The Studio of The Corning Museum of Glass hosts more than 1,000 students in its glassmaking classes every year. We welcome students from all over the country and the world to our classes. Here are a few things students can look forward to doing during their time in Corning.
1. GO ON A TOUR OF THE MUSEUM’S HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS
Join The Studio’s Resident Adviser, William (Bill) Gudenrath, for a private tour of the Museum’s historical collections and discover 3,500 years of glass with an insightful glass master.
2. VISIT THE RAKOW RESEARCH LIBRARY
Got a question about glass? The Rakow Library team has the answer. Take a tour with other Studio students to learn about the library and see highlights from the special collections. You can also schedule a meeting with a librarian by emailing rakow@cmog.org before the week starts.
3. ATTEND A LECTURE AND LEARN OR SEE SOMETHING NEW
Attend lectures from curators, photographers, buyers from The Museum Shops, and other experts in the glass field. In the evenings, view presentations by your instructors, teaching assistants, and fellow students.
4. CHECK OUT THE 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 fantastic! Take time to peruse the gallery’s different rooms and search out the Special Projects Gallery to see what’s on view.
5. UTILIZE OUR ON-SITE PHOTOGRAPHY ROOM
Good photos are important. A class at The Studio includes access to our photography room and a complimentary one-on-one session with our professional on-site photographer.
6. SHOP AND EAT ON MARKET STREET IN CORNING
Take a 10-minute stroll on the pedestrian bridge over the Chemung River to find yourself in the heart of Corning’s vibrant downtown. Market Street is a go-to for restaurants, shopping, and even other glass studios. Bursting with small shops, galleries, antiques, and great food there is something for everyone.
7. VISIT THE ROCKWELL MUSEUM, A SMITHSONIAN AFFILIATE
Housed in the beautifully restored 19th-century Historic Old City Hall, The Rockwell Museum showcases a diverse collection of 19th-century American paintings, historic bronzes, Native American objects, 20th-century modernists, illustration art, and contemporary photography. Admission is free with your CMoG membership card.
8. HAVE YOUR WORK CRITIQUED
Want some feedback on your art or guidance for your next steps? Take advantage of informal short critiques with our Resident Adviser Bill Gudenrath, Senior Program Manager Richard Whiteley, and Director Amy Schwartz, or any of the session’s instructors who have agreed to critique.
9. MEET WITH A MUSEUM BUYER
Hundreds of thousands of 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.
10. TAKE A HIKE OR DRINK SOME LOCAL 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 and many local breweries and distilleries in the area, there is sure to be something for even the most discerning palette.
11. LEAVE BEHIND SOMETHING YOU’VE MADE TO SUPPORT OTHER STUDENTS
The Studio conducts an annual Holiday Glass Sale to help support our scholarship and residency fund. The generosity of artists who have taught and taken classes at The Studio make this event a success year after year. You can participate either by fully donating work or by sharing the profits of your sales.
12. BECOME A PART OF OUR INTERNATIONAL GLASS COMMUNITY
Beyond learning glassmaking techniques in our state-of-the-art facility, Studio students are encouraged to engage with every facet of The Corning Museum of Glass and take advantage of resources that will serve them throughout their glassmaking careers. These extra-curricular programs provide a unique opportunity to learn from and network with Museum experts, Studio artist instructors, and student peers from around the globe. Join us!
