CORNING—In May 1996, The Studio of The Corning Museum of Glass opened its doors to eager teachers and students from around the world. Ever since, it has captivated countless people with the magic of glassmaking, making the material accessible to beginners and advanced students alike, encouraging them to explore, collaborate, and create. The Studio has come to be recognized as one of the best glassmaking studios for artists to learn and create work, and on May 26, it will celebrate its 20th birthday with one hot party.
“For the past two decades, The Studio has been the incubator for emerging artists and a place for students and artists to learn and grow. Through The Studio, many artists have developed a deep love and respect for the art of glassmaking, and for the material of glass itself,” said Amy Schwartz, director of The Studio. Schwartz moved to Corning in 1995 with her husband, Bill Gudenrath, to start The Studio. “We are delighted to celebrate this milestone birthday with all the people who have helped The Studio grow: students, artists, instructors, staff, and Museum visitors,” she said.
Each year, The Studio has added new programs and expanded the opportunities to learn different techniques. In its 20 years, The Studio has hosted more than 100 resident artists and 20,000 students; awarded 800 scholarships; and now enables 6,000 people in groups and 60,000 Museum visitors to make their own glass each year.
“The Studio has created a global community of artists interested in glassmaking,” said Denise Stillwaggon Leone, a glass artist who has taught many classes at The Studio. “It is renowned and revered, and draws people from all over the world to teach, study, and learn. It is a mecca, the sine qua non of workshops. It is an inspirational experience to be a part of The Studio.
“The Corning Museum’s stellar collection instructs and inspires all of us,” she continued. “Comprehensively, The Studio, with all of its brilliant facets, shines most brightly in the constellation of the glass art world.”
For high-resolution images, visit: https://www.cmog.org/press-release/studio-corning-museum-glass-celebrate-20th-birthday
Celebration Activities on May 26:
Exhibition Opening
The Studio at 20
For 20 years, The Studio has been a starting point for emerging artists and an incubator for new work by established artists. The works on view in this exhibition are part of the Museum’s permanent collection and were created by artists who have taught or who have been artists in residence at The Studio. Additional pieces by this artistic community can be found throughout the Glass Collection Galleries, where they are identified by The Studio at 20 symbol.
The Studio 20th Birthday Celebration
Celebratory Day
Help us celebrate The Studio’s 20th birthday in style. We’ve planned a day full of fun events, great food, and glass, glass, glass! This event honors the many artists, teachers, students, residents, and supporters–both locally and around the globe–who have helped to make The Studio one of the most renowned glassmaking schools in the world.
Local Glass Community Open House, 9 – noon
To help us celebrate The Studio’s 20 years, we invite the local glass community to enjoy a morning of celebration, camaraderie, and glass. The Studio’s doors will be open to local glassmakers who would like to work in either the Hot Shop, flameworking, or coldworking studios.
The Studio 20th Birthday Block Party, 11 – 2
You can’t have a party without food! Join us in the parking lot outside The Studio for a festival of food trucks. Grab something super tasty from the truck of your choice and enjoy your favorite party food, good friends, and a great atmosphere as we celebrate The Studio’s 20th birthday.
John Miller Giant Cupcake Demonstration, 2:30 – 5:30
No birthday celebration is complete without cupcakes, and the same goes for The Studio! Artist John Miller, known for his large-scale pop art glass, has been invited to create a giant cupcake fit for a 20th birthday celebration. The public is invited to stop in and watch this fantastic piece come to life, or watch a livestream of the cupcake creation on www.cmog.org.
Special Studio Displays, ongoing
In addition to The Studio at 20 exhibition, we’ll also be showing off some of our favorite objects in the display cases right inside The Studio.
See this year’s Junior Curators’ Exhibition: Highlights. The Junior Curator’s exhibit features objects made by The Studio’s artists, instructors, and students, and is divided into two sections.
The Community display case contains objects made by artists who work at The Studio or the Museum. Beginnings is a collection of objects made by artists who taught during The Studio’s first summer in 1996.
Make Your Own Glass Ornament
From May 26-December 31, The Studio will offer a special ornament project for its 20th birthday. (All ages, $30). Reserve your spot online at CMoG.org.
2300°
Kick-off to GlassFest, 6-8 p.m.
Get ready to party at May’s 2300°! Not only will we be celebrating The Studio’s 20th’s birthday with an amazing live demo by William Gudenrath but we’ll also be kicking off the an incredible weekend of GlassFest activities throughout Corning's Gaffer District.
Hot Glass Transfer from The Studio to The Amphitheater Hot Shop
The party will move from The Studio to The Amphitheater Hot Shop as 2300° and GlassFest weekend get underway. A gather of glass will be taken from The Studio and transferred across the parking lot into the Amphitheater Hot Shop where it will be used as a glass ribbon to cut, officially starting the 2300° and GlassFest festivities .
Live Glassmaking featuring William Gudenrath
William Gudenrath, The Studio’s resident advisor and all around glass master, will be demonstrating during 2300°. Known for his mastery of traditional Venetian styles, William Gudenrath will take over the Amphitheater Hot Shop for an amazing demonstration to celebrate The Studio’s 20th birthday.
Amazing Live Music featuring Break of Reality
They helped us kick off the opening of the Contemporary Art + Design Wing last year in such an amazing way that we thought we’d welcome back Break of Reality to keep the party going at 2300°. This crazy cool cello rock band is not to be missed. This classical quartet breaks all boundaries with their musical blend of traditional classical music and their one-of-a-kind alt/indie-cello stylings.
