I’ve always been intrigued by art and architecture, and my leanings toward those two topics have in turn influenced a deep appreciation for ancient materials and how they’ve been manipulated in various ways over time. Perhaps one of the materials that dates back thousands of years, but still eludes me — in terms of my […]

I’ve always been intrigued by art and architecture, and my leanings toward those two topics have in turn influenced a deep appreciation for ancient materials and how they’ve been manipulated in various ways over time. Perhaps one of the materials that dates back thousands of years, but still eludes me — in terms of my grasp for its properties and how it is formed — is glass. So I was fascinated to learn about an entire museum devoted to glass: The Corning Museum of Glass, nestled in the heart of Finger Lakes Wine Country in New York. Founded in 1951 by Corning Glass Works, the not-for-profit museum was established as a gift to the nation on the heels of the company’s 100th anniversary. The museum cares for and displays phenomenal art and historical glass pieces — the world’s largest collection — while also educating visitors on the science and technology behind the construction of glass. Some of this education includes actual tactile ways to interact with glass and understand the material in new ways, like live hot glassmaking demonstrations, Make Your Own Glass experiences and hands-o...