Corning Museum of Glass exhibit focuses on the culture and traditions of China

CORNING -- When Margaret Black of Addison took her children to the Corning Museum of Glass on Sunday, it was more than a family field trip.

It was an extension of their education.

The museum continued its Families Discover series on Sunday with Families Discover China, a look at the culture and traditions of China.

It was also a chance for Black's children Thad, Camille and Genevieve to continue their schooling.

"They are home-schooled, and we just finished a unit on China," Black said.

"We've been planning on this visit for a month-and-a-half. We were really excited to come."

The Corning Museum of Glass has an exhibit of Chinese glass as part of its collection, and Sunday's event was a chance to provide some insight into the culture behind that glass, said Mary Mills, the museum's manager of educational programs.

"This one is always very exciting for us because the Corning Chinese Association participates," Mills said.

"The whole purpose is to help people understand the cultures that created the glass that we have and to understand the cultures here in our community. We want people to understand the glass is part of a larger cultural context."