"We are very proud to be the only location in the eastern part of the state to host this traveling exhibition," said Mary Hott, Executive Director of the Morgan Arts Council which is producing the special exhibit. "We have included many current pieces of Blenko Glass provided by the West Virginia Glass Outlet in Martinsburg to satisfy all those who want to go home with a piece of this fine art glass."

The Blenko Glass gala opening is part of an Artwalk that begins at Mountain Laurel Crafts on the square from 5 to 7:30pm where additional glass works from regional and national artists are showcased.

Reid Smith conceived the idea of the traveling Blenko show both to highlight the glassmaker which is one of West Virginia's most famous producers and to link various regions of the state through a traveling exhibition. "I really wanted this to be in Berkeley Springs as the first place outside Charleston," said Reid Smith. "It is such a fabulous art town." Reid Smith pointed out that West Virginia's first glass factory started in 1797 and by the time Blenko opened, glass manufacturing was a major industry in the state. "Blenko is one of the last remaining major glass producers so we want to honor their magnificent contribution," he said.

William Blenko came to America from London in 1893 to produce mouth-blown antique sheet glass for stained glass windows, the first such glass house outside Europe. He settled his production plant in Milton, West Virginia in 1921. Blenko Glass remains the only American antique glass producer and is world famous for the deep vibrant colors and contemporary designs of its decorative glassware.

Fourth-generation owner, Richard Blenko selected museum pieces for the show to cover the significant periods of the company's design. They range from the 1930s to the present and include nearly 20 works by William Anderson who designed his first piece for Blenko in 1946 and is recognized as America's first original glass designer. The colors of the exhibit include everything from Joel Philip Myers' tangerine vase to Anderson's emerald green crackled pitcher. There is ruby glass for the Washington Cathedral, several West Virginia Statehood bowls, a Ronald Reagan Inaugural dinner vase and the Country Music Association annual award for which Blenko is the sole producer.

The curated gallery exhibit produced by the Morgan Arts Council is funded by the Division of Culture and History with assistance from the National Endowment for the Arts, the West Virginia Commission on the Arts and hotel/motel tax revenues. The Ice House is located on the corner of Independence and Mercer and is open Friday through Monday from 11am to 5pm. For more information call 258-2300 or check online at www.macicehouse.org.