Rediscovered Art in Glass

I first said it at least 15 years ago: I sure would like to see that large window by the open stairway be a stained glass one. My 1912 home is a historic restoration and a stained glass window would be very appropriate in such a great spot.

And as with so many of us, the years come and go - kids, work - competing demands vie for our time and attention. But in the spring of 1999 I took the time for my own artist retreat. I was very interested in art in high school and it was time to put an outlet for art back into my life.

I had known for a couple of years that a stained glass artist had returned to our community and located his studio just down the street. And as fate would have it - he gives lessons! So one of those things I'll get around to someday became twice a week studio time. And a desire to have a particular window made someday turned into the revelation that I could actually design and build it myself!

Since then I have learned how to build stained glass projects using different varieties of stained glass (also called art glass), lead and zinc came and soldering. And I have started designing my own projects.

I have also engaged in the study of some stained glass history, especially Craftsman and Prairie School styles of Frank Lloyd Wright and others. The oldest manufacturer in the world of opalescent and cathedral glass, Kokomo Opalescent Glass, is located just two hours away. My field trip there this summer to see glass production was very interesting. I also visited another very interesting glass manufacturing company, Chicago Art Glass. They make a variety of glass products including sheet glass in the Prairie Style colors of Frank Lloyd Wright.

Stained glass is experiencing a renewed popularity since waning after 1930 - even to the point of being called a new golden age in glass. There is something magical about a window lit by the sunlight as if it captures the light and glows from within. How can such a common substance as sand, once transformed by heat and colored by minerals speak to one's soul the way stained glass does? It's probably for the same reason my old house feels so comfortable - a balance for the high tech, fast-paced side of our lives today.

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