It's a very sophisticated museum in an ultra modern facility set in a tiny valley in a town that was once famous for its glass manufacturing. Corning . . . Think Corningware and Pyrex and Corelle. Now that the glass manufacturing industry has all but closed down, the museum is truly the only game in town.
A daily schedule that runs 9 to 8, 7 days a week seems ambitious in this dinky town, but then you see the countless tour busses parked in the lot and realize that this museum's reach is way beyond local.
When you see the flyer that lists the non-stop schedule of glass-making demonstrations in state-of-the-art theaters, you learn that this is a place that strives to entertain and educate people from around the world about how art glass is made in the present day. Yet, as exciting as the live demos are, done by young, personable, enthusiastic glass artists, they stress that they are still using ancient glass recipes, ancient techniques and that not all that much has changed in the 3,500 years since the first glassblower dropped a piece on the floor and said "oops."
The permanent exhibits show hundreds, if not thousands of pieces of practical and decorative glass from every continent on Earth and trace the origins of various techniques that changed glass-making history. It's so much to take in at once we had to take a break and make a plan to resume where we left off--someplace between paperweights and Tiffany windows.
Our suite at the Inn at the Gaffer Grille is large and pleasant. Our dinner at the Market Street Brew Pub was satisfying and comfortable. Tomorrow's plan is to take a look at the Rockwell Museum's collection of Steuben art glass, then head back to the glass museum to pick up where we left off. Www.cmog.org.
No comments:
Post a Comment