Dateline: Corning, New York
I’m visiting Corning to plan for the Carder Steuben Club 9/15 and 9/16 Symposium in Corning at the Corning Museum of Glass.
As we’ve reported previously Carder Steuben expert, Tom Dimitroff, has been quite ill and had been hospitalized. To update you Tom finally went to the University of Rochester (NY) hospital for the experts’ opinions. They’ve taken him off all medications since much of his problem arose from over medication. He’s at home recuperating. He’s doing much better, but his recuperation will be painful and take quite a while. So, I’m happy to report that he is on the mend.
While his wife Peetie makes sure he doesn’t overdo it, I did manage to get him to agree to share his notes from a talk he gave at the Steuben Glass store on Madison Avenue in New York. As you may recall from prior Gazettes Tom spoke at a private reception at the store in May to honor its Carder Steuben exhibit. The store now sells some “vintage” Carder Steuben in addition to its traditional presently produced post Carder clear crystal glass. As you may have noted from a copy of the invitation shared with you in earlier e-mails, a gift of Tom’s book was made to major purchasers of this glass.
Rumor suggests to me a substantial number of his classic Carder book were given out.
In visiting with Steuben Glass’ President, Marie McKee, in Corning she told me that the New York Carder exhibit has been repeatedly extended beyond the normal exhibition time and has generated enormous foot traffic. Yes, Carder’s designed glass does excite the senses. I think you’ll enjoy Tom’s comments on why we collect, and why we treasure and collect Carder glass. Thank you Tom for sharing these insightful thoughts.
Finally, I would note that Marie McKee will be the Symposium’s keynote speaker and will bring us up to date on what Steuben Glass is doing and its interaction with Carder collectors.