HISTORY AND GLASS
GlassBarge visits Troy, here today as well
TROY, N.Y. » Those who boarded the GlassBarge on Thursday along Riverfront Park got to watch G. Brian, of the Corning Museum of Glass, ply his trade.
Brian is a “gaffer” or glassblower. GlassBarge is a 30’ by 80’ canal barge from the Corning Museum of Glass. The barge is on a summer-long tour from Brooklyn to Corning, floating northward along the Hudson River, heading for the Erie Canal, then moving into the Finger Lakes.
Brian uses electric glassblowing tools aboard the GlassBarge to put on free demonstrations. Over 100 people came out to watch him Thursday.
“We are celebrating an inherently New York Story… one of innovation and invention,” said Brian Stratton, director of the state Canal Corporation.
The GlassBarge tour is commemorating a few things, among them the 150 year anniversary of the Brooklyn Flint Glass Company’s move from Brooklyn to Corning (and name- change to Corning Incorporated), as well as the 200th anniversary of the Erie Canal’s construction (1817 to 1825).
At each stop along the tour, folks are invited aboard the barge (And other accompanying historic boats) for free glassblowing demonstrations.
“This amazing tour, as we’ve
already heard, is part time machine, part glassblowing,” said Stratton.
A list of all the tour’s stops can be found at https:// www. cmog. org/ glassmaking/demos/ hotglass- demos/glassbarge
Tickets are free, but it’s recommended reservations be made ahead of time.
Steve Gibbs, senior manager of hot glass business/ technology development at the Corning Museum of Glass, said even if someone doesn’t have a reservation, they should come all the same, as the program has been leaving 25 seats open to accommodate local dignitaries, children’s groups, and the like.
Troy Mayor Patrick Madden said the Hudson River has been key to Troy, and much of New York’s, development.
“We are still using the river for transportation, we’re still seeing some of the buildings they had 150 years ago, they’ve been repurposed and are in productive use once again,” he said.
GlassBarge will be off the Riverfront Park in Troy through Friday.
Demos are offered 11 a. m. to 6 p. m. daily, every 45 minutes, with the last demo beginning at 5 p. m. After Troy, it’s off to the Waterford Canal Welcome Center for Saturday and Sunday. Saturday demos begin at 1:15 p.m.