2 Glass Craftsmen from the Factory Oct 31 through Nov 28, 1982 Huntington Galleries, Huntington, West Virginia
This was an exhibit of work done on their lunch hours by Everette Shorty Finley and Jessie Carpenter.
The items were offered for sale. Many were sold, later the items not sold were shown at the West Virginia Cultural Center. Its was a great time for GLASS ARTS in West Virginia. Shorty Finley's 32 piece chess set with table and cover was in the exhibit - it was offered for sale but no buyer - When time came to take it home, Shorty had no place to store the set - Mr. Blenko offered to let him 'show it off' at the upstairs Visitors Center. It's been there ever since. There's no sign saying the set was blown by Shorty only a sign saying it was designed by Don Shepperd. Story goes - Don drew a dozen or more figures before Shorty finally approved one. Don and Shorty often worked after hours, weekends and on lunch hours on private projects .
The Huntington Museum of Art has a magnificent collection of glass. The Huntington Museum of Art glass collection contains over 4000 examples of the glass maker's art, ranging from ancient glass to sculpture from the modern studio glass movement. Among the highlights are many examples from the Wilbur Myers Collection, which consists primarily of 19th and early 20th century European and American art glass.
You don't need to leave Cabell county to view great American and European Art Glass.
The website is easy to use, the museum is user friendly, the grounds are beautiful, if you go, write about your experience. This isn't your 'usual' museum. This is a friendly museum where they want you to 'share' their love of the object, and love of learning. http://www.hmoa.org/
6 comments:
Hilary
Is this your idea of trying to get glass photos from all the blenko men so you can display their work on your blenko project website so everyone can see the beautiful work they each help create.
I will be excited to see the work my uncles did.
Sue M.
Yes, people like Les Womack didn't take time away from their families for exhibits but were extremely talented. Infact most Blenko men have a few piece they could post.
We'll see what happens.
Photos of the chest set?
What will become of the glass on the 2nd floor, many fine pieces and the artifacts now that Blenko is closing. Obviously chest set will be return to Shorty but are other pieces also privately owned?
chess set bridgett you are sly
Its my belief that most items in the 2nd floor are property of Blenko exception being chess set & - for a while The Blenko Collectors had their glass on displays.hjh
Having glass on display for others to see or photos to share is neat is the HMOA child friendly
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