TryThis GLASSBLOWING


At D.C. Glassworks, create one-of-a-kind holiday gifts


In a small garage, down a side road near


the railroad tracks in Hyattsville past roof and sheet-metal contractors, customtruck body shops and window-repair businesses you may be surprised to discover some colorful and delicate holiday gifts. You can’t just walk in and pick out a


bauble like you would at a department store. You’ll literally have to sweat over these beauties to get themright. At D.C. GlassWorks, you can learn the


art of glass blowing and make a vase, a drinking glass, an ornament, a bowl or any glass object you dream up. Sign up by yourself or go with friends; anyone 14 or older can take part. “This is a place where people can do


whatever they want. People can take it wherever they want,” said instructor Chris Stever. Translation: You can walk in with no knowledge of glass blowing and walk outwith animpressive, one-of-a-kind vase. An instructor guides you through the


process. You stick a long iron rod into the furnace and roll it to collect the molten glass. Then you pull it out and roll it in pigment to add color. Nowyou’re ready to blowinto the rod to


stretch and shape the glass. Here, the skill lies infinding the balance betweenhot and


cold: If the glass is too cold, it won’t yield to pressure; too hot and it slumps on the rod, unworkable. To maintain the right temperature, you have to work quickly, heating and cooling the glass by moving the rod in and out of a furnace. Once the glass is the shape that youwant, you clip it off the end of the rod with giant shears. Instructors work with you one-on-one,


and they’ll let you take as much initiative as youwant. Because they’re so passionate about their craft, you’re sure to catch their enthusiasm. “It’s so interestingwhen [the glass] is in


the process, before the finished product,” said Stever, who has been a gaffer, or glass blower, for five years. “It’s a lot of fun.” Blowing glass also involves a lot of heat.


The furnace that holds the liquid glass is kept at about 2,100 degrees Fahrenheit. The iron rod is cool enough at the top that you don’t need gloves, but many of the instructors wear goggles to shield their eyes fromthe intense heat. Even standing in front of the furnace, in


this casual garage atmosphere, you’ll have a chilled-out time.


—Moira E.McLaughlin EVY MAGES FOR THE WASHINGTON POST


David Wilson blows air into a tube to expand the hot glass during an open house atD.C. Glassworks inHyattsville. The studio offers lessons and workshops.


Where is it? 5346 46th Ave., Hyattsville. www.dcglassworks.com. 301-927-8271. When is it? Try your hand at glassmaking during the studio’s open house and sale Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Classes are available by appointment (e-mail classes@dcglassworks.com).


How much is it? The open house is free. You pay only for the glass objects you make: $45 per item for paperweight, ornament or drinking glass instruction; $75 per vase or bowl. What do I wear? Long sleeves, long pants and closed-toe shoes are advised.


21 EZ


exhibits from 19


BRENTWOODARTS EXCHANGE ATGATEWAY ARTS CENTER“Impressed:NewVisions in Printmaking,” through Jan. 15. An exhibition of prints by undergraduate students at University ofMaryland. 3901 Rhode Island Ave., Brentwood. 301-277-2863; TTY 301-446-6802.


BROOKSIDEGARDENS “Art of Seeing,” through Feb. 6. An exhibition and sale of paintings. visitors center, 1800 Glenallan Ave.,Wheaton. 301-962-1400.


CONGREGATIONHARSHALOM“Fabric: On and Off the Wall,” throughMonday.Works byDominieNash of Bethesda and Anne Buchal of Alexandria. 11510 Falls Rd., Potomac. 301-299-0225.


DESIGNSTUDIOARTGALLERY “HolidayGift Exhibit,” throughDec. 28. An exhibition of gifts to encourage people to buy local. 5702 Baltimore Ave., Hyattsville. 301-779-4907.


GATEWAY ARTS CENTER“CompressedNarratives: PeterGordon, AnikoMakranczy and Juan Rojo Acebes,” throughDec. 30. An exhibition ofworks by three artists with diverse backgrounds. “Vintage Visions: African American Cinema Posters,” through Jan. 8. The posters will be on display atGallery 110. 3901 Rhode Island Ave., Brentwood. 301-864-3860.


GLENECHOPARKHoliday Art Showand Sale, through Jan. 9. Fine artworks including glass, ceramics, jewelry, photographs, paintings andmorewill be on sale. PopcornGallery, 7300MacArthur Blvd.,Glen Echo. 301-634-2222.


KENTLANDSMANSIONMultimedia exhibition, through Jan. 23.Works by Lida Stifel, ElroyWilliams and Alexey Zoob. 320 Kent Square Rd.,Gaithersburg. 301-258-6394.


LAKESIDE CAFE ANDDELI “Weather,” through Jan. 27. Members of Artists’Gallery interpret all types of meteorological conditions. 10227Wincopin Cir., Columbia. 301-498-3946.


LENORE'S PLACEWorks by LenoreMost. 7720 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda. 301-461-9641.


MANSIONAT STRATHMORE “77th Annual International Exhibition of Fine Art inMiniature,” throughDec. 30. An exhibition ofmore than 700miniature paintings, drawings, sculptures and engravings by the local Miniature Painters, Sculptors&Gravers Society. 10701 Rockville Pike,North Bethesda. 301-434-2421. 301-581-5100.


MARIN-PRICE “Joseph Sheppard,” throughDec. 31. Paintings and sculptures of the artist,who recently had a


museumof hisworks opened at the University of Maryland University College. 7022Wisconsin Ave., Chevy Chase. 301-718-0622.


MARRIOT INN&CONFERENCE CENTER, UNIVERSITY OFMARYLANDUNIVERSITY COLLEGE “Color Exploration: Simplicity in the Art ofMcArthur Binion,” through Feb. 28. An exhibit ofwork by the artist. 3501 University Blvd. E., Adelphi. 301-985-7300.


MARYLANDINSTITUTE COLLEGEOF ART “TheNew York Years Versus theMaryland Years,” through Sunday. Paintings and drawings byMichael Economos examining the two locations. 1300Mount Royal Ave., Baltimore. 410-225-2300.


MONTPELIERARTS CENTER“The Extras,” through Jan. 2. Contemporary photographs that use the historic Bromoil developing process. 9652Muirkirk Rd., Laurel. 301-699-2255.


ORCHARDGALLERY “The OrchardGallery Salon,” through Jan. 4. An exhibition by 12 local artists. 7917 Norfolk Ave., Bethesda. 240-497-1912.


SCHOOL 33 ART CENTER“Graphite on Paper,” through Dec. 30. An exhibition of drawings on paper, from sketches to completedworks. AndrewShenker, through Dec. 31. A solo exhibition by the artist. 1427 Light St., Baltimore. 443-263-4350.


BETTYMAEKRAMERGALLERY ANDMUSICROOM “Three Visions ofNature,” through Jan. 2. The gallery’s inaugural exhibit features photographs byMontgomery County residentsNikhil Bahl, JoanneMiller and BertG.F. Shankman. , One Veterans Place, Silver Spring. 301-758-8898.


SLAYTONHOUSEMaryland Art League group exhibit, through Saturday. Amixed-media exhibit including painting, photography, pottery, sculpture and jewelry. 10400 Cross Fox Lane, Columbia. 410-730-3987.


ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE “OfWater, Fields, and Bricks: The Photography of A. Aubrey Bodine,” through Friday. The late Baltimore Sun photographer’s gelatin silver prints of Maryland life and people. 60 College Ave., Annapolis. 410-626-2556.


WASHART “Ritual: Form, Script,Gesture,” through Saturday. The second “*A Pop-up Project” presented by Morton Fine Art featuresworks by Sally Curcio, Ethan Diehl, Sungmi Lee, Choichun Leung, Julia Fernandez-Pol and Hadieh Shafie. 7200Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda. 202-390-5118.


WASHINGTONPRINTMAKERSGALLERY “Two Artists, Many Journeys,” through Jan. 2. A dual exhibition featuring Parker’s etchings andNelson’swoodcuts. 8230Georgia Ave., Silver Spring. 301-273-3660.


WEST ANNAPOLIS ARTWORKS “Winter Artisan Boutique,” through Jan. 30.Mosaics, pottery, oils, sculpture, jewelry andwatercolors fromover 20 local artists. 4 Annapolis St., Annapolis. 410-295-7045.


VIRGINIA


APPLEGATEGALLERY “SmallWorks Show,” through Jan. 2. A group exhibition bymore than a dozen local artists. 101 Church St.NW, Suite C, Vienna. 703-281-1364.


ARLINGTONARTS CENTER“Party Crashers: Comic Book Culture Invades the ArtWorld,” through Jan. 15. A look at the similarities and differences between contemporary artists and comic book images, with a second part of the exhibition on display at Artisphere. 3550Wilson Blvd., Arlington. 703-248-6800.


ARTISTS' UNDERTAKING“Gifted—AGroup Show,” through Jan. 3. A group exhibition of 18 local artists presentingmixedmedia, including copperwork, paintings, pottery and basketry. 309Mill St., Occoquan. 703-494-0584.


ARTSPACE “International Pen and Brush,” through Jan. 23. Artwork and poetry by residents ofNorthern Virginia and Runnymede, England. 750 Center St., Herndon. 703-956-6590.


ATHENAEUM“Molded FromComplicatedMixtures,” through Jan. 2. Paintings based on plastic children’s toys byMeganMarlatt. 201 Prince St., Alexandria. 703-548-0035.


BELNAVIS ARTGALLERY “Let’s Celebrate,” through Dec. 31. A group exhibit of smallworks for sale to celebrate the holidays. 6208 Rolling Rd.,West Springfield. 703-866-0040.


BYRNEGALLERY YuriGorbachev, throughDec. 31. A collection of paintings fromthe artists’ recentmuseum exhibitionswill be on display to celebrate the gallery’s 15- year anniversary. 7W.Washington St.,Middleburg. 540-687-6986.


ARTISPHERE “Fields andNetworks,” through Jan. 8. AliceWhealin’s ink drawings. “Unfolding Folding: Collider,” through Jan. 12. An interactive installation examining geometry of crystals. 1101Wilson Blvd., Arlington. 703-875-1100.


GALLERYWEST “Holiday SmallWorks,” throughDec. 24. An exhibition of art and gifts on sale for the holidays. 1213 King St., Alexandria. 703-549-6006.


GARIMELCHERSHOME ANDSTUDIO“TheNewReality: The Frontier of Realismin the 21st Century,” through Feb. 27. A comparison of today’s realist painters and their


predecessors. 224Washington St., Fredericksburg. 540-654-1015.


GEORGEWASHINGTONUNIVERSITY - VIRGINIA CAMPUS “SevenDeadly Sins,” throughDec. 31. Paintings and drawings looking at cardinal sins,with muralistWilliamWoodward as the featured artists. 44983 Knoll Square, Ashburn. 703-726-3650.


GRACE “Fall Focus Exhibitions,” through Thursday. Works by Elizabeth Kendall, Connie Slack and Ashley Wells.Greater Reston Art Center, 12001Market St., Reston. 703-471-9242.


GREENSPRINGGARDENS “Paintings by Jan Elizabeth Moffatt,” through Thursday. A solo showby the artist, featuringworks fromher BlueDoor Collection. 4603 Green Spring Rd., Alexandria area. 703-642-5173.


LOFTGALLERY “Places and Faces,” through Jan. 2. Oild paintings and sculpture by Lydia Jechorek and TonyDi Francesco. 313Mill St., Occoquan. 703-490-1117.


MCLEANPROJECT FORTHE ARTS “Contemporary Figurative Surrealism,” through Jan. 8. A group exhibit displaying works with unexpected comparisons with a human aspect.Monoprints by Stephanie George, through Jan. 8. George’s large-scale prints take inspiration fromher dreams. Paintings by Cindy Neuschwander, through Jan. 8. Paintings ofmovement and stillness by the local artist.McLean Community Center, 1234 Ingleside Ave.,McLean. 703-790-1953.


NORTHERNVIRGINIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE “ColoradoWinter,” through Sunday. Photographs by AndrewZimmermann. RachelM. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center, 3001N. Beauregard St., Alexandria. 703-845-6156.


COLDSMITHGALLERY “Patriotic and Public Spirited,” throughMay 1. Exhibit of commemorativewares featuring artifacts recovered fromarchaeological excavations. Open indefinitely: “Living Legends of Alexandria.” 201 S.Washington St., Alexandria. 703-746-4994.


TORPEDOFACTORY ART CENTERMultiple ExposuresGallery, Studio 312 “SmallWorks,” through Jan. 3. An exhibition ofmixed-media smallworks juried by Lenny Campello. TargetGalleryWashington Guild ofGoldsmiths exhibit. through Jan. 2. An exhibition ofwork by the guild’smembers including jewelry and metalworking. 105N. Union St., Alexandria. 703-838-4565.


WORKHOUSE ARTS CENTER“Mad for Color!” through Dec. 31. Interior design styling using unique handmade furniture and decor. 9601 Ox Rd., Lorton. 703-495-0001.


the washington post friday, december 17, 2010 l


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