Honor Corning Glass Museum

Senate Resolution No. 2135 BY: Senator O'MARA COMMEMORATING the 75th Anniversary of the Corning Museum of Glass WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize and pay tribute to those organizations of high purpose and worthy accomplishment whose endeavors have faithfully served the welfare of the citizens of the State of New York; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Corning Museum of Glass; and WHEREAS, The Corning Museum of Glass is a non-profit institution that preserves, informs, and expands the world's understanding of glass; and WHEREAS, Founded as an educational institution in 1951 by Corning Glass Works, the Corning Museum of Glass was conceived and developed by Arthur A. Houghton, Jr. and his cousin Amory Houghton; together, they developed the Museum's charter, composed the first board of trustees, and oversaw the Museum's first acquisitions, first hires, and first exhibitions; and WHEREAS, When the Corning Museum of Glass opened to the public in

1951, it contained a significant collection of glass and glass-related books and documents: there were 2,000 objects, five staff members, and a research library, housed in a low, glass-walled building designed by Harrison & Abramovitz; the building was part of the for-profit Corning Glass Center complex, which also included an auditorium for the community, a Hall of Science showcasing the technology of glass, and a windowed wall behind which guests could watch glass working in the Steuben factory; and WHEREAS, In June of 1972, disaster struck as tropical storm Agnes emptied a week's worth of rain into the surrounding Chemung River Valley and caused the river to flood five feet of water into the Corning Museum of Glass; staff members were faced with the tremendous task of restoration: every glass object had to be meticulously cleaned and restored, while the library's collection of books had to be cleaned and dried page by page, even before being assessed for rebinding, restoration, or replacement; and WHEREAS, On August 1, 1972, the Corning Museum of Glass reopened with restoration work still underway; and WHEREAS, On May 28, 1980, the Corning Museum of Glass opened with a new addition designed by Gunnar Birkerts who created a flowing series of galleries with the library at their core, linked to the old building via light-filled, windowed ramps; and WHEREAS, In 1984, the Corning Museum of Glass library was renamed the Leonard S. and Juliette K. Rakow Library in honor of Dr. and Mrs. Rakow, who gave generously to the library as well as bequeathing part of their glass collection to the Museum and endowing research grants and commissions; and WHEREAS, In 1996, the Corning Museum of Glass embarked upon the first phase of a planned five-year, $65 million transformation opening The Studio, a state-of-the-art teaching facility for glassblowing and coldworking opened for classes; and WHEREAS, The Corning Museum of Glass's renovations were completed in

2001, and included a new Sculpture Gallery (now the Heineman Contemporary Glass Gallery), Hot Glass Show demonstration stage, a redesigned 18,000 square-foot retail space, a large Auditorium, and a hands-on Innovation Center with exhibitions designed by Ralph Appelbaum Associates; the Rakow Library was relocated to spacious new quarters across the Museum campus; and WHEREAS, On March 20, 2015, the Corning Museum of Glass opened the award-winning Contemporary Art + Design Wing, an expanded contemporary gallery and state-of-the-art, 500-seat hot shop and amphitheater to meet the needs of the museum's growing collection, programs, and visitation; and WHEREAS, In 2024, the Corning Museum of Glass completed its most recent expansion, which nearly doubled the size of its glassmaking Studio, and introduced the first Casting Center for large-scale glass casting in North America; and WHEREAS, The success of the Corning Museum of Glass is in direct correlation to the efforts of its members, whose involvement is, and always has been, characterized by an impressive commitment, an unbridled enthusiasm, and an uncompromising standard of excellence in all endeavors; and WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when organizations of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Corning Museum of Glass and to honor its members, past and present, who have labored so conscientiously to secure and improve the quality of life for the citizens of the community; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to the Corning Museum of Glass.