Title

Heart of Glass - Blenko Glass

Blenko Glass is a West Virginia treasure that spans generations. Nothing symbolizes the state of West Virginia better or more beautifully than Blenko Glass. We will discuss current and former craftsmen and designers and how important it is that Blenko and West Virginia glass be appreciated and valued by the younger generation.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

BLENKO

Click here: Gallery: Pink Ice at Blenko - The Herald Dispatch
That awesome traveling report Dave Lavendar did a series of photos and great story about BLENKO
with photos of Mark Davis and others....check it out.hjh

7 comments:

WV Janis said...

This is a great segment on BLENKO and the glass making process. Thank you for sharing. Thank you Herald-Dispatch for featuring the piece. Please read my post, Mr. Lavendar for an idea for another feature.

In an earlier post, field trips to glass factories for school children was mentioned. One of my most vivid elementary school memories was visiting a glass factory. I remember the respect given to the glass blowers, the heat from the ovens, the medieval feel to the building. Touring the glass factory with the workers at their craft was the first time I really understood the concept of taking a product from concept to completion. When I found a few pieces of culled glass tossed in a pile on the factory grounds, I carefully picked them up as if they were a pirate's treasure. The chunks of glass ended up at the bottom of my fish tank. When told that red glass had gold in it, I treasured my chunk of red glass above all others. Every elementary school student in WV should be given the opportunity to tour a glass factory and to tour the exhibition coal mine in Beckley WV. A trip to the Greenbrier Resort (from spa to bunker) would be on my "must do" field trip list too!!!! Please write stories on our WV children touring these venues.


WV Janis

Phani said...

Here too..

Anonymous said...

Westvirginiajanis
Someone should Cut and Paste your comments and send them to the GOVT OF WEST VIRGINIA AND THE STATE LEGISLATORS AND OTHERS
THE LOVE OF ART AND STATE BEGIN EARLY. THIS COULD BE A STATE FUNDED OR SPONSORED TRIP SHOULD BE
BEFORE ITS TOO LATE, THE AUTO MANUFACTURERS ARE GOING STEEL HAS GONE ELECTRONIC HAS GONE ANTIWUE GLASS WILL FOLLOW IF NOTHING IS DONE.
MOUNTAIN RITA

sweetdoc said...

Can you write about the workers?
First time I heard of Mark Davis, tell us more
and how will we know if Randy or Mark or Dave made the glass? Do they also sign?
I have no signatures other than RB.

Heart of Glass said...

Dave Lavendar did a book about traveling in West Virginia.
I've had a dozen emails about the book. No reviews, or exact title - just that the book was wonderful, funny and entertaining and filled with information.
So be on the look out for Dave Lavendar's bok and should you want to do a review. I have space available.

Heart of Glass said...

Having CHILDREN visit Blenko should happen frequently.
President Clinton came to BLENKO because the agent assiged to protect him visited BLENKO as a child and remembered the location.
I blog and advocate BLENKO because someone took the time to take me to Blenko and to tell me about our state and the arts.
Children are the KEY!

Heart of Glass said...

Having CHILDREN visit Blenko should happen frequently.
President Clinton came to BLENKO because the agent assiged to protect him visited BLENKO as a child and remembered the location.
I blog and advocate BLENKO because someone took the time to take me to Blenko and to tell me about our state and the arts.
Children are the KEY!