Beautiful Glass

 
 
 
 

On Wednesday, I had no idea I would be so impressed with the Corning Museum of Glass. It is in reality an interactive art museum dedicated to the history and beauty of glassmaking. The museum is for children as well as adults and provides for so many activities that it would be a shame if you had a chance to go and you squandered it. The museum has a whole wing dedicated to activities and hands on displays on the way glass has been used historically, in homes and in industries. As an educator I was delighted to find that each room offered interesting ways for children to discover how glass works in such things as the light bulb, cameras, telescopes, lighthouses, television sets, and even web cams.

Then if you have the time, and fortunately I did, you can go to the galleries featuring a collection of historical items from different regions including Ancient Egypt, Europe, the Middle East, China, and the Americas from antiquity to the present. In addition to viewing the beautiful items you can actually see live demonstrations of glassmakers making lovely vases and bowels, as well as, participate in making your own original glass work. There is so much to see and do that frankly I would have to write a book to describe and document everything you can see there. Is it worthwhile going? Yes, without a shadow of a doubt!