The first decade of the Carder Steuben Club Symposiums is now history. A record breaking crowd attended the tenth with each person taking away their own highlights. Friendships were renewed. New ones created. Collections enhanced, and knowledge gained. We “donated” a week’s worth of effort to the Rakow Library with 15 people spending the afternoon on Thursday preserving and protecting the Carder Archives. Our first glass show followed, with camaraderie, dazzling glass and a packed room. Even if you didn’t make a purchase, it was a fun filled social event.

On Friday morning Kirk Nelson got us started with an expansive view of the New Bedford Museum of Glass collection and the long arc of American glass history. We all must be waiting to see the YouTube video of the functioning table fountain. Jane Spillman made us all smarter and reminded us that there is much more to Pairpoint glass than just bubble ball connectors. A lively and thought provoking annual business meeting followed. More socializing occurred during lunch as we watched a photographic recreation of the 1985 Frederick Carder: Portrait of A Glassmaker Exhibition.

After lunch, Gail Bardhan and Beth Hylen walked us through a scholarly presentation on the connection between the glass artist, design drawings and the production of the glass object. Their colleagues at the Rakow Library, Ken Burns and John Bunkley, then conducted a fun-packed trivia challenge for the group. It’s obvious some of us need to brush up on our chemistry. Dick Pope then described the continuing efforts to preserve Bob Rockwell’s charitable legacy in and around Corning. Finally, after Marshall Ketchum’s presentation, we all are eagerly awaiting the unveiling of the new club web site.

Special thanks go to the Marinellis for christening our first flash mob – “Glass Gazing” – Friday night after everyone enjoyed Family Night at the Museum.. What could be better than standing in front of the Carder Glass windows on Market Street with a large group of fellow enthusiasts – almost like worship. Except it did get better as we walked across the street and enjoyed a glass of champagne compliments of Kitty Erlacher.

There was no drop in energy or enthusiasm Saturday morning as Stephen Gleissner, Chief Curator of the Wichita Art Museum, described the organizing principles of their Steuben collection and shared photographs of many of the objects. Led by Ed Bush and Marshall Ketchum, more than a dozen people then shared their goblets, sherbets and plates and the stories associated with them during Group Collector’s Choice. Thanks to Jim Sutterfield we all now know how salts become sherbets. After lunch, Tom Dimitroff expounded on Carder design themes as a means of identifying Carder glass. It will be easier for all of us to do so having listened to Tom. Then, is there any doubt that we will all find something new to learn from the research Bob Mueller has conducted in preparation for his upcoming book? Even the evacuation of CMoG occasioned by the false fire alarm didn’t dampen enthusiasm. We finished Saturday’s programming with our Identification Clinic and lively conversation and debate over some interesting glass objects.

But we weren’t done. Thirty of us marveled at the glass installations in the Corning Headquarters Building and tried to comprehend the artists’ visions and extraordinary artistic skill. Does anyone else wonder if that 1932 Ford pickup will start? A special thanks has to go out to Corning for permitting us to view these extraordinary installations and to Violet Wilson and Bonnie Wright for conducting the tours. Finally, it was on to the banquet beginning with our traditional toast to Frederick Carder. A great meal followed those raised glasses and the concluding auction provided many laughs along with enhancing some collections. I’m sure that the debate will continue to rage over whether the solo or duet version of “I’m A Little Teapot” is the better rendition.

Thanks to everyone for helping and attending. Mark your calendars for 2011 – September 15, 16 and 17.

PS Scott Hansen reports that he is aware, having left Corning, he now needs to remember that you have to drive your car to AND from dinner. See you next year.

Any opinions expressed by participants to the Gazette are the opinions of the authors and are not endorsed by or the opinions of the Carder Steuben Club