Prestigious glass awards given to The Corning Museum of Glass and curator Tina Oldknow

Both The Corning Museum of Glass and its curatorial staff have been receiving impressive recognition as of late, recognizing significant contributions to the field of glass.

On Tuesday, October 21, the Museum was honored at the annual fundraising dinner for UrbanGlass, a glassmaking school in Brooklyn. The Museum was recognized for its extraordinary commitment to the field of contemporary art in glass, exemplified by the addition of the new North Wing.

“From The Studio… to the Roadshow… to incredible exhibitions and live demonstrations of glassworking inside the Museum, The Corning Museum of Glass is truly the leader when it comes to expanding the audience for glass,” said Carl Pforzheimer during his speech. Pforzheimer is the former chairman of the Board of Directors at UrbanGlass, and a current board member of the Museum.

Marie McKee, president of The Corning Museum of Glass, accompanied by staff from across the organization, was there to accept the award. Pforzheimer made mention of her great contributions to the Museum, calling her an “incredible source of management strength, and a force for growth at the Museum.”

Pforzheimer closed by recognizing the Museum’s “incredible impact on the appreciation of glass as a medium,” and the “far-reaching support of those who have created art from glass for thousands of years and continue to do so today, by showcasing their work.”

On November 15, The American Craft Council recognized Tina Oldknow, curator of modern and contemporary glass, as an Honorary Fellow, a distinction given to someone who has made significant contributions to their craft field, but is not an artist. Oldknow was honored this year along with artists working in glass, ceramic, fiber, wood, and metal, all of whom were nominated by current members of the College of Fellows, comprised of the almost 300 Fellows inducted since the program began in 1975.

“The honorees of these awards are influential figures who have defined and shaped contemporary studio craft in America,” said Perry A. Price, director of education for the American Craft Council.

“Awards from peers mean a lot,” said Oldknow. “Those are the people who know your field best.”

The American Craft Council filmed a short video with Oldknow, during which time she talked about her job at the Museum.

“The most exciting aspect of my job is researching and acquiring works of art, displaying them to the public, who I hope will love them as much as I do, but also getting to know the artists,” she said. “To me, the artists are the thinkers in our society. They’re the philosophers. And I’m always interested in hearing what they have to say.”