Stephen Gleissner, the curator of the Wichita Museum sends a couple of e-mails
of interest. Stephen will be at the Symposium next week. At the Symposium
we’ll be hearing from CMoG’s Jane Spillman and Tina Oldnow on museum gifts,
accessions, de-accessions and restrictions. Some on this e-mail list have interests
in potentially contributing their glass to museums. Stephen’s museum has
developed a strong interest in Steuben and if any want to contribute their glass
or discuss it they may take it up with both Stephen and CMoG. Here are several
of Stephen’s e-mails on the subject.

I apologize for letting your Club messages pile up in my inbox–we have been
changing exhibitions like crazy here.

I’m not sure that this should be sent out as a blanket e-mail, but obviously the Wichita
Art Museum is more that eager to develop our Steuben collection and would be
delighted to talk to potential donors and discuss planned giving.
Perhaps we can address this further when we see each other in Corning next
week. I am very much looking forward to the symposium (I’ll arrive Tuesday the 16th
and will stay in Dick’s B&B so that I can get some research time in at the Rakow).

On gifts to libraries, here are some provocative thoughts from Stephen.
This is a problematic idea. Public libraries often do display objects/art. However, the
theft rate is extremely high for various reasons, including: lack of security, lack of a
professional to monitor the objects, and cases that aren’t professionally
designed, therefore are easy to break in to. (Who would ever be responsible for, say,
cleaning the glass?) Moreover, a collection will often remain at a library for little more
than one generation, then be sold because it is not “integral to the mission” of the
institution.

Sorry to be negative, but I would hate for anyone to be mislead.
More of Stephen’s thoughts on gifts to schools. In the 1930s the artist Birger Sandzen, whose work is now quite valuable, gave his paintings (and the work of other artists) to public schools all over the state of Kansas. When the market for Sandzen’s art shot up
during the 1980s, most of those schools ignored the fact that the reason
he donated those paintings was to inspire students and to provide them
with a visually stimulating environment. Today most of the Sandzens
placed in schools have been sold.

Symposium is just a week away. If anyone needs the convention rate at this late
date at the Radisson we have one available room. Same goes for the Dimitroff
Thursday night dinner. We have one ticket available. Just let me know.
Lon Knickerbocker sent me an e-mail that I lost. As best I recall he’ll be
available in his room at the Radisson after 1:30 on Thursday if anyone wants to
see what goodies he has brought with him.
The Radisson reports that Thursday forecast is sunny and mild. High 71 & lo is
46. Friday is drizzle, but more sun than clouds. H 69 L 40. Sat. is sprinkles
late, with more sun than clouds. h 61, l 36.