So, Frederick Carder was heard frequently saying. Yes, he saw his art glass as art. When I go into an antique show I have little trouble immediately spotting the art of Mr. Carder. It’s not about color, or shape number, or technique, quality of the glass, period style, embelishments or whatever. It’s about all of those things, made into a whole. Simply put it is art; just not a canvas, but a three dimensional product that refracts the light. I love and collect for the art skills of Frederick Carder and that alone.

It has to do with a specific artist who worked for Steuben.

Post Carder production deals in the art of Donald Pollard, Bernard X Wolff, Eric Hilton, Robert Cassett, David Dowler, James Houston, Peter Drobny, David Hills, John Dreves, John Gates, Sidney Waugh, Samuel Ayres, Walter Dorwin Teague, Georgia O’Keeffe, Salvador Dali, George Thompson, James McNaughton, David Hill, Bruce Moore, Charles Liedl, Donald Crowley, Lloyd Atkins, Paul Schulze, James Carpenter, Peter Aldridge, Zevi Blum, Luciana Roselli,Susan Smyly, Dan Dailey, Neil Cohen, Julie Shearer, Chris Hacker, Michael Graves, Richard Meier, Thomas Tisch, Jane Osborn-Smith, Angela Cummings, Robert Cassetti, Paul Haigh, Massimo Vigneli, Lino Tagliapietra, Joel Smith, Thomas C. Buechner, and many more.

All the many artists who worked for Steuben after Mr. Carder are wonderful artists. But, as art goes, they are all different.

I believe the common ground of most of the collectors in the Carder Steuben Club is the art of a single artist, Frederick Carder. Yes, it is about art and let’s not forget that.

Alan Shovers, Evansville, Indiana

A CHANGE OF HEART

Alan,

In response to Frank Creech’s comments regarding the addition of modern Steuben to the Club’s mission, I have the following comments. When I became a member of the Carder Steuben Club, formerly known as the Friends of Carder, it was because of the fact that I was so intrigued at the beauty of the Carder era glass art, and the genius that was, and is Frederick Carder. This years symposium will be roughly the eighth that I have made the trek to Corning to attend, and I have enjoyed them all immensely. A couple of years ago, I was asked to be included on the board as a director. Four or five years ago, I had the thought, after some discussions with other club members, that it might be an interesting idea to consider adding the modern Steuben to the club’s direction. When the subject was approached by the board within the past couple of years, I felt that it was a good idea to include the modern Steuben. After much thought on the subject, I will fully admit that I was wrong in my opinion. I had felt that with the addition of modern Steuben, it would attract members to the club that would assist with the financial stability which comes with the increased membership, and possibly also add a younger demographic, as none of us are getting any younger. I now feel that both of these viewpoints would not necessarily happen. Frank’s points regarding the question of the addition of modern are well taken. Financially, we have kept the annual symposiums at a cost where a person receives a great bang for their buck. Would this be the case if an addition of, let’s say perhaps an additional twenty to forty people attended? It would seem to me that the costs would escalate to a point where many would not find it feasible to attend. Also the point that Frank makes which many have discussed over the years is the rather odd dynamic of the years long rift between Corning Inc, and Frederick Carder. Personally, I have never quite understood that particular dysfunction. In addition, the countless hours of work involved to initiate the modern Steuben could be doable, however, are there future members who have the time and passion and commitment to undertake that challenge? In closing, I now feel that the inclusion of the modern Steuben is not a good idea for the Carder Steuben Club to entertain after all, and I keep hearing a little voice in my head saying; How would Frederick Carder cast his vote regarding this proposal?

Respectfully submitted,

Mark A. Chamovitz, Pittsburgh

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.

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