Corning, New York: Hands on Glass
From Furnace to Flame: A Journey In Glass
CMOG has several studio spaces available for artists to use.
Before our first day at the museum, we did the Hands On Glass Experience at CMOG. We both did a blow sculpture item where we selected the colors and then assisted the gaffer with the blowing part.
Due to Covid, blowing meant stepping on this pedal and letting compressed air do the work. This was not a very satisfying experience.
Fortunately we had other plans.
After our first day at the Corning Museum of Glass, I stopped by Hands on Glass which had been recommended by the stained glass guy. We arranged to come back the next day for the glass making experience. While there, we watched them put batch into the furnace to become glass. This would be the glass we worked with the next day.
Not only did Hands On Glass have the better glass experience, they also have a glass shop with better deals. Not to mention the furry shop assistant.
Rodi and her assistant guided me as I made a paper weight. Unlike the CMOG experience, this really was hands on. I worked the color onto the glass, pulled the loops in the paper weight, and shaped the glass. I assisted with cracking the glass off and finishing the item. Rodi was very patient and informative. I paid for a hands on experience and what I got was an awesome short class on the basics.
Besides making the paper weight, I helped to make a blown object. While Rodi and her assistant did most of the work, I did provide the air to blow the pumpkin to its size. Unlike at the CMOG, I got to use my own air and not just step on a pedal.
My partner also made a set of glass items. His are pictured above and mine below. We finished our trip with some ice cream and hit the road for home.
The three items I made at both CMOG and Hands On Glass.
Unfortunalty, the library was closed at CMOG due to COVID, but I did get to use the travel time to finish reading the Valkyrie Book. As a consolation for missing out on the library, I did get to pick up a couple of books to add to my research collection. I was also diligent to take pictures of as much as I could and included the labels when I could so that in the future I would know what the picture was of.
All in all, we both enjoyed our trip.
