I attended the first annual GlassFest 2010 in Corning NY this summer, and setup two web pages to document a few of the many events:
http://www.glassblower.info/corning-glass-fest-2010/glass-ribbon-cutting-ceremony.html
and
http://www.glassblower.info/corning-glass-fest-2010/michael-rogers/michael-rogers-cast-and-hot-glass.html
The second annual GlassFest 2011 has been scheduled for May 26-29, 2011, and I recommend if you have any interest, pencil it in on your calendars now…
At GlassFest 2010 there was a very wide range of activities, including the Oral History Project (which I was honored to be asked to participate in), and I also still vividly remember the lecture “How to Care for Glass” by Stephen Koob, Conservator at CMOG, which taught me important ideas about glass that I had never thought about before. A PDF brochure of the original 2010 event can still be downloaded from http://www.glassfest.org/pdf/GF2010_web.pdf
More information about GlassFest 2011 in Corning NY can be found below. This info is “hot off the presses” — it was just released this week.
Tony Patti
www.glassblower.info
gaffer@glassblower.info
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MEDIA RELEASE Contact: Mike Melaro, Director of Marketing & Communications Email: mike@gafferdistrict.com FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Corning’s Gaffer District and Chemung Canal Trust Company Announce 2nd Annual GlassFest Corning, NY – October 19, 2010 – Corning’s Gaffer District and Chemung Canal Trust Company are pleased to announce the second annual GlassFest, held in Corning May 26-29, 2011. The inaugural GlassFest continues to receive rave reviews from glass artists, enthusiasts and collectors – many of whom traveled from locations throughout the Northeast U.S. – to celebrate the first-ever celebration of glass and the Fire Arts in the Crystal City this May. With attendance from visitors and locals far exceeding expectations, officials at Corning’s Gaffer District immediately moved to ensure the 2011 event brought even more excitement to Corning’s historic downtown. GlassFest 2011 will offer the return of many popular features from the inaugural year, including live outdoor hot glass demonstrations, wine and craft beer tastings, live music, a juried Fire Arts show on Historic Market Street, and Light Up The Night – an evening of neon and illuminated sculpture in Riverfront Centennial Park. In addition to the returning features, several new components will be introduced, including the first GlassFest Flame-Off presented by World Glass, an interactive glassmaking competition that gives artists a venue to compete outdoors for artistic recognition. Officials at Corning’s Gaffer District anticipate strong attendance at the popular event. Executive Director Coleen Fabrizi notes, “The GlassFest experience blends the celebration of the remarkable history of glass in our city with the excitement and enthusiasm people search for in an experience that just keeps getting better year after year.” The festival continues to receive strong support from sponsors, including Presenting Title Sponsor, Chemung Canal Trust Company, in addition to a number of other partners, including Corning Enterprises, Guthrie Corning Hospital, Radisson Hotel Corning, WETM-TV, Pembrook Pines Media Group, Michael Orr & Associates and Multi Media Services Business Printers. A diverse roster of other community partners share in the planning and collaboration of the event, including the Corning Museum of Glass, Rockwell Museum of Western Art, the Steuben County Conference and Visitors Bureau, Finger Lakes Wine Country, 171 Cedar Arts Center, and The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes, all of which contribute to our synergetic approach of promoting the growth of Corning, the Gaffer District and the region. The event kicks off with the traditional glass ribbon cutting at the Corning Museum of Glass on Thursday, May 26th, 2011 at 5:00pm. The event will take place in conjunction with one of the museum’s annual 2300˚ events. For the most updated itinerary and artist participation information, please visit www.glassfest.org, follow us on Twitter using @gafferdistrict or become a fan on Facebook! Corning’s Gaffer District Corning’s Gaffer District is a historic downtown business district with restaurants, retail, local art and world-class museums. The culture and uniqueness of our historic downtown is reflected in local architecture and restoration along with the events and promotions held throughout our annual events calendar. For more information, please visit www.gafferdistrict.com. For More Information Please contact Mike Melaro, Director of Marketing & Communications at (607) 937-6292 x108 or email mike@gafferdistrict.com |