New Glass Review(ed): Memories from 4 decades (part 2)

For almost 40 years, The Corning Museum of Glass has published the highly-regarded periodical New Glass Review (NGR), a showcase of 100 artworks by 100 artists. Most recently, New Glass Review has been curated by Susie Silbert, curator of modern and contemporary glass at the Museum, and a group of her peers. With established artists and designers sharing the page alongside students new to the medium, New Glass Review is a diverse reflection of the innovation and ideas thriving in contemporary glass today.

In 2019, The Corning Museum of Glass celebrates the publication’s 40th anniversary with both an exhibition in print and a physical exhibition at CMoG, New Glass 2019, which will feature the works selected for New Glass Review 40. Artists, craftspeople, designers, and architects are invited to submit images of new works made in glass—including video works and performance art in which glass plays a fundamental role—for New Glass 2019. Emerging and established artists, as well as students from around the world are encouraged to put forward work for consideration. Works must have been made between 2015 and 2018. We invite you to submit your work.

As we fondly look back on 40 groundbreaking years, we asked artists from past and present to talk about the impact of New Glass Review on their careers.

Why did you want your work in NGR?
Tali Grinshpan: “This is a distinguished publication featuring some of the highest quality, intriguing, innovative, and creative works recently created by established and emerging artists from around the world. This is a publication I think every glass artist would want their work to be featured in.” Represented in NGR 39.

Rui Sasaki: “I believe that NGR is one of the most important resources to help work spread around the world.” Represented in NGR 35.

Justin Ginsberg: “NGR is part of a long history of documenting works being made in glass. I think there is something unique about being part of it and part of this archive.” Represented in NGR 32, 34, 35.

Sylvia Levenson: “I applied a lot of times! For years I was not selected in NGR and I collected the rejection letters. I loved them. I wanted to include them in an artwork.” Represented in NGR 25, 26, 29, 31, 32, 35.

Mel Douglas: “It is a great publication for exposure within the field of glass, almost like making the best-dressed list. It is always interesting to read why objects were selected.” Represented in NGR 22, 26, 34, 35.

How has NGR influenced your career?
Tali Grinshpan: “NGR has been very inspiring for me. Reading the point of view of the jury has pushed me to keep exploring and experimenting with the material, striving to create work that will live up to this high standard. I don’t know yet how it will influence my career since this is the first year I am featured in it and it has not yet been published. We shall wait and see …”

Rui Sasaki: “NGR has given me a dream project opportunity. I am excited about accomplishing it this year.”

Justin Ginsberg: “I have a sense of pride and validation to have my work selected out of so many talented applicants. I think when artists risk it all, live half-starving, invest all their money and more into their work, it feels good to have your efforts appreciated.”

Sylvia Levenson: “Two years ago, I was part of the jury, and for me it was an incredible experience. I got an idea about which sort of pieces glass artists are making around the world. In this opportunity choosing 100 artists was not enough to select all the pieces I loved!”

Andrew Erdos: “The first time I was featured in NGR was my senior year of college. It was an electric moment and 11 years later it still makes me happy to think about it. It gave me a lot of confidence to create the wildest sculptures I could, and pursue the unstable, but wonderful career of being an artist.” Represented in NGR 28, 33, 35.

Katherine Gray: “I felt like I had turned a corner in my career the first time I got in, and I feel like repeated appearances have solidified it.” Represented in NGR 22, 24, 25, 30, 31, 33, 34.

Kait Rhoads: “It has given me exposure and for that I am grateful. It was always an honor to get on the pages of NGR. It also garners respect from your peers. For many who use glass, the admiration of a peer can be more important than sales of work.” Represented in NGR 15, 16, 20, 23, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32.

Read part 1 of New Glass Review(ed): Memories from 4 decades, where artists talk about the importance of New Glass Review to them and the glass community.