8. GlassBarge

The GlassBarge, a floating glass blowing studio from The Corning Museum of Glass, opened at ONE°15 Brooklyn Marina at Brooklyn Bridge Park this past summer. For ten days on the first leg of its state wide journey along the historic waterways of New York, artist onboard gave glass blowing demonstrations using the facility’s patented, boat-tested, all-electric glassmaking equipment. The goal of the GlassBarge was to support and emphasize the important role New York’s waterways have had in shaping “the state’s industry, culture and community,” to bring attention to The Corning Museum (which is located upstate in Steuben County), and to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the construction of the Erie Canal and the centennial of the commemoration of the Barge Canal in New York State. When the Erie canal was completed in 1825, it opened up an important new route for trade and commerce. The Hudson River became an even more vital piece of New York’s economic development.

After its stint in Brooklyn the barge hit six port cities and towns along the Hudson River Valley before venturing further north to the Finger Lakes region where its journey ended on September 22nd.