Harbor of Stories
- Artist: Washington Glass Studio
- Material Used: Powder-Coated Steel and Glass Panels
- Location: Corner of Princess Anne Rd. and S Witchduck Rd.
- Year Built: 2026
Kempsville’s Harbor of Stories is a dynamic installation commissioned by the City of Virginia Beach Cultural Affairs Department in partnership with the Historic Kempsville Citizens Advisory Committee. Created by Washington Glass Studio, this public artwork celebrates the rich history and enduring character of Historic Kempsville. Inspired by the layered history of Kempsville, this glass installation evokes a modern aesthetic but also pays homage to the maritime history of the area. Harbor of Stories, which is in the shape of a schooner sailing ship, serves as a symbolic guidepost, illuminating a path forward. As both a landmark and gathering point, Harbor of Stories represents community, local identity and fosters a sense of unity.
This sculpture is constructed with powder-coated steel and a combination of cast glass panels and community-created glass panels. Washington Glass Studio worked with Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation and Virginia MOCA to invite residents, schools and organizations to participate in a series of glass-making workshops. Inspiration for the glass panels was drawn from Kempsville’s historical sites, events, landmarks, and Indigenous Peoples and their enduring cultural traditions, along with the area’s diverse religions and communities, as well as local schools and organizations. The area’s pre-Colonial, maritime, and agricultural history, waterways and landscapes and the community’s rich cultural diversity are also reflected in the panels.
About the Artist
Washington Glass Studio, located just outside of Washington, D.C. in Mt. Rainier, Md., was established in 2001 to deliver artwork and creativity into the public realm by creating site-specific art for architectural and landscape environments. Washington Glass Studio is directed by three artists: Michael Janis, Tim Tate, and Erwin Timmers.
Each of the artists brings their backgrounds in steel and glass sculpture, electronics and video media, and architectural design and ecological sustainability. At the studio, the process used to create the artwork is as important as the finished artwork. Washington Glass Studio focuses on the use of sustainable design, approaching each project with environmental integrity at every step.
