Master Class I
Cane Working
with Lino Tagliapietra
1 DVD disk
1/2 Hour
$39.95
This DVD is the first volumn of the "Master Class Series", presented by The Studio of The Corning Museum of Glass. It features the celebrated glassmaker Lino Tagliapietra, who, with a handful of hie colleagues from Murano, has been largely responsible for the new renaissance in glassblowing that has swept through the world of studio glassmaking ofer the past decades. Viewers follow Mr. Tagliapietra as he makes canes (delicately patterned rods of glass) and uses them to decorate one of his intricate blown vessels at The Studio.
Along the way, he notes the importance of the gather in cane-pulling, offers some observations on the state of glassmaking in Murano, and discusses his own philosophy of glassworking. It is important, he emphasizes, to teach technique, but it is also essential to help students discover their own style. Good glassmaking, he says, is a combination of skill, energy, and ideas.
| Description | Price |
|---|---|
| Cane Working with Lino Tagliapietra | $39.95 |
Master Class II
An Introduction to Venetian Techniques
with William Gudenrath
1 DVD disk
1/2 Hour
$39.95
The Studio of The Corning Museum of Glass proudly presents the second video in its series Master Classes from The Studio. William Gudenrath, the resident adviser for The Studio, is featured in this video entitled An Introduction to Venetian Techniques. Mr. Gudenrath takes viewers through the processes he uses to teach students the basics of Venetian glassblowing in his enormously popular intensive course, An in Depth Introduction to Venetian Techniques, which he regularly teaches at The Studio. Viewers also get a chance to watch Mr. Gudenrath create his own Venetian-inspired glass pieces.
Mr. Gudenrath is a sought after instructor and master glassblower, and a scholar, lecturer and an authority on historical hot glass working techniques from ancient Egypt through the Renaissance. In this 30-minute video, Mr. Gudenrath discusses his philosophies in the pursuit of excellence in his glassblowing and his teaching. In addition to demonstrating specialized techniques of Venetian style glassblowing, viewers are treated to a brief performance by Mr. Gundrath on the organ, which along with glassblowing, is the other passion in his life.
| Description | Price |
|---|---|
| An Introduction to Venetian Techniques | $39.95 |
Master Class III
Engraving on Glass
with Jirí Harcuba
1 DVD disk
1/2 Hour
$39.95
Engraving on Glass is an in-depth portrait of the Czech artist Jirí Harcuba, a leader in the field of glass engraving. This 30-minute video shows how Mr. Harcuba engraves with diamond, stone, and copper wheels, creating innovative portraiture on glass with the highest level of craftsmanship. The artist talks about his life, his work, and his interest in philosophical and psychological studies of major historical and contemporary figures. He also comments on some of the fine engraved and carved glass objects in the collect of The Corning Museum of Glass.
Mr. Harcuba was born into a glassmaking family in Harrachov in 1928. He studied at the Academy of Applied Arts in Prague, and later taught as assistant professor to Stanislav Libenski. In 1971, Mr. Harcuba was forced to resign for political reasons. After establishing his own studio, he worked free-lance until 1990, when he was recognized by President Václav Havel and appointed director of the Academy.
Today, Mr. Hacuba is a noted designer of medals and coins, including various denominations of Czech currency. He also travels as the "Johnny Appleseed" of glass engraving-planting lathes at schools worldwide and then instructing and encouraging students with his extensive knowledge of glass art, history, and technique.
| Description | Price |
|---|---|
| Engraving on Glass with Jirí Harcuba | $39.95 |
Master Class IV
Pâte de verre
with Shin-ichi and Kimiake Higuchi
1 DVD disk
1/2 Hour
$39.95
Pâte de verre is a method of kiln firing that uses powered glass. Glass that has been previously melted is crushed and placed in a heat-resistant plaster mold, then fired again in a kiln. After it is slowly cooled, the glass is taken out of the kiln, removed from the mold, and finished by polishing.
Although it seems to be a simple technique, pâte de verre is extremely delicate and time consuming. In this 30-minute video, glass artists Shin-ichi and Kimiake Higuchi show how they create their work using a process that they have been studying and refining since 1987.
Kimiake demonstrates the making of a cabbage leaf, while Shin-ichi creates a mosaic piece. The video was produced at The Studio of The Corning Museum of Glass, where the Higuchis have spent the last several summers teaching the pâte de verre technique.
Although they have no formal training in glassworking, the Higuchis have become highly respected teachers and studio artists. Shin-ichi, who studied architecture and design, later worked with Ettore Sott-sass in Italy. Kimiake studied music and painting in Italy, and then worked as a potter in Japan.
Today, this husband and wife team lives and works in Japan. Their intimate glass sculptures, which express a love for nature, are considered by may experts to be among the finest pâte de verre works ever produced.
| Description | Price |
|---|---|
| Pâte de verre with Shin-ichi and Kimiake Higuchi | $39.95 |
Master Class V
Flameworking
with Cesare Toffolo
1 DVD disk
1/2 Hour
$39.95
Cesare Toffolo is considered by many to be the world's finest technical flameworker. Born in 1961, he is a member of a family of well-known Muranese glassblowers. His grandfather, Giacomo, was a master blower at Venini. His father, Florino, was a master at Vernini by the age of 17, and he later specialized in avant-garde lampworking glass. Cesare started lampworking in his father's studio when he was 15 years old. He soon mastered this technique, and he exhibited a natural creative flair. Working in collaboration with such famous glasshouses as Venini, Fratelli Toso, Barovier & Toso, and La Murrina, he developed a distinctive style that was both traditionally Venetian and modern.
In this video, Cesare Toffolo makes both a simple footed bowl and an intricate historical goblet. He hosts a brief tour of flameworked objects in the collection of The Corning Museum of Glass, and he shares his philosophy of teaching, learning, and creating.
This video was produced at The Studio of The Corning Museum of Glass, where Toffolo is a popular instructor.
| Description | Price |
|---|---|
| Flameworking with Cesare Toffolo | $39.95 |
Master Class VI
Kiln Formed Glass
Rudi Gritsch
1 DVD disk
1/2 Hour
$39.95
Rudi Gritsch, the Austrian kilnforming artist and instructor, takes viewers through many of his processes involving the kiln. We follow Mr. Gritsch as he takes his work from the initial phases of design through the detailed setups, firings, and finishing processes, to completed works of art.
He shows how he builds elements using multiple glass layers that he has created. We witness the bending, slumping, draping, and combing processes. Mr. Gritsch also shares with us the thoughts and feelings behind his work and his teaching. In addition, Mr. Gritsch takes us on a historical kilnworking tour of The Corning Museum of Glass.
Rudi Gritsch is an expert in kilnforming. He has over 28 years of experience with glass. Mr. Gritsch is the head of the kilnforming department at the Glasfachschule Kramsach in Austria and is also an independent glass artist. Hs has been the research and development director at the Bullseye Glass Company, where he influenced and consulted with many studios and artists.
| Description | Price |
|---|---|
| Kiln Formed Glass - Rudi Gritsch | $39.95 |
The Corning Museum of Glass also produces the Foundations Video Series of videos, designed to give beginners a solid foundation in various glassworking techniques.
Foundations Series, Vol 1
An Introduction to Furnace Glassblowing
with William Gudenrath
1 DVD disk
1/2 Hour
$34.95
This series is designed to help beginning students learn basic glassworking techniques. William Gudenrath, The Studio's resident advisor, offers a step-by-setp approach to learning how to begin blowing glass at the furnace.
Mr. Gudenrath starts with simple exercises, and then proceeds to teach students the basics of creating a tumbler, a tall vessel, and a low vessel. A must-see for all those who wish to master basic furnace glassblowing.
| Description | Price |
|---|---|
| An Introduction to Furnace Glassblowing | $34.95 |
Foundations Series, Vol 2
An Introduction to Flameworking
with Emilio Santini
1 DVD disk
1/2 Hour
$34.95
This series is designed to help beginning students learn basic glassworking techniques. Emilio Santini was born into a family with a 600-year-old glassblowing tradition on the island of Murano, Italy. He is a very popular instructor of both beginning and highly skilled students. In this video, Mr. Santini instructs students in the basics of both hollow ware and solid work, helping them to establish a firm foundation in flameworking. A must for all inspiring flameworkers!
| Description | Price |
|---|---|
| An Introduction to Flameworking | $34.95 |