No, our dear friend Val Conner is not playing the world’s weirdest flute: she is actually blowing glass . . . at a wonderful place in downtown Racine called The Hot Shop. It’s first and foremost a glass-blowing studio where wonderful things are created by people who know what they’re doing- but it’s also a place where ordinary people can come and try their hand at glass-blowing for a very modest fee. Kate Barrow cooked up tonight’s festivities, since she and Jeff had relatives coming to town for Anneka’s confirmation- so they reserved the place for several hours tonight for some fun with family and friends. And although Kathy and I had to come late because of a wedding rehearsal in the early evening, we at least got to join our friends for the last hour or so of their fun.
What happens is that you gather at the appointed time and are given some introductory training on the basic tenets of glass-blowing. . . shown the equipment. . . techniques demonstrated . . . fitted with protective goggles. . . etc. and then one by one, everyone wants to gets to make something – either a paper weight or an ornament. You decide what kind of piece you want to make and choose the combination of colors you want used – and then the expert glass blower works side by side with you to help you create the piece. We had missed out on all the training, so we weren’t really in line to make something, but Kate Barrow very kindly (and persistently) offered me the chance to take her place in the rotation, if I so desired. But no, after watching Val Conner in action and seeing how delicate and tricky the process is, I decided (quite wisely and rightly, I think) to remain on the sidelines tonight and just watch. . . which was entertaining enough. I’ll try it another time, preferably when Kathy and I are there by ourselves, in case my lack of coordination leads to catastrophe. (Kathy had been there before and made a very pretty paperweight that sits on our entertainment center.) By the way, only the women engaged in glass blowing tonight – apparently all the guys were content to sit on the sidelines and talk about power tools and chewing tobacco. But all the females, including Kate’s mom Mim gave it a try – and it was fun to watch the others gather around to cheer them on and to ooh and ahh over what they were making. Whenever I watch Kathy hanging out with these friends- Kate, Val, Jean, Joleen- I just marvel at how they delight in one other’s company and how easily they just collectively light up the room. Compared to them, we guys are just a bunch of boring schlumps. Really we are.
Glass-blowing is probably a good way to learn a number of lessons, including the importance of being careful and meticulous and patient. . . You learn patience not only in the actual glass-blowing but also in that once the piece is blown it has to be stored in some special contraption for a day or two which is when it cools down and actually turns into its final colors. In this world of Instant Gratification, there is something to be said for being made to WAIT. It’s also neat to witness a process which is so complex – in which a glob of goop is slowly transformed into a work of art through a series of painstakingly precise steps. Again, in this era of computer programs which allow us to do so many things so quickly and directly, there is something truly remarkable about anything as involved and intricate as this.
Anyway, it’s a neat idea – – – and we feel so fortunate to have such a place right here in little old Racine. ( As far as we know, there isn’t any place like it in all of Chicago – or all of Milwaukee. ) And I feel inclined to give it a try since there is no sign on the door which reads <<Klutzes Not Allowed>> although after I’ve done my first session there, that may change. ( I envision myself panicking and pulling my pole out of the furnace so wildly and roughly that I end up tipping the whole thing over and spilling molten glass all over the floor. I’m pretty sure that would be bad. And I’m pretty sure I’m the kind of guy who could just manage to do it. ) But after seeing fascinating and inspiring demonstrations both out in Tacoma, Washington (at a wonderful glass museum there) and at Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry, I feel excited at the prospect of giving this a try. . . although I’m inclined to advise them to double check that they’re up to date on their insurance premiums. It never hurts when Greg Berg, last of the Red Hot Klutzes, is about to pay a visit.