Discovering Tiffany’s Glass Mosaics

The mention of “Tiffany glass” conjures a certain image in your mind’s eye. It might be a beautiful landscape scene in a leaded glass window or a dragonfly on a lampshade. Such images have something in common: they are composed of intensely colorful, carefully selected pieces of innovative glass. But the term “Tiffany glass” also refers to the radiant murals in architectural settings and objects of luxury made in the technique of mosaic that reflect Louis C. Tiffany’s most expressive mastery of the medium of glass.

The Corning Museum of Glass, located about three hours from the Catskill Region, will showcase the work of Tiffany and his team of talented mosaic designers and artisans through the special exhibition, Tiffany’s Glass Mosaics, running May 20, 2017 through January 7, 2018. It will be the first museum exhibition focused exclusively on this aspect of Tiffany’s extraordinary artistic career.

The exhibition will feature nearly 50 works dating from the 1890s to the 1920s, from intimately scaled mosaic fancy goods designed for use in the home to large-scale mosaic panels and architectural elements composed of thousands of individual pieces of glass. Examples of Tiffany mosaics of such wide-ranging scope and scale have never before been displayed together, and the exhibition provides a unique opportunity to discover this aspect of Tiffany’s work. https://www.cmog.org/collection/exhibitions/tiffanys-glass- mosaics

While visiting The Corning Museum of Glass, be sure to check out the Contemporary Art + Design Wing, which opened in 2015, and features the best of the last 3 decades. Part of the expansion includes the new 500-seat Amphitheater Hot Shop, which is the world’s largest space in which to watch a live glassblowing demo. Watch glass come to life before your eyes—even vessels inspired by Tiffany’s glass mosaics.

Be inspired to Make Your Own Glass at The Studio! With projects ranging from blown glass ornaments and hot-sculpted flowers to fused, Tiffany-inspired sun catchers, an experience at The Studio allows you to get in on the action. And you may just leave with a deeper appreciation for glass than ever before. (Projects for all ages, advanced reservations encouraged).

What to know before you go:

The Corning Museum of Glass is family friendly, with kids and teens 17 and under receiving free admission. Exploring 35 centuries of glass take a bit of time. Plan to spend at least 3 hours browsing the galleries, watching a live Hot Glass Demo, and participating in a Make Your Own Glass experience. The Studio offers more extensive classes, ranging from one-day and weekend classes to two-week courses. The Museum is open 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. every day, with extended hours until 8 p.m. from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Visit CMoG.org for a list of events to plan your visit. Popular events include Guest Artist Demos, Behind the Glass lectures, and 2300°. Plan your visit here: http://www.cmog.org/visit/plan-your- visit.