Māori Artist Te Rongo Kirkwood Awarded Prestigious Corning Museum of Glass Rakow Commission

# Te Rongo Kirkwood Wins the 38th Rakow Commission for Glass Art Innovation

The Corning Museum of Glass has announced New Zealand-based artist **Te Rongo Kirkwood** as the recipient of the **38th Rakow Commission**, an esteemed annual award recognizing innovation in glass artistry. Kirkwood, renowned for her vibrant kiln-formed glass creations, infuses her work with deep reflections on her **Māori, English, and Scottish heritage**, exploring themes of identity, tradition, and perception.

## **A Visionary Installation: “The Seer, the Seen, the Seeing”**

Kirkwood’s commissioned work, *The Seer, the Seen, the Seeing,* is a **multi-faceted installation** that brings together glass art, woven elements, ritual symbolism, and film. The piece comprises three primary components:

– **A kākahu (cloak):** Crafted from kiln-formed glass and woven fibers, this element represents heritage and identity, drawing inspiration from traditional Māori cloaks.
– **A puru hau (sacred ritual vessel):** A blown-glass vessel signifying spiritual connection and cultural continuity.
– **A film:** A key narrative component that documents a ritual involving Kirkwood and her father, set against the stunning natural landscapes of **Piha Beach**, located on the west coast of New Zealand.

This emotionally resonant installation reflects Kirkwood’s evolving artistic approach and her desire to **convey nuance and personal storytelling through multiple mediums**.

*”I find it difficult to express my internal experience through words, so I turn to art to explore the layers of complexity of being alive, seeing, and perceiving,”* Kirkwood explained.

## **A Landmark Exhibition at the Corning Museum of Glass**

Now on display in the museum’s **Contemporary Art + Design Gallery**, *The Seer, the Seen, the Seeing* stands as **Kirkwood’s most personal work in glass to date**. In November 2024, Kirkwood traveled to the museum to personally install the piece, marking the occasion with a public unveiling, an artist talk, and a screening of a **documentary on the making of the work**, produced by the museum’s digital media team.

For those unable to attend, the **recorded artist talk** is now available on the Corning Museum of Glass **[YouTube channel](https://bit.ly/41KFVUH)**.

## **The Prestigious Rakow Commission**

Established in **1986** and now in its 38th year, the **Rakow Commission** is one of the most respected honors in the world of glass artistry. The award enables artists to push their creative boundaries and explore **new technical or conceptual projects** that might otherwise be hindered by financial constraints.

Funded through the generosity of **Dr. and Mrs. Leonard S. Rakow**, the award has supported an illustrious roster of both **emerging and established artists**, including:

– Charisse Pearlina Weston
– Leo Tecosky
– Preston Singletary
– Silvia Levenson
– Klaus Moje
– Lino Tagliapietra

## **Visit and Learn More**

Te Rongo Kirkwood’s *The Seer, the Seen, the Seeing* is a **must-see installation** for anyone interested in contemporary glass art, cultural storytelling, and innovative mixed-media expressions.

To learn more, visit **[info.cmog.org](https://bit.ly/4hamAR9)**.