Assembled To Give:
A Look Behind the Collective Effort to Broaden the Dialogue of Contemporary Glass Teaching Practice in The Robert M. Minkoff Foundation Academic Symposiums at UrbanGlass
The Winter issue of GASnews is hot off the digital press!
This content in this issue addresses notions of ‘collecting’ within the contemporary field of glass; a variety of interesting articles approaching topics of both literal and figurative associations to the word. Once the issue’s theme was nailed down this past September amongst the Print Media Committee, I pitched an idea to feature the origin story, development, and long-term implications of the budding Robert M. Minkoff Foundation Academic Symposiums.
Although I wouldn’t have been able to clearly articulate the connection the Symposiums have with ‘collections/collecting’ back in September, I did state the case that these Symposiums were certainly a ‘gathering’ of educators; a ‘congregation’ of people devoted to contribute to the growth of others; a series of presentations for each person in attendance to ‘acquire’ an arsenal of new information; an ‘accumulation’ of ideas by those in attendance to be taken back home and distributed upon their communities; students and learners within these communities then ‘assembling’ and ‘amassing’ new understanding of their own creative potential within themselves as a result. I simply saw a chain reaction of positive influence in the simple idea that the Academic Symposium - and community in general - is really about bringing people together by means of shared interest.
The article below is the culmination of a conversation had with Robert M. Minkoff and Andrew Page over several emails regarding the Symposium's past, present, and future. It is the draft I submitted in its full, unedited version to serve as supplemental material to what is seen in the Winter 2015 issue of GASnews:
This content in this issue addresses notions of ‘collecting’ within the contemporary field of glass; a variety of interesting articles approaching topics of both literal and figurative associations to the word. Once the issue’s theme was nailed down this past September amongst the Print Media Committee, I pitched an idea to feature the origin story, development, and long-term implications of the budding Robert M. Minkoff Foundation Academic Symposiums.
Although I wouldn’t have been able to clearly articulate the connection the Symposiums have with ‘collections/collecting’ back in September, I did state the case that these Symposiums were certainly a ‘gathering’ of educators; a ‘congregation’ of people devoted to contribute to the growth of others; a series of presentations for each person in attendance to ‘acquire’ an arsenal of new information; an ‘accumulation’ of ideas by those in attendance to be taken back home and distributed upon their communities; students and learners within these communities then ‘assembling’ and ‘amassing’ new understanding of their own creative potential within themselves as a result. I simply saw a chain reaction of positive influence in the simple idea that the Academic Symposium - and community in general - is really about bringing people together by means of shared interest.
The article below is the culmination of a conversation had with Robert M. Minkoff and Andrew Page over several emails regarding the Symposium's past, present, and future. It is the draft I submitted in its full, unedited version to serve as supplemental material to what is seen in the Winter 2015 issue of GASnews:
One of the admirable qualities of the contemporary glass field is its historically consistent nature of supporting creative fellowship. There was a time when the excitement of engaging glass for purposes of individual creative expression was hampered by the reality of not fully comprehending its technical mysteries. Think of the spirit behind the Toledo Workshop of 1962 or the origin story of the first summer that established the Pilchuck Glass School in 1971; aside from educational necessity, there was a sense of moral obligation to build community as a means to learn from one another, to inspire ideas, and to discover each other’s unanticipated potential.
These virtues to connect, learn, and share wholeheartedly amongst the early generations of the Studio Glass Movement are still very much in play today…not only in developed platforms of exchange to further inform our glass-based making, but new and exciting platforms to further inform our glass-based teaching. The Robert M. Minkoff Foundation Academic Symposiums have been a truly unique example of this extension of creative fellowship, specifically in the effort of advancing the field of glass education.
These virtues to connect, learn, and share wholeheartedly amongst the early generations of the Studio Glass Movement are still very much in play today…not only in developed platforms of exchange to further inform our glass-based making, but new and exciting platforms to further inform our glass-based teaching. The Robert M. Minkoff Foundation Academic Symposiums have been a truly unique example of this extension of creative fellowship, specifically in the effort of advancing the field of glass education.
 Robert M. Minkoff  Andrew Page | Sponsored by Robert M. Minkoff, directed by Andrew Page, and hosted by UrbanGlass, these symposiums have been designed to bring together educators, students, artists, and administrators of art organizations from around the world to approach challenging issues related to teaching and learning within a glass context. “We wanted to establish a higher level of discourse than you might find at a typical presentation,” notes Robert Minkoff, Founder and Managing Trustee of the Robert M. Minkoff Foundation, Ltd. “We wanted people to present academic papers in an effort to signal our expectations of a more rigorous discussion [involving innovative approaches to enhancing the glass field through education].” The impetus to develop and organize a new platform of exchange came to Andrew Page, editor of GLASS Quarterly and Director of the Robert M. Minkoff Foundation, following his panel “Post Studio Glass: A Look At The New Parameters For Work In Glass” at the 2012 GAS Conference. A vigorous conversation amongst the audience followed the panel discussion; an indication of a new dialogue beginning to take place within glass teaching practice as a younger generation of artists were beginning to take over academic positions. Further conversations between Page and sculptor/educator Daniel Clayman (who was in attendance at that panel discussion) planted the conceptual seeds to give this sort of conversation shape in the form of an organized conference. “The need to reassess the teaching of glass emerged as a focus, and so the concept of a forum on ‘Glass Pedagogy’ took shape,” says Page. “A key step was when I approached the Minkoff Foundation and the concept was enthusiastically embraced.” |
The primary mission of the Robert M. Minkoff Foundation includes the promotion of glass education, to encourage excellence in glass making, and to invest in the advancement of the glass arts. Minkoff reveals the interest in his foundation to offer support by way of providing ideas, expertise, and vision through innovative opportunities to influence the contemporary field of glass in addition to providing financial support. “We prefer to initiate our own projects, bringing new opportunities to the glass field; whether it be an artist residency project, an at-risk youth forum, or a gathering of academics to discuss the state and future of glass education,” he says. “I feel we can make an even larger impact on the field through the creation of new projects.”
In addition to the Minkoff Foundation, support was also found at UrbanGlass, where Larry Pitterman, then Acting Executive Director and currently Chairman of the Board, offered staff, facilities, and strategic input to make the event a reality. With these two organizations on board, Page began assembling an advisory board that included Clayman, Jack Wax (Professor at Virginia Commonwealth University), and Ruth King (then Artistic Director of the Pilchuck Glass School) to help select the proposed academic papers to be presented at the first Robert M. Minkoff Foundation Academic Symposium at UrbanGlass in December of 2013.
In addition to the Minkoff Foundation, support was also found at UrbanGlass, where Larry Pitterman, then Acting Executive Director and currently Chairman of the Board, offered staff, facilities, and strategic input to make the event a reality. With these two organizations on board, Page began assembling an advisory board that included Clayman, Jack Wax (Professor at Virginia Commonwealth University), and Ruth King (then Artistic Director of the Pilchuck Glass School) to help select the proposed academic papers to be presented at the first Robert M. Minkoff Foundation Academic Symposium at UrbanGlass in December of 2013.
“Issues In Glass Pedagogy” was a three-day dialogue in New York City that included a Thursday-evening gallery tour, a Friday of scheduled lectures in Founder’s Hall of St. Francis College, and a Saturday series of presentations in the newly opened studios of UrbanGlass. “We designed the first symposium with an eye toward connecting the glass art field with the wider contemporary art world. That’s why the gallery tours [at the beginning of the symposium programming] have been our chosen kick-off,” says Page. The first night’s gallery tour included a visit to Hauser & Wirth Gallery, Claire Oliver Gallery, Heller Gallery, and Nancy Hoffman Gallery; concluding with a reception hosted at the home of Geoff Isles and his outstanding glass collection.
 Jack Wax | Page adds, “We also wanted to establish the symposium as a place for serious academic thinking about pedagogy, and so modeled it after other academic conferences where papers are presented.” The keynote address was delivered by Jack Wax and was followed by lectures and presentations by a new guard of glass academics, established department heads, non-degree-granting instructors, and administrative directors of educational entities; a line up of speakers from all around the world to approach a wide variety of issues related to contemporary glass teaching practice and methodology. |
The first academic symposium was responsible for introducing new perspectives on glass-based teaching, facilitating new conversations about glass-based learning, and creating connections between programs and educators at an international scale. In response to what he feels the first Academic Symposium aimed to accomplish Page says, “We hope this forum helps to exchange information that will equip program heads to better advocate for their programs within their respective institutions.”
Two years following that inaugural symposium, the Robert M. Minkoff Foundation has again partnered with UrbanGlass to deliver a second opportunity of academic exchange. During this past October, department heads, professors, educators, students, and arts administrators once again gathered in New York City to attend “Issues in Glass Pedagogy: New Technologies in Practice.” The nature of the symposium set its sights on a much more specific conversation regarding new curricular integrations of technology within glass making and its implications upon glass education.
Two years following that inaugural symposium, the Robert M. Minkoff Foundation has again partnered with UrbanGlass to deliver a second opportunity of academic exchange. During this past October, department heads, professors, educators, students, and arts administrators once again gathered in New York City to attend “Issues in Glass Pedagogy: New Technologies in Practice.” The nature of the symposium set its sights on a much more specific conversation regarding new curricular integrations of technology within glass making and its implications upon glass education.
Panel discussion at Heller Gallery The schedule of the second academic symposium followed the three-day dialogue designed during the previous symposium. The Thursday evening prior to the Friday and Saturday lectures included a gallery tour of Sean Kelly Gallery, Andrea Rosen Gallery, and concluded at Heller Gallery. The final stop at Heller Gallery also hosted a panel discussion featuring Kim Harty (Head of Glass Program, College of Creative Studies, Detroit), Helen Lee (Assistant Professor, Head of Glass, University of Wisconsin, Madison), Sharyn O’Mara (Associate Professor and Head of Glass at the Tyler School Art at Temple University in Philadelphia), and Marc Petrovic (Assistant Professor, Chair of Glass, Cleveland Institute of Art, Cleveland) entitled “Inheriting an Established Glass Program and its Technology.” The panel, and the reception that followed, set an inquisitive and conversational tone to open the second symposium.
“I was really struck by the energy level of this symposium, which I noticed on the very first evening when we had a panel discussion at Heller Gallery,” notes Page. “I’m not sure if it was the subject matter, the fact that this was the second iteration of the symposium, or the characteristics of the group, but I noticed right off the bat an eagerness to ask questions, speak, [and] exchange ideas without any prodding. It was something that carried through the entire three-day event.”
 Tina Aufiero | The second day took place at Founder’s Hall of St. Francis College, getting underway with a keynote from Tina Aufiero, Artistic Director of the Pilchuck Glass School. Saturday’s presentations took place in the studios of UrbanGlass. The nature of topics ranged from various approaches of integrating technology within educational curriculum, technology as an aid in both teaching practice and personal making practice, unique developments involving science and art as seen in the The Corning Museum of Glass/Corning Incorporated Specialty Glass Residency, and insight into the development of the MIT Media Lab’s breakthrough hot glass 3D printer. Page adds, “These are the kinds of things that the Robert M. Minkoff Foundation was hoping to foster through the symposium: advancing glass education as a whole…and it is exciting to get the ball rolling and watch it take off.” |
With the second symposium recently concluded, the buzz of new information, new interactions, new ideas, and new possibility was noticeably resonant; the buzz even becoming what could be considered a standard after-effect upon attending these events. What’s even more exciting is the viral nature of these exchanges; with participants bringing the vigor and information back home with them and letting the impact of these symposiums spread throughout their communities by way of newly influenced teaching and extended conversation.
When asked about the direction of future Academic Symposiums, Page adds, “I think we will get better and better at fine-tuning the symposium to the needs of glass educators everywhere, but that we’ve hit upon a good model. We had a very productive focus group at the end of the symposium where a lot of great ideas came up, many of which we will be implementing, so stay tuned.”
When asked about the direction of future Academic Symposiums, Page adds, “I think we will get better and better at fine-tuning the symposium to the needs of glass educators everywhere, but that we’ve hit upon a good model. We had a very productive focus group at the end of the symposium where a lot of great ideas came up, many of which we will be implementing, so stay tuned.”
| For anybody with a penchant for issues related to education (whether glass-specific or not), the anticipated continuation of the Robert M. Minkoff Foundation Academic Symposium is something to be truly thrilled about. Even in its budding momentum, ‘Issues in Glass Pedagogy’ has certainly revealed itself to be a valuable platform of exchange within the contemporary glass field…a gathering similar to a GAS Conference, yet directed at a public specifically interested in amplifying the impact of teaching. Aside from being a collective opportunity for educators to come together and challenge the notion of contemporary glass-based teaching practice, the Robert M. Minkoff Foundation Academic Symposium makes for a dynamic exemplification of what community is best in service of: to support and encourage unforeseen possibilities within one another. |  |
http://www.rmmfoundation.org/academic-symposium.com
https://www.urbanglass.org/events/detail/academic-symposium-2015.com
https://www.facebook.com/minkoffsymposiumaturbanglass/.com
https://www.urbanglass.org/events/detail/academic-symposium-2015.com
https://www.facebook.com/minkoffsymposiumaturbanglass/.com
David Schnuckel is an artist and educator, currently serving as Visiting Assistant Professor
to the Glass Program of the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York.
to the Glass Program of the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York.
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