Monday, October 1, 2012

The question was asked why the most major and comprehensive collection (Rockwell Museum collection) is located at the Corning Museum of Glass in a building (referred to as “Building B” across the parking lot from the main museum. Jane Spillman of CMoG responds:

Dear Alan,

As far as the location of the Carder Gallery goes, we basically had no choice. When the trustees of the Rockwell Museum decided to make it a museum of western art, they offered us the glass collection on long-term loan, and we were happy to accept. We do have a number of pieces of Steuben in the Modern Gallery, adjacent to the Tiffany and other 20th century glass.

However, we had no space to install the Rockwell glass in our main galleries. At the time, the Glass Studio was relatively new, and we had been exploring the possibility of installing an exhibition of glass-making technology adjacent to it. We thought that the Rockwell’s collection was more important to show than the glass-making machinery so we devoted the space to that instead. Tom Dimitroff and I chose the objects and the arrangement. Yes, some of the pieces are quite high, but we used that space for some of the largest pieces which could be admired from a distance. And we added some of our own collection of Carder glass, much of it gifts from Frederick Carder, to the Rockwell’s glass. This transfer happened in 2000/2001 so it’s been there for a while, and all of the members of the Steuben group know where it is so I’m surprised that anyone would still think it is at the Rockwell.

Jane

Jane Shadel Spillman

Curator of American Glass

The Corning Museum of Glass

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Gerry Eggert who has recently moved to Gaithersburg, Maryland adds the following thoughts and suggestion:

Alan,

I have pondered this question for a long time. I have no direct answers except to say its all in the admission and sales numbers. I assume the recent CMOG survey was to find a way to increase volume thru the Museum and Museum shop. I would like to see the survey and the results. Without more data points, I can only speculate. I do know that a small club of 200 members is unlikely to influence the role that Carder plays in current CMOG thinking. That is one reason to quickly admit all Steuben glass collectors. I note that no large space is dedicated to Steuben “clear” glass. Many of these designers maybe more influential to the history of decorative arts in the US than Fredrick Carder. For example, where is the plate designed by Georgia O’Keefe displayed. I only paid $475 for the 1963 Fredrick Carder country church watercolor. What would a Georgia O’Keefe painting cost me now? I bid for 2 small Georgia O’Keefe barn paintings thru Julia’s 15 years ago. Both went for $250K plus BP and taxes, way out of my price range.

Maybe others have the answer.

Gerry

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Next up, next year’s Symposium Chairman asks attendees to this year’s Symposium to get in their evaluations.

Hi Alan,
This is just a reminder that if you attended the Symposium last week in Corning, and you have not yet completed your evaluation, please do so.
Your comments will serve to make next year’s Symposium better than the last.

Attached is the form in Word and .pdf, in case yours got lost.

Many thanks.
Bonnie Salzman
2013 Symposium Chair

bsalzman@msn.com

Carder birthday party dinner pictures courtesy of John Styler

www.cardersteubenclub.org

Any opinions expressed by participants to the Gazette e-mail newsletters are the opinions of the authors and are not endorsed by or the opinions of the Carder Steuben Club.

2013 Carder Steuben Club annual Symposium will be held at The Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, NY from September 19-21, 2013. The festivities will begin with Frederick Carder’s 150th birthday celebration on the evening of September 18, 2013.