be imposed on all pieces).

Instructor Patrick Burke, Dave D'Orio, Tim Tate, Erwin Timmers
Dates Sunday afternoons in October (17, 24, 30) and November 7, 14,21)
Time 2pm - 5pm
Tuition $450
erwin.timmers

For more information, and to pay for the classes online, via PayPal, click HERE to jump to the school's website.

06 July 2010

Fused Imagery In Glass - The Process


Michael Janis was setting up a firing the other day of his thick layered glass panels, and the Washington Glass School blog asked how he created his frit powder drawings.


Detailed sketches are created to plan the layout each glass layer. Michael sifts frit powder onto sheet glass and manipulates with an scapel blade tip, scratching the powder until he is happy with the imagery (his version of sgraffito - or " little scratch" technique.) Each working is fired into the glass, and aligned with the successive panel.
This process can take a number of weeks and requires multiple kiln firings. Once Michael is satisfied with the color depth of the frit powder application, he begins his set-up inside a kiln for the final firing - or full fuse.


The panels are assembled into the kiln, sometimes with clear interlayers.


The top layer is placed in the kiln.


The kiln is then set for a long schedule to allow for proper annealing of 6 layers of bullseye glass.
After the glass cools, Michael then cleans and coldworks the slab, and prepares for mounting into one of his steel frames.
The piece shown here is titled "Somewhere I Have Never Traveled", and will be shown by
Maurine Littleton Gallery during SOFA Chicago.