Dear blog readers,
We are in the midst of an unprecedented moment for museums and cultural institutions across the country. With widespread closures due to COVID-19, our most direct way to reach the public is no longer a viable option. We are all doing what we can to make sure the visitors who would normally walk through our doors know that they can still engage with us from the comfort of their homes.
Currently, The Corning Museum of Glass is closed, and all scheduled classes, events, and programs are canceled until further notice. It’s vital that we do our part to promote social distancing and limit the spread of COVID-19. And while you’re doing your part to stick close to home, we know you’ll be in need of some educational entertainment.
With our vast and myriad collection of online resources, we’ve got you covered.
Our popular, award-winning YouTube channel has hundreds of hours of glassmaking content. As our loyal blog followers, we know you share our love for glass and are well aware that glassmaking is a mesmerizing—and soothing—process to watch. We often hear that people will seek out content on our channel to play as they are settling down for bed at night. In times of stress and uncertainty, we all need a little escapism, even if it’s as simple as watching an artist make beautiful glass. We have curated lists of live stream demos of past Guest Artists who have created exciting things in our Amphitheater Hot Shop.
Looking for some education?
- We have our digital publications Techniques of Renaissance Venetian Glassworking and Techniques of Renaissance Venetian-Style Glassworking by William Gudenrath. You can look through the online publication and watch two complete playlists of videos detailing how to make this captivating style of glass.
- You can explore the digital collection from the Rakow Research Library. From Blaschka design drawings to glass recipe books, there are fascinating collection sets to dive into.
- We have digitized all previous editions of our annual exhibition-in-print New Glass Review, which dates back to 1979. Each edition is a snapshot of what was “hot” in glass that year.
- Watch our playlist of glass conservation videos on YouTube, and get an inside look at how we care for our collection.
- We have a collection of nearly 150 demonstrations from artists who teach at our Studio. Watch and learn as they make stunning objects during their classes.
Want to look at some beautiful art and engage with our collection?
- Spend some time in our Collection’s Browser. You can browse by type of glass: contemporary, ancient, European, science + technology, or search for anything you can possibly imagine in glass. Find out about the incredible works we care for and make plans to come see them in person when the Museum reopens.
- If you’re missing our gallery spaces as much as we are, you can take a virtual “street view” tour through Google Arts + Culture. Take a stroll through the airy Contemporary Art + Design Wing, explore glass science in the Innovation Center, and get lost in our 35 Centuries of Glass galleries.
Want something to do with the kids?
- A collection of our popular You Design It; We Make It demos are on YouTube. Watch as glassmakers turn audience-submitted drawings into fanciful works of art.
- Coloring is a great form of escapism. We have a “Color Our Collections” set on Pinterest. Just hit print, grab some colored pencils, and engage with glass objects in a fun new way.
Want to do nothing but watch Netflix?
- Guess what? You can still engage with the Museum there, too! Watch Netflix’s glassblowing competition show Blown Away, which prominently features the Museum. Then check out our many related videos on YouTube, including behind-the-scenes footage from the set and interviews with the production team, glass experiments with the show’s host Nick Uhas, and Guest Artist demos with the finalists.
Don’t forget: There’s a lot of exciting content right here on this blog!
Our blog shares stories from across the Museum. Many voices have contributed to it over time, and lots of insider details have been shared. We’ve pulled together five of our most popular blogs for you to check out:
- Blown Away Contestants Talk About Their Time on the Hot New Netflix Show
- Photographing Glass: Lighting Techniques for Transparent Glass Objects
- The Pipemakers’ Day Has Finally Come
- The Beginning of Pyrex
- Top 10 Scariest Objects to Move
We’re all facing a changed and unprecedented reality. As sad as we are that we can’t welcome you to visit the Museum in person right now, we’re glad that you’re keeping yourself safe and healthy at home. And we hope that you will enjoy engaging with us through these digital resources, our new blog content, and our social media channels. We’ll continue to bring you exciting content and fascinating stories about this material we all love.
Be well,
The Corning Museum of Glass Blog Team