Corning Museum of Glass

Corning Museum of Glass
Name	Corning Museum of Glass
Established	1951
Location	Corning, New York, United States
Type	Art museum, History museum
Founder	Corning Incorporated
Director	Karol Wight

Corning Museum of Glass is a premier institution dedicated to the art, history, and science of glass. Located in Corning, New York, it houses one of the world's most comprehensive collections of glass objects, spanning over 3,500 years of history. The museum is a major cultural destination, offering extensive exhibitions, live glassblowing demonstrations, and significant scholarly resources. It operates as a non-profit organization and is closely affiliated with the neighboring Corning Incorporated and the Rockwell Museum.

History

The museum was founded in 1951 by Corning Glass Works (now Corning Incorporated) as a gift to the nation for the company's centennial celebration, coinciding with the 1951 Festival of Britain. Its initial collection was built around a core of historical glass donated by Arthur A. Houghton Jr., a former company executive. A major expansion in 1980, designed by architect Gunnar Birkerts, significantly increased gallery space. The institution underwent another transformative renovation and expansion in 2001, led by architect Thomas Phifer, to accommodate growing public and scholarly interest. Throughout its history, it has played a pivotal role in the Studio glass movement, supporting artists like Harvey Littleton and Dale Chihuly.

Collections

The museum's permanent collection contains over 50,000 objects, representing every major culture and historical period in which glass has been made. Notable holdings include exquisite ancient Roman glass, intricate Islamic glass from the Medieval period, and celebrated works from the Venetian glass tradition. The modern and contemporary collections are particularly strong, featuring masterpieces by artists such as Louis Comfort Tiffany, Émile Gallé, René Lalique, and Kyohei Fujita. The American glass collection documents the rise of the studio craft movement, while significant scientific and technological displays include early light bulb prototypes and pioneering optical fiber.

The Rakow Library

Adjacent to the museum is the Rakow Research Library, established in 1951 and named for benefactors Leonard and Juliette K. Rakow. It is the world's foremost library on the art and history of glass and glassmaking, holding over 500,000 items. Its collections include rare books, manuscripts, trade catalogs, archival materials from companies like Steuben Glass Works, and an extensive collection of works on paper. The library awards the annual Rakow Grant for Glass Research and publishes the scholarly journal The Journal of Glass Studies, cementing its role as a global center for academic research.

Glassmaking demonstrations

Live hot glass demonstrations are a central feature of the visitor experience, held daily in the museum's Amphitheater Hot Shop. Master glassblowers and visiting artists from around the world create objects in real-time, explaining techniques that range from ancient core-forming to modern scientific glassblowing. The studio also hosts the innovative Innovation Center, where demonstrations highlight the industrial processes behind inventions like Pyrex and CorningWare. These programs directly connect the museum's historical mission with the ongoing, living practice of glassmaking, offering educational insights into both craft and technology.

Architecture and campus

The museum's campus has evolved through several architectural phases. The original 1951 building was designed by Wallace K. Harrison, architect of the United Nations Headquarters. Gunnar Birkerts' 1980 addition introduced a distinctive sloping glass facade. The most recent 2001 expansion by Thomas Phifer added a soaring, light-filled contemporary wing with a curved glass roof, housing the main galleries and hot glass studio. The campus also includes the Steuben factory, public gardens, and a large museum store. Its design emphasizes transparency and light, physically embodying its focus on glass.

Public programs and events

The museum organizes a wide array of public programs, including the annual summer event GlassFest, which attracts artists and collectors to the Finger Lakes region. It hosts prestigious competitions like the International Glass Symposium and offers hands-on workshops through its Studio for making glass beads, flameworking, and fusing. Major temporary exhibitions have explored themes from Ancient Egypt to Contemporary art, often organized in collaboration with institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Victoria and Albert Museum. Educational outreach extends to school programs, online resources, and the global Glass Appreciation Day.

Category:Art museums in New York (state) Category:Museums in Steuben County, New York Category:Glass museums in the United States Category:Corning, New York Category:1951 establishments in New York (state)