GlassNEWSLETTER OF THE NATIONAL Shards AMERICAN CLUB www.glassclub.org Founded 1933 A Non-Profit Organization Spring 2021

NAGC Annual Meeting and Special Lecture

Save the date of Saturday, May 1 virtual Annual Meeting and a lecture. for our virtual Annual Meeting and a The Annual Meeting will begin at special lecture. Recognizing that we 12:00 noon (EST) on May 1—our could not come together in person and East Coast members can settle in with realizing that we did not want to go a sandwich and cold drink, we hope another year without our annual meet- those of you on the West Coast will ing, the NAGC Board has planned a come in your pj’s, coffee in hand! Af- virtual program. It offers members an ter updating you on all the work the engagement and learning opportunity, Board has undertaken this past year, brings the National together, and stick around for a fabulous special gives us a chance to share the work lecture beginning at 1:00 pm (EST). that has been going on behind the Dr Christopher (Kit) Maxwell, scenes. It also allows for an orderly Curator of Early Modern Glass at The transfer of officers in the Club. Corning Museum of Glass will speak The Board discussed several options on, “In Sparkling Company: Reflec- and decided to focus on hosting a free tions on Glass in the 18th-Century British World.” Dr. Maxwell curated Dr. Christopher (Kit) Maxwell. In Sparkling Company: Glass and the Costs of Social Life in Britain during ambitions of colonization and the the 1700s which opens at CMoG on horrors of the African slave trade. May 22, 2021. He also served as con- Glass beads were traded for human tributing editor for the publication lives and elegant glass dishes, baskets which accompanies the exhibit. and bowls held sweet delicacies made This special sneak peek at this fas- with sugar produced by enslaved labor. cinating exhibit will examine Britain, Underpinning Britain’s prosperity a vibrant, commercial nation in the were aggressive foreign trade poli- 1700s. Its growing cities were hubs cies, colonization and a far-reaching of sociability, scientific advancement, economy of enslavement, the profits trade, and finance. From glittering cos- of which funded the pleasures and tume and elaborately presented con- innovations of the fashionable world. fectionery, to polished mirrors and I hope you will join us for the An- dazzling chandeliers, glass helped nual Meeting and Dr. Maxwell’s talk. define the social rituals and cultural Check out our website, your Chapter values of the period. While innova- emails, and the mail soon for infor­ Pair of harlequin earrings, about 1760. Prob- ably . Cut glass; silver. The Corning tions in glass delighted the wealthy, mation on how to access this virtual Museum of Glass (2017.2.3). the material also bore witness to the program. Glass Shards • Page 2

President’s Letter

Greetings and best wishes for a As our front page indicates, the on how to register for the free Annual warm and wonderful springtime. For Board has planned a virtual Annual Meeting and lecture. Registration is those who celebrate Easter I send you Meeting and special lecture for May 1. just a formality to ensure you have thoughts of joy. For all—I hope that Please plan to attend. We have several login information. We will also post you are in line for your vaccination or members who will be rotating off the that information on the website and already lucky enough to have had Board—they have given so much to share it with chapters. your shot(s). This past year has tested sustain and grow the Club. Please join Since you can join the meeting vir- us all in ways we might never have me to celebrate their service and hear tually, we hope to see a great crowd. imagined but I have also benefited about their great work this past year. Until then I wish you sunny days and from the kindness, laughter, and sup- Ballots will also arrive soon in the chocolate bunny ears! port of family and friends. I have mail. The Nominating Committee has stored a huge backlog of hugs that I identified an excellent slate of officers. Yours in glass, look forward to delivering once it is Please be sure to return your ballot. Anne Madarasz safe again! With your ballot will be information NAGC President

Remembering Jane Shadel Spillman

I met Jane when I attended my first Industry,” in celebration of the nation’s secure grasp of the details of American Corning Seminar on Glass in 1966. bicentennial in 1976; she wrote the glassmaking history and shared them A graduate of the Cooperstown Pro- catalog. That was followed in 1977 by with delight, humor, and enthusiasm. gram, she had been a member of the “The Cut and of Those who are interested in this field Corning staff for a year and was in Corning: 1868–1940” exhibition and owe her a debt of immense gratitude— charge of education, but she also as- catalog. They were followed in 1981 and I count myself among them. We sisted the staff in their research and by the monumental catalog of the Mu- who knew her and worked alongside display installations. When I joined seum’s American pressed glass collec- her realize that we have been in the Corning in 1973, I planned to have tion, and in the years following she presence of someone who played a curators assume responsibility for organized five more special exhibi- role immensely larger than her physi- specific collection areas. Jane became tions and wrote the catalogs. cal self. Her publications are a lasting Assistant Curator in charge of Ameri- In her 48 years at the Museum, Jane tribute to her scholarship, and we will can glass. She blossomed in her new conveyed her enthusiasm for American remember her fondly whenever we role, and her expertise and public rec- glass in hundreds of articles and books, see one. ognition grew quickly. She was pro- spoke at countless seminars (including Jane Spillman passed away on moted to Associate Curator in 1975 36 times at the annual Corning Semi- March 12, 2021 with family close by. and to full Curator in 1977. She and I nar on Glass, a record), and served as As Shards went to print, arrangements jointly developed the Museum’s first president of the National American were not yet available. special exhibition after the 1972 Glass Club and editor of its Bulletin. ­— Dwight P. Lanmon flood, “Glassmaking: America’s First Throughout all this, she displayed a

Left: Jane examines some of the objects for the 1989 special exhibition “Dining at the White House.”

Right: The Corning Museum’s president, Marie McKee (left) and executive direc- tor Karol Wight (right) celebrate Jane’s retirement from the Museum in 2013. Glass Shards • Page 3

Club and Chapter News

WESTCHESTER GLASS CLUB Schaechter’s The Birth of Eve, Karen technology which invites the viewer Zoom Tour at the Smithsonian Lamont’s Reclining Dress Impression to walk around and experience. It is American Art Museum and Renwick with Drapery, Lino Tagliapietra’s col- engaging and will figure in museum Gallery orful Mandara, Andy Paiko’s Spinning interpretation in the future. Wheel, and Josh Simpson’s Susan Haller, program director for The Westchester Glass Club contin- Megaplanet, among others. the Westchester Glass Club, arranged ued its series of fascinating and engag­ The tour ended with a mind-blowing for this informative visit. Westchester ing glass Zoom programs with a tour look at Ginny Ruffner’s installation ti- Glass Club Zoom meetings are open de force with Eileen Doughty, master tled Reforestation of the Imagination. to the public on the fourth Tuesday docent volunteer at the Smithsonian In this virtual reality landscape, hand- of the month at 11 am; contact James American Art Museum and Renwick blown glass sculptures of plants and Russell, WGC president, at jrussell Gallery in Washington DC. flowers are presented in augmented [email protected] for more infor- Eileen talked about John La Farge’s reality from a downloadable app, cre- mation. Peacocks and Peonies I and II, Judith ating an imaginative blend of art and

Strength & Fragility: The Story of the NLM

This immersive exhibition, which a magnificent 9-feet-high glass cano- opens on March 26, highlights the life py by Ulla Darni. It includes a custom of Irvin J. Borowsky and how his be- sound bath that gives visitors a chance lief in universal equality and liberty, as to reflect on the NLM’s founding well as his passion for contemporary principals. glass art, led to the founding of the National Liberty Museum. Strength & LIBERTY HALL MUSEUM Fragility pays homage to the life of 321 Chestnut St. Mr. Borowsky and the ideals of the Philadelphia, PA 19106 NLM through historical material, art- (215) 925-2800 work, and soundscapes. The center- www.libertymuseum.org piece of the exhibition is Peace Portal, Peace Portal, Ulla Darni.

Counterparts: Glass + Art Elements

Counterparts: Glass + Art Elements artistic-medium divisions, presenting discusses the inclusivity of art mediums all manner of glass and non-glass art- through its groupings of glass and non- works side by side. glass artworks within the seven ele­ ments of art: color, form, line, shape, MUSEUM OF GLASS space, texture, and value. The exhibit 1801 Dock St. will begin in the summer, 2021. Tacoma, WA 98402 Today, glass art is countering the (253) 284.4750 implicit hierarchies of the art world. www.museumofglass.org And just as artists are open to diverse and varied techniques,­ often incorpo- rating methods regardless of medium,­ Blue Sun, Cappy Thompson, Counterparts seeks to erase ingrained about 2013. Glass Shards • Page 4

Electric Garden of Unearthly Delights

On view now through June 1 in the Mundy Hepburn. Mundy takes blown exhibited in over 30 installations and Hirschmann Theater, the Sandwich glass forms and fills them with rare gas featured in five publications. A mem- Glass Museum is proud to present the mixtures such as helium, neon, argon, ber of the Glass Art Society, he has special exhibition, Electric Garden krypton, and xenon. He activates the made a name for himself with a of Unearthly Delights by glass artist gas filled glass with high frequency unique style of art—luminous­ glass. static electricity causing it to come A pioneer in this art form, Mundy alive with a kaleidoscope of swirling combines technology with art to cre- patterns of multicolored light. The sci- ate a new breed of moving, living art. ence behind Mundy’s work is based on the same principle as television and fluorescent light. SANDWICH GLASS MUSEUM A native of Connecticut, Mundy 129 Main St. has created glass art for more than Sandwich, MA 02563 three decades. His work has been (508) 888-0251 www.sandwichglassmuseum.org

A crimson “flower” with delicate tendrils forms part of a fluorescent garden.

La-di-da . . . the Times of Our Lives and the Glassware We Were Using!

This exhibition of everyday and museum, the Mackie Collection of special occasion glass tableware Depression Glass, will be on display. examines the effects of human cre- Bonnie Mackie’s love of Depression ativity, as well as the influences of Glass began in the 1950s when she culture and industry on the finished was given several pieces from a family Depression glass pieces. member. Her collection is a remem- When we see man-made objects, brance of a bright spot in a very dark from ancient tools to modern, that are time. It is my sincere hope that you more beautifully crafted than they need find this exhibition both educational to be for their basic purposes, we have (functional) and fun (fanciful).” gone from functional to fanciful, and The exhibition is currently on view we are looking at the “la-di-da” factor. and runs until August 29, 2021. “It has been my very great pleasure to have curated this show, assembling OHIO GLASS MUSEUM glass from the hundreds of pieces that 124 W Main St. have been donated to the Ohio Glass Lancaster, Ohio 43130 Museum since its opening in May (740) 687-0101 of 2006,” said Anne Hart Kiphen, Art www.ohioglassmuseum.org Director. “Our latest large gift to the Epergne, L. G. Wright.

Victorian Glass Baskets on Display

During the reign of Alexandrina upper-class households. The art glass popular wedding gifts and were a Victoria, Queen of Great Britain, basket reached the height of its popu- mainstay in Victorian homes. Ireland, and Empress of India (1837– larity between 1880 and 1890. These 1901), English and American glass colorful and highly decorated­ works of BERGSTROM-MAHLER factories responded to the rise of con- art glass represent both ingenuity and MUSEUM OF GLASS sumerism and the desire for every- technical skill. Frequently embellished 165 N. Park Ave. thing glistening and ornamented by with ruffled rims and applied handles Neenah, WI 54956 creating and marketing fanciful glass shaped in loops or decorated with (920) 751-4658 table decorations for middle and thorns, these baskets proved to be https://bmmglass.com Glass Shards • Page 5 Glass Calendar (Confirmation of dates and schedules advised. More information is available on ourWeb page at www.glassclub.org)

Thursday, April 22, 2021 The Stretch Out Discussion will be a New on View highlights recent ac- JEFFREY EVANS AUCTION new format—members­ and guests will quisitions of works in glass to Berg- Single-Owner Paperweight “Show and Tell” their items. Experts strom-Mahler Museum of Glass’s per- and Auction will be on hand to offer comments and manent collection of contemporary art P.O. Box 2638 assist with ID. A photo album featur- and paperweights. A highlight of this Harrisonburg, VA 22801 ing a number of stretch glass items show includes a selection of antique (540) 434-3030 will be available on the Society’s web- and contemporary glass paperweights www.jeffreysevans.com site. The Discussion begins promptly from the collection of longtime sup- at 8:00 pm EST on Zoom. porters Gary and Marge McClanahan. The show will feature works by artists **** such as Marvin Lipofsky, Mary Shaf- May 22, 2021 fer, Ken Rosenfeld, Debbie Tarsitano (Rain Date May 23) and Marc Petrovic, most of which SANDWICH GLASS MUSEUM have not previously been exhibited. 3rd Annual SeaFair 129 Main St. Sandwich, MA 02563 (508) 888-0251 Over 400 contemporary and vintage www.sandwichglassmuseum.org paperweights by Rick and Melissa Ayotte, Paul Stankard, Paul Ysart, St. The sea is part of what makes Sand- Louis, Parabelle, Delmo and Debbie wich and Cape Cod such a special Tarsitano, and others. Also, studio place, and our SeaFair celebrates sea- glass by David Patchen, the Lotton inspired glass. Sea creatures, waves, family, Jonathan Harris, Michael mermaids, beaches and the like will Waysmith, Kari Russell-Pool, Mike be specially curated for this unique Scrambled millefiori paperweight, Pietro Hunter, and more. The full, detailed and popular tent sale, all designed Bigaglia, 1846. catalog will be posted around April 9. by the region’s talented glass artists. **** SeaFair will be located on the grounds * of the Sandwich Glass Museum. June 11–13, 2021 Friday, May 21, 2021 FOSTORIA GLASS SOCIETY Annual Spring Auction of 18th & 19th OF AMERICA Century Glass & Lighting Annual Convention and Elegant Glass Show Free-blown, pattern- Moundsville Center Building molded, and pillar-molded wares; 901 Eighth St. Bakewell and other early cut; colored Moundsville, WV. 26041 pressed flint glass; whale oil, fluid, (304) 845-9188 and early kerosene lighting; pressed http://fostoriaglass.org lacy; open salts; flasks and bottles; [email protected] plus more. Public previews: May 19 Waves, Billy Mayer. and 20, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, and **** May 21, 8:00 am until end of auction. **** June 24–26, 2021 May 28­–August 22, 2021 NATIONAL **** BERGSTROM-MAHLER COLLECTORS May 13, 2021 MUSEUM OF GLASS Annual Convention and Show & Sale THE STRETCH GLASS SOCIETY New on View Pritchard Laughlin Civic Center Stretch Glass Call Out: Late Period 165 N. Park Ave. 7033 Glenn Highway Baskets Neenah, WI 54956 Cambridge, OH 43725 www.stretchglasssociety.org (920) 751-4658 www.cambridgeglass.org https://bmmglass.com Glass Shards • Page 6

Exhibition of 17th- to 19th-Century Glass Coming to the Historic Warner House Museum

The Warner House Association pattern-molded, three-blown mold presents the exhibition BRILLIANCE! glass, Sandwich-type pressed and Lacy Early Glass in America, 1700–1850 glass, as well as lighting. Examples of opening June 1 through mid-October, early architectural glass include win- 2021. The exhibition features a wide dow, mirror and reverse-painting on variety of objects drawn from major glass. A unique aspect of this exhibi- private New England collections, tion is a group of unusual glass ob- regional museums, and the Warner jects including a fly-catcher, a leech House collection. On view are early jar, an iron reinforced bottle animal English decanters, drinking feeder, a 14-second ship’s log timer, and “black” wine/utility bottles. High- and more. Many objects are paired lights include 17th-century shaft and with comparable archaeological globe bottles and several 18th-century shards excavated at the Warner House. seal bottles of local historical interest. Other 18th-century glassware include WARNER HOUSE pieces of Amelung, Stiegel, and Tem- 150 Daniel St. ple origin. Late 18th- to mid-19th- Portsmouth, NH 03802-0895 century objects from New England to (603) 436-5909 Roemer, possibly George Ravenscroft,

Ohio are represented by free-blown, www.warnerhouse.org about 1675.

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