By now all paid members of the Club should have received by mail annual meeting
minutes, a members listing and three Collector’s Favorites (CF) publications.
One of the CFs was done by Jim Barlow and two by Ruth deLorraine. If you
didn’t receive a packet and you’re a member please let me know. Also, anyone
wanting to have a publication of a CF for one of their favorite pieces, please let
us hear from you.
The 2006 NAGC(National American Glass Club) annual Glass seminar is scheduled
for May 12 & 13 in Chicago. On May 9 & 10 an early optional part of the seminar
will start in Oak Park, IL touring Frank Lloyd Wrights home and other homes
designed by FLW. On the 10th a tour of the Lotton Art Glass Gallery and
Higgins Glass Studio. Friday’s touring will continue in Chicago exploring some of
Chicago treasures with many examples of Tiffany’s stained glass. On Saturday
there will be five presentations at the downtown Radisson hotel. Our web
master and former president, Mark Buffa, will present a talk on similarities in
shapes, techniques and colors of major glassmakers. I will speak on the Art
Glass of Frederick Carder. Anyone interested in attending can get registration
information at www.glassclub.org
Having recently had a museum exhibit at the Evansville Museum, some six months
have now passed. I continue to be amazed on a regular basis by people coming up
to me and telling me they had no experience with art glass. They had no idea
what it was or it existed. They never heard of Frederick Carder. Then they tell
me how moved they were by the exhibit. How they went back to see it yet
another time. How thrilled they were with it. And, it goes on and on. What is
significant about all this is that there such a huge swath of people that had not
experienced art glass, but now that they have they are excited by this art
form. They want to know more. What this is leading up to is a suggestion that
we the collectors of art glass need to do whatever we can to expose the public to
art glass, and for those interested in Carder Steuben glass, then to the
importance of Frederick Carder to the art glass world. I would suggest we have
a duty to share examples and exhibits of art glass wherever we can. Having said
all of that you’ll see attached an invitation to my local community as an example
of what can be done.(Unfortunately, the color PDF copier may have turned this
out in black & white and it may have lost some of its zest–but you get the idea)
Recent studies conducted for the national Auctioneers Association show that
many people attend contemporary auctions for the excitement and entertainment
value. At our seminar on September 15 & 16, following our Saturday night
banquet dinner at Corning, Inc. we will share that excitement by an auction of
members’ Carder glass. Marshall Ketchum, who is chair of the auction, has lined
up pre-eminent auctioneer, Steve Early of Early Auction Company, llc to conduct
the fun of this year’s auction. These auctions are always the “cream” to finish
off a spectacular weekend. With Steve Early as auctioneer, it will be even that
more special.
Speaking of Marshall Ketchum, his new revised edition of Frederick Carder’s
Steuben Glass, Guide to Shapes, numbers, colors, finishes, and values is now
being shipped by Schiffer Publishing.
As our fiscal year is coming up this September, don’t hesitate to renew your
Club membership. Application form is attached.