Things to do while a Studio student … besides going to class

Every year The Studio at The Corning Museum of Glass hosts more than 1,000 students in its glassmaking classes. We are getting ready to welcome students from all over the country to our classes. Here are a few things students can look forward to during their time in Corning.

1. Go on a tour of the museum’s historical collections.
Join our resident adviser, Bill Gudenrath, for a private tour of the museum’s historical collections. Tour 3,500 years of glass with an insightful glass master.

2. See amazing large-scale sculptures at Corning Incorporated headquarters.
See 11 glass sculptures displayed in the headquarters building of Corning Incorporated. No photography is allowed, so it’s a great opportunity to see works of masters up close and personal. This is not open to the public so you can only go as part of your class.

3. Visit the Rakow Research Library. Got a question about glass? They’ve got the answer!
Take a tour with other studio students into the closed stacks or set up your own meeting before the week starts by emailing rakow@cmog.org.

4. Attend a lecture and learn or see something new.
During lunchtime, attend lectures from curators, glass scientists, Museum Shop buyers, and other experts. In the evenings, view presentations by your instructor, teaching assistants and fellow students.

5. Check out the new Contemporary Art + Design Wing and get inspired.
In 2015, the Museum opened a new wing dedicated to contemporary glass art. With 26,000 square feet of sunlit gallery space the glass looks amazing! Take time to peruse the gallery’s different rooms and search out the half-hidden Special Projects Gallery.

6. Utilize our on-site photography room.
Good photos are important. A class at The Studio includes access to our photography room and a slot with our on-site professional photographer.

7. Shop and eat on Market Street, voted the most fun small town America by Rand McNally.
Take a 10-minute stroll on the pedestrian bridge over the Chemung River to find yourself on the vibrant down town strip. Market Street is a go-to for restaurants, shopping and even another glass studio. Bursting with small shops, galleries, antiques and great food there is something for everyone.

8. Go on the Corelle Brands Factory tour.
Did you know every Corelle dish in the world is manufactured right here in Corning? Walk on the factory floor and watch Corelle dinnerware being born. While the glass factory is not open to the public, The Studio has a special tour for a limited number of our students every week.

9. Have your work critiqued.
Want some feedback on your art? Take advantage of informal short critiques with our resident adviser, Bill Gudenrath, the Museum’s curator for modern and contemporary glass, Susie Silbert, or the session’s instructors who have agreed to critique.

10. Take a hike or drink some wine.
Rent a car or hitch a ride with classmates and travel a short distance to one of the Finger Lakes. Waterfalls and nature walks abound in this region. One nearby favorite is Watkins Glen State Park.
Corning is in Finger Lakes Wine Country, so get ready to raise a glass! The region is known for the Riesling variety, but with more than 100 wineries in the area, there is sure to be something for even the most discerning palette.

11. Meet with a Museum buyer.
Over 450,000 people visit CMoG every year. That’s a huge platform for selling your work! Do you wholesale already? Talk with one of our buyers and learn more about being represented in The Shops at The Corning Museum of Glass.