This section
is for collectors of our glass to give everyone the opportunity
to share their displays with others.
I would like to announce the formation of the Blenko Collectors
Society. This is something we have wanted for years and now has
become a reality.
With the showing of the Blenko documentaries on PBS stations across
the country the collecting of Blenko Glass has reached new levels.
The number of new collectors is growing daily. With this we saw
a need for forming a Blenko "Club". The purpose of this
club is to unite Blenko collectors, to educate the new collector
about vintage glass and to educate the vintage collector about new
Blenko being made today. With all of these in mind the Blenko Collectors
Society, also known as the BCS, was formed.
Our first meeting of people interested in starting a "Club"
took place June 13, 2002 at the Blenko factory in West Virginia.
We had collectors from as far away as Colorado drive in for this
meeting. We met with Richard Blenko, William Blenko, Jr., and former
designers Winslow Anderson, John Nickerson and Matt Carter. This
meeting was followed by a party the following weekend at the Chicago
home of Blenko collectors John and Tammy Kosla. Tammy is the founding
President of the Blenko Collectors Society.
In the past two months there have been two public displays of Blenko
Glass. The first was in Aiken, SC in a Museum, the second in Dallas,
TX at the Dallas City Hall. While in Dallas many of us were able
to view three private collections of Blenko glass. To have already
had two very public displays shows us the need for this Society.
The members of the BCS will encourage their local museums, galleries
and libraries to work with them to have an exhibit of Blenko glass
past and present.
The BCS will be accepting dues January 2003. With each voting membership
the member will receive 4 newsletters to be mailed quarterly, a
Blenko Logo paperweight sandblasted "BCS Member"and the
year. We will also have an annual Convention in Milton, WV. home
of Blenko Glass. While at Blenko you will be able to see the glass
being made, visit the visitors center and be able to hand pick from
the current line, sample pieces and pieces only available in the
visitor center. And last but not least, there will be our Annual
BCS Special piece only available for members to purchase through
the Blenko Collectors Society. We will place this order once a year.
Every year's piece will be limited only to the order placed by the
BCS President or Vice President. Extremely limited...only one available
to each voting member.
With all this I would like to announce our very first Blenko Collectors
Society Convention. It will be held May 15 -- 17 2003. We will be
celebrating the birthdays of Mr. William Blenko and "America's
First Glass Designer", Mr. Winslow Anderson. We are inviting
all glass collectors and former and present glass factory workers
from across the United States. Blenko is one of the last remaining
"American HandBlown" glass companies still around so let's
show them we appreciate and love what they are doing.
For information on joining the Blenko Collectors Society or for
information about our First convention please email Blenko
Glass Collecting
Our first display
is from the collection of mineeemose and blenkoglasstattoo as they
are known on eBay. Their collection consists of more than 1000
pieces. |
