By Kate Bartlett
Just about two hours from Ellicottville is Corning, NY, home to the Corning Museum of Glass (CMoG). Established in 1951, this museum is home to the world’s most comprehensive collection of glass and one of the top glassworking schools in the world. CMoG welcomes over 300,000 visitors from around the world annually.
The museum spans over 3,500 years of history with items ranging from the portrait of an ancient Egyptian pharaoh to contemporary sculpture comprising over 50,000 items. Guests are invited to explore glass through various experiences, including art, collections, demonstrations and the innovation center.
throughout the museum bring glass to
life. Guests are also invited to try their own
hand at making glass through a Make Your
Own Glass session at an additional cost.
(Pictured: Glass artist Manolo Aguilera (left)
works alongside Corning Museum of Glass
Hot Glass Team member Tom Ryder in a
Guest Artist Demonstration.)
The live, narrated glassworking demonstrations throughout the museum bring glass to life. Guests are also invited to try their own hand at making glass through a Make Your Own Glass session at an additional cost. These programs offer beginners of (almost) all ages (recommended 10+) the opportunity to create a glass piece to bring home. Their renowned school also offers more advanced classes for glassmaking year-round.
The buildings and 10-acre grounds themselves are something to admire. In 2007, the building ranked #137 on a list of America’s 150 Favorite Buildings in a poll conducted by The American Institute of Architects. Over the years, CMoG has expanded its capacity and completed several additions and updates to best meet their growing needs and vision. Most recently, the Contemporary Art & Design Wing opened in March 2015 as a 100,000 square foot area including a 26,000 square-foot gallery. It is the largest space anywhere dedicated to the presentation of contemporary art in glass. Karol Wight, the institution’s president and executive director, has observed, “The opening of the Contemporary Art + Design Wing was a pivotal moment for the Museum. CMoG provides the rare opportunity to experience the medium’s complete and complex history,
Leve Bridge, a 30-foot walking bridge made of completely hollow glass
blocks. Modeled after structures found organically in nature, the glass bridge
uses precise geometry to accomplish a level of support that would normally
require far more material. The entire system can even be disassembled, recycled,
and repurposed, giving back the natural environment that inspired its
creation.
appreciate its application as an artistic medium, and witness and participate in its creation all in one place. Contemporary artists are taking glass to a new scale, and our new wing allows us to showcase these monumental works in an ideal viewing atmosphere.”
Currently on display in the Contemporary Wing through September 1 is Vitrum Leve Bridge, a 30-foot walking bridge made of completely hollow glass blocks. Modeled after structures found organically in nature, the glass bridge uses precise geometry to accomplish a level of support that would normally require far more material. The entire system can even be disassembled, recycled, and repurposed, giving back the natural environment that inspired its creation.
Exploring CMoG can easily take a day (or more), especially if one is interested in the history and collection of glass pieces. Brady Spaulding, Marketing and Media Generalist, graciously researched connections to the Ellicottville/Chautauqua region, and discovered a rare, beaded match safe from 1917 donated by the Stillman family. While this item is not currently on display, it is a representation of the museum’s dedication to preserving and commemorating all things glass.
Corning is located in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of upstate New York, offering plenty to explore in any season. This region comprises 9,000 square miles to discover including waterfalls, gorges, forests and streams, rolling hills, and miles of spectacular shoreline on 11 glacial lakes and one Great Lake.
The area highlights several trails to explore including everything from swimming and boating, wine and cheese, art and history and of course, wine. The Finger Lakes area is New York’s largest wine producing region with more than 100 wineries and vineyards.
For more information about the Corning Museum of Glass visit home.cmog.org, view their class schedule and view some of their captivating pieces currently on display.