Saturday, June 30, 2012

Making of the Windows


           During the summer of 2010, I was asked to build stained glass windows for the front of the Whitley County Judicial Center in Williamsburg, Kentucky. Five themes important to the economy of the area were requested: Cumberland Falls, CSX railroad, coal, logging (with mules), and farming. I visualized the themes combined as a summer landscape, and prepared a concept image which was approved by the project committee.

            Planning and designing took place over the coming months. Many photographs were taken around the county, older ones referenced, and research visits were made to various individuals, including the mules in full gear pulling a log. Tools and supplies were systematically gathered into the studio space in preparation for full time work to begin early in May of 2011. The bulk of the construction of the six panels took place from then through October.

            I chose Kokomo Opalescent as the primary source for glass, knowing that they hand make beautiful art glass, have been doing so for 150 years, and matching glass will be available if there should ever be future need of it. Touring the factory in Indiana was an adventure in itself, observing the process, meeting the workers, and then choosing from the thousands of large sheets of glass, each singularly beautiful, those that would be shipped to Williamsburg--not a simple task! I looked for special colors and textures to express the various sections and themes.

            The method of construction used in the three lower panels is one pioneered by Tiffany. It is a modified jeweler's technique of joining parts by running a solid line of 60/40 tin/lead solder over adhesive-backed copper foil edging that is burnished around each piece of glass. This method allows for more intricate designs using smaller, less geometric pieces of glass.  The finished piece is more tightly sealed and more rigid than leaded glass. The older traditional technique consists of setting pieces of glass into H-shaped lead came, then soldering only at the joints. Deterioration of structural lead came due to time and exposure to the elements often brings about the demise of otherwise still beautiful antique stained glass windows. Copper foil constructed pieces are more likely to remain intact for longer periods of time.  The three upper sky panels, more repetitive and geometric, are constructed in the traditional way, using zinc came instead of solid lead.  

            Glass is a fascinating medium. When transparent or translucent, its appearance is greatly determined by the quality and intensity of light that passes through it or is reflected off its surface. Its colors are permanent, and can be dazzling in effect. It transforms a space by its presence. Working in glass and its peripherals, as with some other media, can be hazardous and challenging. The worker comes to understand and respect the different personalities of different glasses and of glass in general. From its elemental beginnings, through molten lava-taffy, to cool and smooth, it is at once strong and fragile, commanding respect and appreciation.

            In some cultures, out of reverence for God, who is the only perfect creator, artisans deliberately include some type of imperfection in their work. The first completed of the three lower pictorial panels has such a line. By the time the third panel was finished, the notion of perfection had become amusing. At last seeing the panels sealed into their places was very gratifying, but I expect there will forever be pieces and parts that I would move around or change if possible, lines that could have taken a different path, etc.

            It is my hope that the windows will survive long as a source of some measure of joy and wonder for those who enter into their space. From my perspective, their creation has been a massive undertaking, with timely completion made possible by the help of many. My thanks go to the project committee for the opportunity to build the windows; to my son, who directed me to new space; to my daughter who encouraged and offered good ideas; to my granddaughter who expands the horizon, and to everyone else who lifted, arranged, encouraged, got their hands dirty, bled, and otherwise assisted.  My particular appreciation is for Kay. 



Geraldine Allen
October 27, 2011






("Older Posts" at the end of this page shows the finished installation.)

Kokomo Opalescent Glass

In business since 1888
The furnace, 2500 degrees
At the correct moment, 4 workers dip ladles into portals
of the furnace and gather the molten lava, quickly
transferring it to the mixing table, then they return
to the furnace for the next batch.  
One by one, they pour the molten glass onto the table.  
The mix man lifts, drapes, and stirs the mixture quickly
until he feels it is right.  Too much--bad.  Too little--bad.
No two pieces will be exactly the same.
The mixer keeps the thickness consistent as it feeds
through the rollers.
You can see a tiny glimpse of the extruded sheet of
molten glass behind the rollers.
On the other side of the rollers, after a sheet has
annealed and cooled to about 200 degrees,
cutters check the sheet for consistent color and thickness,
then they trim the sheet.
Colors used by Tiffany and others from the early 1900s
are still in the product line along with new ones.


Logging with Mules


These mules and their owner, an expert logger, demonstrated pulling a log, and showed me how the gears should be placed.


Cartoon for logging section







The large tree in the foreground was inspired by
an earlier drawing made after a dream.






Trees and landscape to the horizon above the logger


This was the last section built. It might be my favorite.

The Train


I visited the local CSX site and learned why many of the trains have two engine cars, etc., and I was given links to some more images of their trains. The final design used the basic shapes, with enough detail to preserve the personality of the complex machines.




Themes of CSX and coal combined


CSX logo was etched into the glass.









The coal is a dark blue when seen with the proper light behind it.















Farmland was placed above/beyond the train, leading to the distant peaks. A sliver of the sky glass at the top connects the scene with the upper sky panels.









One of three upper sky panels

Friday, June 29, 2012

Cumberland Falls


Photograph with sketch lines 

I studied many views of Cumberland Falls, but this is the one I worked from more closely than others. It was taken several years ago from the Eagle Falls area.

Because the scene would be viewed from both sides of the glass, it was important to have it be recognizable from both views. Looking from downstream near the center of the river is the most symmetrical composition.








I cut the pieces for the cliffs first, because I only had a few pieces of that glass. Then I cut and fit the Falls piece between them.











Photographed with an opaque card behind the glass, this shows the texture in the white glass used for the water.















Finished Falls section

Women at Work


Jessica Kelvas polished panels.
Thanks, Jessica!

Jes, Polishing



Connie Profitt spent a weekend helping. 
Thanks, Connie!

Connie, Fine tuning 


Susan Weaver puttied a panel and took this photograph. 
Thanks, Susan!

Geraldine, Cleaning


Kay

             A short time after the windows were finished, Kay Vinson, my faithful friend and companion who generously worked with me for many days during the summer months—and for years on other things—passed away.


The colors and shapes of the glass have echoes of her, and of our final days together.  They were good days.


Thank you, Kay.  I miss you.

Kay
Cleaning one of the sky panels
Beannacht (blessing)

On the day when
The weight deadens
On your shoulders
And you stumble,
May the clay dance
To balance you.
And when your eyes
Freeze behind
The grey window
And the ghost of loss
Gets in to you,
May a flock of colours,
Indigo, red, green,
And azure blue
Come to awaken in you
A meadow of delight….

            (John O’Donohue)

Finished

Installed in the Whitley County Jucicial Center
October 2011