Right sizing our current workshop spaces and creating new spaces for technologies we don’t currently have in The Studio. 

• A new Residency Center to accommodate and support artist residencies year-round.  
• The Glassmaking Institute, a 2-year certificate program to develop the next generation of great glass artists. 
• A large-scale Kiln Casting Center, which will be the first facility of its kind in North America. 
• An expanded visitor glassmaking space, allowing us to double our Make Your Own Glass experiences.

We are thrilled to include a dedicated engraving room in our expanded studio. We would like to honor two of our engraving heroes who taught engraving at The Studio regularly for many years by naming the space after them. Sadly, both of these artists are no longer with us. The workshop will be named The Max Erlacher & Jiří Harcuba Engraving Room. This 500-square-foot space will house seven engraving lathes, a ventilation table for dry grinding, two printing presses, a drying rack, and two large worktables. All supplies will be neatly organized, and we will add to our collection of stone and diamond engraving wheels.

Max and Jiří were both beloved Studio instructors and members of our extended glassmaking community. They were mentors to many students who have since become preeminent artists and instructors.

Max Erlacher (1933-2022) was a true pillar of the Corning glassmaking community. In 1957, Max moved to the US after being certified as a Master Engraver by Lobmeyr and became one of the most renowned engravers at Steuben Glass. In addition to his work for Steuben, Max also made beautiful works of art that were given as gifts to former presidents and other dignitaries. Max made his home in the Corning area with his wife Kitty and was actively engaged as a Fellow of the Museum, as a frequent instructor at The Studio, with his many collaborations with other artists, and by sharing engraving techniques through films and demonstrations presented at the Museum over many years. In addition to sharing his artistic gifts, those who learned from Max were fortunate to also share his sense of humor and his love of a good joke.

Jiří Harcuba (1928-2013) was a widely respected engraver who was internationally known for his portraits in engraved glass. He was instrumental in bringing engraving classes to The Studio, providing guidance on how to set-up and outfit the classroom in the early years of The Studio. Jiří taught his first class at The Studio in 1997 and returned to teach every year until 2012. Although his home and his family were in Prague, Jiří called himself the Johnny Appleseed of engraving.  He would go around the world to universities and glass schools and studios and they would get a few lathes and a few wheels and Jiří would encourage them to start  engraving. He didn’t believe that you needed years of training, “just sit down and go.” He loved connecting with students and young people.

Jiří said, “Heritage means to select the most valuable thing from history and hand it over to the next generation.”  We invite you to honor Max and Jiří’s heritage and include your own by supporting this new engraving workshop room and equipment. In appreciation for your gift, donors who give $100 or more will be recognized on a tribute wall or plaque in the Engraving Room, on the StudioNEXT Contributors page, and in the Museum’s annual report.  To donate, please visit studionext.cmog.org and click the donate button. Be sure to check the box next to “Dedicate my donation in honor or in memory of someone” and indicate “Engraving” as Honoree First Name and “Room” as Honoree Last Name.  You can also download a Pledge Form from the website and return with a check.  Please include “Engraving Room” on your check and on the Pledge Form. For questions about your donation contact development@cmog.org or (607) 368-5600.

Thank you for your consideration of supporting StudioNEXT and The Max Erlacher & Jiří Harcuba Engraving Room. You are a valued member of our glassmaking community and we thank you for helping to secure and improve opportunities for future generations of engraving artists.

All my best,

Amy Schwartz 

Director of The Studio

Max Erlacher: Rakow Research Library Conversation Series

Jiří the Teacher