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A Magician of Light: New Novel Explores the Illustrious Life of René Lalique

This blog post comes to us from guest contributor Dr. J Fremont, an author from Southern California. Fremont’s debut novel, Magician of Light (She Writes Press), was published last week on May 17, 2022.

For more than 25 years, Fremont practiced as a veterinarian in addition to serving as an adjunct professor at a local university and community college. In retirement, Fremont has focused on the arts, in particular jewelry making, glass fusing, and sewing. But her passion lies in research and writing. Magician of Light is the fruit of that passion.

Lino Tagliapietra in the Museum’s Amphitheater Hot Shop, May 13, 2022.

Lino Tagliapietra may be retiring, but not before one final visit to The Corning Museum of Glass. Last weekend was a monumental one for Lino, the glassblowers and staff at the Museum, and all the guests who filled the Amphitheater Hot Shop to see the Maestro at work during what will be his final performance in Corning.

To celebrate Lino’s enduring legacy, we asked those lucky enough to know and work with him, to describe the impact he has made on the glass world. To no surprise, the response was fervent and unanimous: Lino’s impact is, and will always be, extraordinary!

Rakow Library Collections: Out in the World

One of the fun things about working at a library with unusual collections is that you are continually surprised, delighted, and enlightened by discoveries you make in the stacks. Just the other day, while investigating the history of pipe making, we found some 1970s trade catalogs from a pipe distributor in Buffalo, NY. The groovy vibe made us smile and the catalogs provided a fascinating glimpse into pipe history.

Midtown Distributing Co. (Buffalo, NY). *Wholesale Catalogue*, 1973. CMGL 125644

While we love discovering more about our collections, we also work to share them as widely as possible with everyone who wants to know more about glass. To that end, we are continually looking for new ways to make our collections more accessible.

Glass Takes Center Stage at the National Day of Glass

As part of a year-long celebration of the United Nations International Year of Glass, the American Ceramic Society hosted the National Day of Glass Conference on April 5-7 in Washington, DC. Our own Karol Wight, president and executive director, was invited to speak.

This is the first time that the UN has recognized a material for this distinction, but it comes as no surprise for glass aficionados. Glass is at once ancient and futuristic, simple yet incredibly complex, and touches so many aspects of modern life, including science, technology, engineering, education, medicine, and, not least of all, art.

Upon her return, Karol was eager to share her thoughts about the conference.

New Glass Review 43: An Outside Perspective on the Best of Contemporary Glass

Get excited and check the mail, because New Glass Review returns this month for its 43rd issue.

An annual exhibition-in-print, New Glass Review features 100 of the most timely, innovative projects in glass produced during the year. Artworks include sculptures, vessels, installations, and other works in glass by emerging and established artists.

A flagship publication of The Corning Museum of Glass since 1980, New Glass Review is a cyclical reintroduction into the world of contemporary glass and the artists who inhabit it; artists who continually push the boundaries of the material and the limits of their expression.

Following an open call for submissions that receives hundreds of entries every year from countries across the world, New Glass Review is curated by the Museum’s curator of postwar and contemporary glass and a changing panel of guest curators. While the search for the Museum’s next contemporary curator was underway this past summer, Samantha De Tillio was invited to lead the selection process. De Tillo was joined by Davin K. Ebanks, Kim Harty, and Kimberly Thomas.

Amy Schwartz & William Gudenrath Honored with 2023 James Renwick Alliance for Craft Award

The Studio’s Amy Schwartz and William (Bill) Gudenrath were honored on Saturday, May 6 in Washington DC with the James Renwick Alliance for Craft (JRA) Distinguished Craft Educator Award for excellence and innovation in education. The biennial award was celebrated at the JRA Spring Craft Weekend with a Symposium, Gala, and Awards Brunch. Recognized for their influence on future artists and significant contributions to American education in the craft field, Amy and Bill’s selection as honorees was the first time in the ceremony’s 20-year history that both makers and educators were honored at the same time.

William (Bill) Gudenrath and Amy Schwartz with their award at the Smithsonian Museum, Washington DC, May 6, 2023. Photo courtesy of the James Renwick Alliance.

Amy and Bill are the latest on a long list of distinguished honorees—the JRA Award has recognized some of the most influential craft artists in American history. This year, the other nominees included ceramic artist, social activist, and spoken word poet Roberto Lugo (the youngest artist to ever receive the Master of the Medium award); furniture maker Kristina Madsen; and curator, quilter, author, art historian, and aerospace engineer Carolyn Mazloomi.

CMoG Named One of the “7 Glass Wonders of the World”

Capping a truly momentous year for glass, The Corning Museum of Glass has achieved a new distinction: being named one of the “7 Glass Wonders of the World.”

The announcement was made during the closing festivities of the United Nations International Year of Glass (IYOG) 2022. The year officially concluded with a Conference and Ceremony at the University of Tokyo, Japan, on December 8-9, which was attended by our very own President and Executive Director Karol Wight. This event was followed by an official debriefing held at the United Nations headquarters in New York City on December 14.