CORNING, NY.- Luminous forms welcome visitors to The Rockwell Museum, a Smithsonian Affiliate, in “True Gravity,” the latest installation in its Antigravity series. Created by neon artists and founders of She Bends Studios, the installation was designed by Kelsey Issel in collaborative mentorship with Meryl Pataky. The work will be on view through March 2027 in the first-floor entryway. Suspended within the Museum’s historic rotunda, the installation explores glass, light and the subtle forces that shape form.

She Bends is a neon organization and teaching studio dedicated to the practice and study of neon craft and contemporary art, highlighting the contributions of women and gender-expansive artists who bend their own glass and push the boundaries of the material.

“‘True Gravity’ is a study in balance: breath, heat and gravity conspiring with two artists to make something suspended between intent and inevitability — a record of trust in each other, in the material and in the invisible forces, human and natural, that hold us here,” said Issel.

Drawing from the visual and structural language of open weave textiles, “True Gravity” examines tensions between rigidity and flexibility and individuality and interdependence. Pataky and Issel’s neon creations invite visitors to reconsider the expressive potential of glass and light. Weighing more than 100 pounds, the soft glass tubes are filled with krypton, creating an ethereal milky white color suspended by monofilament.

The title of the work of art references Michael Murphy’s concept of “true gravity,” a condition in which the body yields to what the material and the environment already intend. The artists’ shared practice draws on feminist teaching methods, valuing attunement over control and exchange over hierarchy.



The presentation of “True Gravity” also supports America 250 as The Rockwell Museum’s contribution to “Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026,” a nationwide initiative led by Craft in America. The yearlong effort brings together makers, museums and cultural organizations to celebrate the craft traditions that connect communities across the country.

“During this year of celebrating American craft, the installation sets the tone for every visit to The Rockwell,” said Erin M. Coe, executive director of The Rockwell Museum. “‘True Gravity’ captures the experimentation at the heart of the Museum’s Antigravity projects, and Kelsey and Meryl’s boundary‑pushing neon offers a memorable and surprising experience for our visitors.”

Now in its eighth year, Antigravity is an ongoing series of site-specific installations in the entry of The Rockwell Museum. The program highlights emerging artists and invites them to create original, thought-provoking work in an unexpected space that greets every visitor. As the first artwork guests encounter, each installation is designed to be fun, surprising and engaging.



A key component of the Antigravity project is the Museum’s collaboration with the Corning Museum of Glass. Antigravity artists are invited to serve as guest designers in residence at the Amphitheater Hot Shop, where they work alongside expert glassblowers who help translate their ideas into glass. Pataky and Issel participated in this residency, using the opportunity to experiment with hot glassmaking techniques outside of their usual realm of work.

“True Gravity” is part of “Reframed at 50,” The Rockwell’s yearlong series of dynamic exhibitions and programs commemorating the institution’s 50th anniversary. The installation also coincides with the 2026 Glass Art Society Conference and the 75th anniversary of the Corning Museum of Glass.

The Rockwell Museum

The Rockwell Museum, a Smithsonian Affiliate, provokes curiosity, engagement and reflection about art and the American experience.



Founded in 1976, the Museum’s collection numbers over 3,000 objects and includes strengths in contemporary and historic Native American art, 19th-century landscape paintings, traditional bronze sculptures and a growing collection of modern and contemporary art. Housed in Corning’s former historic City Hall, The Rockwell is an active cultural hub and a unique place where locals and travelers alike connect with art and ideas through a dynamic roster of exhibitions, programs and events. The Museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.

The Rockwell Museum (111 Cedar Street) is open every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Museum’s campus includes the KIDS ROCKWELL Art Lab, featuring family-friendly activities, games and hands-on projects connected to exciting special exhibitions and the Museum’s collection of American artworks. The Art Lab is located around the corner at 36 E. Market Street and is open Thursday through Monday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the fall/winter season. One ticket provides access to both Rockwell locations.

Ticket discounts are available for local residents, students, groups and ages 55+; youth 17 and under are always free at The Rockwell.

Visit rockwellmuseum.org for more information.



She Bends

She Bends is a neon organization and teaching studio based in San Francisco that works to make this storied craft more accessible to artists, institutions and the public. The studio supports a worldwide community of women and queer artists who bend their own glass and push the boundaries of neon as both a craft and a contemporary art form. Through exhibitions, education and research, She Bends promotes diversity, sustainability and innovation in the field and helps ensure that neon continues as a living legacy. Visit shebends.com for more information.

Kelsey Issel is a culture worker and maker whose work centers on the ethos of craft — learning through doing, valuing attention and connecting material with social responsibility. She leads Opie Project (space), an arts and culture firm developing cross-sector programs that invest in cultural capital, including projects with the de Young Museum, Headlands Center for the Arts and the SF Office of Economic and Workforce Development. With a background in alternative photography, sculpture and neon, Kelsey’s hands-on material practice informs her approach to curating, programming and public projects. Her work bridges art and infrastructure, aiming to sustain both cultural ecosystems and community connection. Issel currently sits on the Board of Directors at Southern Exposure in San Francisco.

Meryl Pataky is a multidisciplinary artist and educator whose work explores the relationship between hands and material. Working with neon, welding and mixed media, she creates abstract sculptures that reflect on connection, transformation and the spirituality of craft. Her recent work, shaped by motherhood, delves into themes of resilience and personal evolution. A dedicated mentor, Meryl teaches neon bending in her San Francisco studio and has led youth and community programs through organizations like Synergy School, Southern Exposure and YBCA. Her work has been exhibited widely and is held in the Museum of Glass collection. She is a 2025 Center For Craft Teaching Art Fellow, 2024 SECA Finalist and a 2022 Women in Lighting, Light Art awardee.