Glass blowing, marble hunt weekend nears
HILLIARDS — About 10 years ago, Chad Parker discovered a love for glass blowing and marble making.
After driving past signs advertising glass blowing lessons, Parker, who resides in Fawn Township, decided to stop in the Glass Blowing Center in Hilliards. The school and gift shop at 114 Leonard Road is owned and operated by Tom and Elaine Doner.
At 32 years old, Parker “finally” stopped in and took a lesson.
“I never quit after that,” Parker said.
Now he's trying to share his love of glass blowing and marble making with others in the Butler County area.
Across the United States, glass blowing and marble making are becoming more and more popular, according to Parker.
His friend, Topher Reynolds, lives in Eureka, Calif., which Parker called the “marble capital of the world.”
Reynolds manages a large, annual event called the Humboldt Marble Weekend.
However, Reynolds will be making the trip to Pennsylvania next weekend. Parker, the Doners and the Glass Blowing Center will host the Butler Area Marble Hunt on Saturday and Sunday. The event is for all ages and open to the public. There will be 12 glass blowers present, including Reynolds and Christina Primerana of New Jersey.
As part of the festivities, at least 100 marbles will be hidden around Butler County.
The event will have refreshments and concessions for sale. Children will receive free machine-made marbles while supplies last.
Those who attend can sign up for a marble class and receive a discount.
Parker is optimistic that the event will be crowded — and popularize marble hunting and glass blowing in the county.
“There won't be just one place that you have to watch and a crowd of people surrounding,” Parker said. “We have plenty of space, plenty of parking. We could expect around 300 people this weekend. If we get around that, I'd be really excited.”
Reynolds is equally excited for the event and to be back in Butler County. He is a full-time glass blower at his studio, Copious Glass, but lived in Pittsburgh about 25 years ago.
Reynolds and Parker met at the Hilliards center.
“I come back about once or twice a year to Western Pennsylvania to do events,” Reynolds said. “We became fast friends after meeting six years ago. I have a lot of friends based on glass and marbles.”Reynolds said he hopes people get excited about the event.“Butler has a combination of incredible artists and beautiful places to visit, so it has potential to be a big glass-blowing city,” Reynolds said. “There are other places in the country where it's taking off.“The least people are getting out of it is a nice walk with the family,” Reynolds said. “Fingers crossed they find a marble or two.”Parker started a local Facebook page called “Butler Area Marble Hunt,” which will post hints to where marbles are hidden.The group has 604 members from Butler, Beaver, Mercer and Allegheny counties and the surrounding areas.“You can talk to marble makers and see how they're made,” Parker said. “It's a good time and something fun to do after the Fourth of July. There are very few people who I've introduced to marbles that haven't been impressed by it.”The event has been advertised by Butler County Tourism & Convention Bureau.“We are excited for people to explore Butler County and discover attractions while hunting for unique, handmade glass treasures,” said Jack Cohen, president of the bureau.Tom Doner is excited for Parker, his student, and for families in the county. Doner called The Glass Blowing Center the “hub” of glass blowing in Butler County.“Any glass blower that you find in this area pretty much got their start here,” Doner said. “If people get excited about glass, with the whole marble hunt, I'm sure that is going to encourage more people to try. We're one of the largest glass facilities in the world. We have 60 flame working stations, so we can fit plenty of people in here.”However, not all 60 machines are used at the same time. Instead, Doner enjoys one-on-one instruction, saying that most sessions are only filled with two people.“It's very personalized,” he said. “It's for the benefit of the students. It's as close to one-on-one instruction as you can get.”The purpose of the event isn't to promote a business or a lifestyle. Instead, Doner, Reynolds and Parker just want community members to be aware of glass blowing.“We want to share this,” Doner said. “Hiding these marbles is fun for us, too.“It's going to be a fun event for the people of this area. Everyone has a little treasure hunter in them and loves finding hidden treasure,” he said. “It's exciting for the people who are hunting and the people who are making these pieces and hiding them. Seeing their marbles being found is gratifying for the artist.”Parker is excited to hide his marbles and put on a show for the county.“Everybody loves marbles,” he said.For more information contact Tom Doner and The Glass Blowing Center at 724-791-2100, or search “Butler Area Marble Hunt” on Facebook.
