From – Community: Musings by 3 Bronfman Award Winners
In 1974 Ione Thorkelsson was in need of help putting together her first furnace. Norman Faulkner’s hand written answer to Ione’s query is here in it’s entirety courtesy of both Ione and Norman. At this time Norman had built a great many ceramic kilns and had learned about glass furnaces from Clark Guettel. He adds, “maybe caution fresh faced glass students not to build a furnace this way today…we have come a long way haven’t we.” True enough, but not without community.
Great letter, Norm!…very thorough….it certainly was a more accessible and personable world before computers……. but i disagree with your disclaimer……you can still build a furnace like this today, melt glass and make great stuff…especially if you melt spectrum nuggets…that glass looks good coming out of any crapola furnace….and i know because i’ve had a successful 40 yr career pulling glass from crappy furnaces built from industrial salvage and $5 bricks…..and i’ve also seen a lot of crappy glassware made out of $20,000 furnaces that you couldn’t sell at a garage sale
Hope you’re doing well, Norm….say hi to Marie….we gotta get together for a jam soon
and Ione, thanks for sharing Norms letter…it’s precious …..you go girl!
Clark
THIS says community to me – this hugely generous sharing of information. I rarely run into a glassie who won’t share whatever info he or she has to give, and many times that delightful thing will happen that a person will anticipate what you need and offer a solution or hands to help before you even articulate it. It explains much of why I’m so glad to be working here, now, and in this craft.