William Penn Life, 1999 (34. évfolyam, 2-12. szám)
1999-05-01 / 5. szám
After four years in business, the store was closed; the Horvaths $1.6 million in debt. They sold their home and the condo. Virtually everything they had acquired through Frank's talent and creativity, was lost. Among their few remaining possessions were Frank's glass blowing tools. With those tools and some help from his children, Frank and Catherine moved to Florida 10 years ago and began again. A new start Frank slowly rebuilt his life doing the one thing he knew best, the one things he could not give up—his art. He opened a new workshop in Lakeland, where he still works 12 hours a day, seven days a week. Catherine helps in the shop, as does a sub-contractor. Frank will give an occasional glass blowing demonstration, but rarely travels to arts and crafts festivals, as he had in the past. Such traveling would require too much time away from doing what he really loves. These days, Frank specializes in glass roses, hummingbirds, unicorns, candle holders, wedding cake toppers ... and bells. "We sell thousands and thousands of bells. We make 30 different bells," he says. His work can be found throughout Florida and as far away as Japan and France, thanks to a contract with Aribass Brothers who operate gift shops at Disney theme parks. After 50 years of doing the same thing for a living, most people are ready to retire. Not Frank Horvath. To him, glass blowing is still "like being in fantasy land," he says. "The best part [of being a glass blower] is once I have a piece done. I will look at it and say, 'did I make that?'" However, not everything is a bed of glass roses when it comes to his art. "The worst part is when a piece is ruined in the oven," Frank says. He recalls one particular incident in which he placed 1,200 vases in the oven. At 4 a.m. the next morning, "I woke up and said, "Oh, my God, the oven!' I had forgotten about the vases. Of course, they were all ruined. ... At 1,040 degrees, it doesn't take long to ruin what you've made." Passing the torch With a love of glass blowing seemingly coursing through Frank's veins, it comes as no surprise that one of his children is a glass blower. "He was six years old when he first asked me if he could try it. I said sure." What convinced Frank that his son would grow up to be a glass blower was when the six-year-old burned himself with his father's equipment. "He wouldn't tell me he burned himself. He didn't say a word. That's when I knew," he says. "When you burn yourself, you have to be like a cat: just shake it off. Don't pay any attention to it." Despite the burns, Frank eagerly recommends glass blowing as a hobby. "All you need is a torch, oxygen, gas and a couple pieces of glass. Set up in a comer of the basement and, man, you forget the time." To be a good glass blower, one must have "imagination, determination, and, above all," Frank says, "you must love it." [jypj] For a catalog of Frank Horvath's glass creations, write to him at 6630 Odom Road, Lakeland, FL 33809. William I’enn life, May 1999 7
