Curatorial Statement
Glassware has always been quite fascinating to me. In approaching this exhibit, I had two goals in mind. The first, to use glassware as a conduit for discussing historical instances of economic disparity. I have found that the products we use are often caught within their own tangled web of stories, and are one of the best ways to observe consumer conventions of the past. By comparing Louis C. Tiffany’s elegant art glass and the factory Carnival glass that followed suit, I hoped to convey Chelsea Grayburn’s concept of ‘useful’ beauty, one in which people of lower economic standing are compelled to defend their aesthetic purchases as being first and foremost functional items worth every hard-earned penny. It is only a nice bonus that they happen to be visually pleasing. Secretly a crow at heart, my second goal was to divulge my love for all things shiny and sparkly and to use this educational project as an opportunity to become a mini-expert in at least one aspect of the glassware industry—Carnival glass.
I first discovered Carnival glass during my routine thrift store browsing sessions. Immediately, I was captivated by the iridescent dishware sitting before me. It looked like candy, something a little dewy-eyed fairy would proudly display in her shimmery home for all of her whimsical guests to marvel at. Surely such decadent items would be worth much more than I could ever afford but, to my surprise, the most common pieces are relatively affordable. Many people collect Carnival glass, and there are several books, websites, catalogs, YouTube videos, and even social media pages dedicated to the iridescent glassware. I am but one of a lovely group of people equally as charmed by Carnival glass, and, just maybe, you might find a little piece of yourself dazzled by it too. At the very least, I hope this exhibit can spark a new appreciation within you for the more delicate things in life.
Circierra Franko
About the Curator
Hi, I'm Circierra Franko. I’m a full-time student at Northern Arizona University pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and two minors in Museum Studies and Comparative Study of Religions. My career interests have always been pretty scattered, so I’m excited to see what paths my respective fields of study will lead me down during my post-college years. If I were to narrow things down a bit, I would be absolutely thrilled to work in or at the very least collaborate professionally with the Met Cloisters, as I’m infatuated with medieval art and architecture. Museums have always felt like a second home to my insatiably curious inner child—I would be honored to instill a similar appreciation for learning in future generations.