CHEZ NOVARO
Surrounded by astonishing heat, the friendliest dogs in the world, a ringing cell phone, a playful 4-year-old and an audience of unruly glass clowns, Jean-Claude Novaro makes spectacular glass.  He’s absolutely unflappable and he makes it look so easy.  He was very kind to let us try our hand with the canes.  Everyone took a turn.  (Everyone, that is, except for the glass clowns.  They’re too unpredictable to be trusted.)  The glass is so hot that even after sitting out to cool for awhile, a piece of paper dropped into a finished pitcher burst into flames.  It’s like working with molten honey.  I could barely manage to keep the glass from falling off the stick.  Barry and the kids had better luck.  And Joseph is an old pro.  I’m struggling to find the words to describe what it’s like to watch Jean-Claude work.  I think the pictures speak for themselves.  Brilliant.