If the question is whether good things come in small packages or perhaps small buildings, Kerry Zimmerman might smile slyly and reply, “Come with me over here,” and he would show you that they do. It happened that way once, he said, when a man appeared disappointed after he arrived at Zimmerman Art Glass, repurposed from a former gas station in downtown Corydon, and asked, “This is it?”

The dubious visitor was surprised when he was guided around and given a demonstration, said Zimmerman, and had left impressed. “It’s that personal connection that’s so important, that we really value.”

Zimmerman is a fourth-generation glassblower from a family that immigrated from France in the 1880s. Ferdinand Zimmerman began his journey into mass-production glass by making punch bowl sets in a Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, factory. In the early 1920s, the second generation of the Zimmerman family moved to Corydon and continued the glassblowing business.

With a strong local and online presence in videos and social media, Zimmerman and his sons, Brian and Alex, aim to make that personal connection often.

Multiple times a year, busloads of students and tourists visit the shop, in addition to individuals, local groups, and attendees of the two-day Glasstober Festival in October. These events give Zimmerman the opportunity to recite his demonstration talk upwards of 600 times a year. During the Christmas season, Zimmerman offers sign-ups for one-on-one experiences for people to create their own glass ornaments under his family’s expert guidance.

While needs and tastes for glass products have changed over the generations, Zimmerman said many things about their creation, including tools and certain techniques, have stayed the same. “It’s art,” he said, “but it’s functional art.”

Their showroom and images on their website showcase their beautiful creations. They offer vases, handled dishes, paperweights, bottles, bowls, pitchers, and glasses, as well as memorial items that can incorporate a loved one’s ashes. Custom etching is available, and glass items can be made in a wide variety of colors. Whimsical pieces include flowers, animals, fruit, and an annual specialty item for various Indiana landmarks.

The family’s craft and legacy stretch beyond its current physical footprint. But what matters most for Zimmerman is the link to people. “Even though we just met, or when I’m looking at your order,” he said, “I’m making that just for you.”

Veni Fields is a journalist and freelance writer from Virginia Beach.