August 26, 2018
Issue No. 34
www.westsidenewsny.com
West Edition
Distributed to Bergen, Clarendon, Holley-Murray and Brockport-Sweden
Glass on the Water Photos by Karen Fien After spending the weekend of August 17 through 19 entertaining and educating crowds in Brockport, GlassBarge and an accompanying flotilla of historic ships docked in Spencerport for their final westside stop on Wednesday, August 22. GlassBarge was launched to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the relocation of the Brooklyn Flint Glass Company – now known as Corning Incorporated – via the New York Waterways by canal barge to Corning, which would become a center for important artistic and technological innovations in glass. In addition to sharing the story of glassmaking in Corning, the recreation of the 1868 barge voyage emphasizes the continued role of New York’s waterways in shaping the state’s industry, culture, and community. GlassBarge is the 2018 signature event for the statewide celebration of the Erie Canal Bicentennial (2017-2025). GlassBarge is “a unique project that embodies the museum’s dedication to educational programming outreach and celebrates the history of glass with new audiences throughout the state,” said Karol Wight, President and Executive Director of The Corning Museum of Glass. “We are very grateful to our many support-
G Brian, CMoG gaffer with 20 years experience, creates a bowl with a blown foot using frit (crushed glass) of gold topaz and reddish amethyst. He said, “GlassBarge is unique to our region, it embodies everything the Empire State stands for, from the Erie Canal to Corning Glass.”
Shown (l-r): Stephanie Parry, G Brian, Lukas Milanak, all gaffers for The Corning Museum of Glass and Robert Cassetti, Senior Director of Creative Strategy and Audience Engagement for The Corning Museum of Glass, showing the glass pieces created at previous stops. ers, especially Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Regional Economic Development Council, without which the project would not have been possible.” GlassBarge proved to be a popular attraction with tickets selling out quickly. An estimated 900 people attended the demonstrations in Spencerport alone. “An experience so close to home, with
the combination of the Corning GlassBarge and the Canal Schooner Lois McClure, not to be missed,” said Betty and Karen Riley of Spencerport. Roberta Voelkl of Spencerport agreed. “Amazing, hadn’t seen glassblowing since I was a little kid.”
GlassBarge was accompanied by the South Street Seaport Museum’s historic tug W. O. Decker (both shown above) on the Erie Canal. The Lois McClure, a replica of an 1862 canal barge, and the C.L. Churchill, a 1964 tugboat, both part of the permanent collection of the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, were also part of the tour to share the story of canal life in the 19th century and how materials were shipped on New York’s waterways.
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