CORNING — On Oct. 17, the Corning Museum of Glass officially commemorated its new glass-making facility with U.S. Rep. Nick Langworthy, State Sen. Tom O’Mara, and Assemblyman Phil Palmesano on hand, along with Corning leadership, to cut a ribbon of molten glass to signify the opening of The Studio.
The $55.3 million initiative creates the only facility in North America that can support the creation of large-scale works in cast glass; expands glass-making education programs for students of all levels; creates more and longer residency opportunities for emerging and established artists; and now has the capacity to serve twice as many museum visitors in its popular Make Your Own Glass program.
“The Corning Museum of Glass is the world’s foremost authority in the art, history, and science of glass,” Corning Glass President and Executive Director Karol Wight said. “With the on-time, on-budget completion of the Studio’s expansion, we are now the international comprehensive center for artists and students working with glass.”
“We simply could not have accomplished a project of this magnitude without a great deal of support,” Wight continued. “We are grateful for the individuals, corporations, government agencies, and foundations who have helped us achieve significant milestones in the Museum’s very first capital campaign. We extend heartfelt thanks to the State of New York for significant investments in the project, and to Corning Incorporated whose underwriting of the infrastructure improvements have allowed us to create a state-of-the art center for artistic creation and innovation.”
New York provided $9.4 million in combined support for The Studio expansion project through public funding programs, including the New York State Council on the Arts Capital Projects and Empire State Development’s Southern Tier Upstate Revitalization Initiative.
“The Studio’s successful expansion is a testament to the power of glass as a medium for contemporary art making and the appeal it holds for established, emerging, and potential glass makers eager to find an environment that supports their practice,” said Amy Schwartz, the director of The Studio of the Corning Museum of Glass.
The 5,000-square-foot James Flaws & Marcia Weber Casting Center will come online fully in early 2025 as the preeminent production and information hub for artists, architects and designers who wish to work with large scale kiln formed glass. The first artist who will make work in the new center is critically acclaimed contemporary artist Karen LaMonte, known for her life-sized cast glass sculptures.
Applications are now being accepted for The Studio’s new Glassmaking Institute, a comprehensive, two-year program that advances the skills and knowledge of artists, designers, and makers working in glass.
To learn more about the Corning Museum of Glass, go to https://home.cmog.org/