CORNING GLASS MUSEUM

Today is our last day in the area and a rainy one so what better way to spend it than at the Corning Museum of Glass in Corning NY.  This museum explores glass art, history, culture, science and technology, craft and design.  According to the material, this Museum has more than 45,000 glass objects and I’m not sure we saw them all!

It was founded in 1950 by the Corning Glass Works as an accredited educational institution, not a showcase for the company or its products, but as a non-profit institution.  In addition to the vast collection of glass, the library has acquired rare books related to the history of glassmaking. 

It is just amazing what an artist can do with glass!  It's more than a drinking cup!

In addition to the glass collections, the museum hosted mini-seminars on various subjects. 

We caught the talk on fiber optics which was extremely informative.  I guess I knew that fiber optics sped up internet, TV, etc but never explored how that happens.  By the end of the demonstration, I had a better understanding of the fiber optics technnology and the light refraction principle.  An optical fiber is  flexible and transparent, stronger than steel and slightly thicker than human hair.  It is a waveguide or “light pipe” to transmit light between the two ends.  As of today, our technology is not fast enough to completely utilize the full capability of fiber optics so we don’t even know the potential of these fibers.

 I WANT THIS CHANDELIER!

 I LOVE ART NOUVEAU PERIOD.  THE GLASSWARE IS SO FLUID IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S FLOWING

Also watched the Hot Glass Show which was fascinating.  The artist made a pitcher and the narration was great.  He has to keep that glass at 1,000 degrees F and the ovens are up to 12,000 degrees F.  It’s interesting to see who fluid glass is.  

Here liquid glass is being dopped on the bottom of the pitcher to form the base.  Very seldom do glass blowers work individually.  This is definitely a team art.

So ends our time in the Finger Lakes area.  We stopped at Petsmart on our way home to pick up another 50# bag of Blue Buffalo for Billy.  This time we bought "Adult" food rather than puppy food since he's entered adulthood(?).  Anyway he's  now a year old so that makes a difference in the food.

Tomorrow we're heading for the Adirondacks to explore that region before crossing over to Vermont.

LIFE IS GOOD!