AMERICA and Sunderland are extending the “special friendship” to highlight the artistic talent in the North-East.

Glass and ceramic artists from Sunderland University are having their work put on display in Washington DC over the next three weeks among some of The United States finest.

The American capital is a famous sister to Washington, Tyne & Wear and DC is named after the North-East town.

Work from numerous Sunderland artists are to appear on show and will be available for sale.

The International Glass and Clay 2013 exhibition opens today until Saturday 23 March in the US capital and will be the first to feature fine clay art.

It will also showcase expressive glass and clay artwork as well as narrative sculptures that blend traditional craft materials such as glass and clay with digital technologies.

The exhibition will display international glass and clay artists from Sunderland’s Cohesion Artists and Sunderland University, and Washington DC.based artists from the Washington Glass School and Flux Studios.