Contemporary stained-glass windows depicting Pentecost themes will be installed in six side chapels of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris between now and 2026.
France, the land of cathedrals, has the largest surface area of stained glass in the world, more than 950,000 square feet. Stained glass windows are a veritable Bible of glass, through the scenes they depict, the techniques they employ, and the colors they use. They exist to carry the prayers of the faithful as much as to give glory to God.
Notre-Dame Cathedral promises to be a fine example of this. In December 2023, following a letter from the Archbishop of Paris Laurent Ulrich, the French president announced the launch of a competition to replace the stained glass windows installed by Viollet-le-Duc in Notre-Dame de Paris in the 19th century.
The windows to be replaced
Since the publication of the invitation to submit, we know a little more about the iconographic program of these contemporary stained glass windows. They will replace grisaille stained glass windows “lined with white glass surrounded by a blue band adorned with fleurs-de-lis, in the upper bays, [which] cast a white, even harsh light into the cathedral,” according to a description in the specifications appended to the invitation to tender.
These stained glass windows, still in situ, will be removed to make way for contemporary figurative and historiated creations depicting the Pentecost episode recounted in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 2,1-4):
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
In the south aisle, the new stained glass windows will be installed in the six chapels flanking the chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas, which already features the Jesse Tree created in 1864 by Édouard Didron under the direction of Eugène Viollet-le-Duc.
The Jesse Tree
Domaine public
This Jesse Tree will be preserved and complemented, as it were, by six contemporary works. Each of these contemporary stained glass windows will deal with a verse from the Acts of the Apostles that recounts the story of Pentecost. The saints to whom these side chapels are already dedicated will be associated with one of the seven gifts or works of the Holy Spirit evoked in Isaiah’s prophecy announcing the birth of Christ (Is 11:1-4) and depicted in the Tree of Jesse:
A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear; but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth
A detailed, figurative iconographic program
“St. Joseph thus embodies the Spirit of fear of God,” explains the bishop, “St. Thomas Aquinas the Spirit of intelligence, St. Clotilde the Spirit of counsel, St. Vincent de Paul the Spirit of service, St. Geneviève the Spirit of strength, St. Denys the Spirit of mission, and St. Paul Chen the Spirit of unity.”
The choice of the Pentecost iconography is no coincidence, according to the document: “Not only does the Spirit rest on Christ, but it is sent by him to the Church and unfolds its work in the saints to whom the chapels are dedicated.”
In short, these six stained glass windows will each correspond to a Pentecost theme and a Bible verse, on either side of the St. Thomas Aquinas chapel, where the Jesse Tree already appears. The Aisle of Pentecost, as it is called, will thread from chapel to chapel and verse to verse, from east to west, the episode recounted in the Acts of the Apostles.
As for the stained glass windows, they will be brightly colored to reflect the light on the blond Lutecian limestone that has been exposed since the painted decorations were scraped away in the 1960s. The tones of the contemporary creations will be chosen to harmoniously match those of the Jesse Tree.
The iconographic program also specifies the terms of the “sober” figuration: “the bodies, faces and reactions of the first Christian assembly must appear […] but it must respond to the wording of each verse, so that each bay is eloquent in itself, without requiring long explanatory labels.”
The six bays will therefore form part of a coherent whole, chromatically matching the existing Jesse Tree, in keeping with the architecture of the building. Each stained-glass window will pay homage to the Holy Spirit and “his manifestation, both fiery and peaceful, fiery and gentle, serene and luminous.”
Six years after it removed two contentious stained-glass windows honouring the Confederate generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas Jonathan “Stonewall” Jackson, the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, DC, has unveiled their replacements: a set of new panes designed by the artist Kerry James Marshall that aim to tell a more inclusive history of the United States. The windows, titled Now and Forever, were dedicated over the weekend, marking what Marshall described in a statement as “a change of symbolism» that is intended «to repair a breach of America’s creation promise of liberty and justice for all”.
Installed in two adjacent bays, the new windows depict a crowd of Black demonstrators holding signs with messages that read “No foul play”, Fairness”, “Not” and “No”. The scene is intended to portray the ongoing march towards justice and equality, rather than a commemoration of a particular historical moment, while acknowledging the enduring efforts of Black people in the nationwide fight for civil rights.
Kerry James Marshall, detail of Now and Forever (2023) Photo: Courtesy the Washington National Cathedral
“[Pieces of art] can invite us and anybody who sees them to reflect on the propositions they present, and to imagine oneself as a subject and an author of a never-ending story that has yet to be told,” Marshall said. “This is what I tried to do, with words, images and coloured glass, for right here and right now.”
The installation of Now and Forever comes 70 years after the dedication of the original windows to Lee and Jackson in 1953. Donated by the group United Daughters of the Confederacy, they were designed by the Boston artist Wilbur H. Burnham and portray the men as Christian crusaders alongside images of the Confederate battle flag.
In 2015, following the murder of nine Black members of Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina, by a white-supremacist gunman, the National Cathedral’s then dean, Gary Hall, called for the windows to be removed. In a public statement, he argued that celebrating the lives of Lee and Jackson—both enslavers—did not promote “healing and reconciliation”, as previous cathedral leadership had hoped.
Kerry James Marshall, detail of Now and Forever (2023) Photo: Courtesy the Washington National Cathedral
A task force was formed to decide how to handle the windows’ future, and in 2016, the cathedral removed the images of the Confederate battle flags. The rest of the windows came down the following year, after white supremacists protested the removal of a statue of Lee, in Charlottesville, Virginia, in a violent rally that turned deadly.
“Simply put, these windows were offensive, and they were a barrier to the ministry of this cathedral, and they were antithetical to our call to be a house of prayer for all people,” Randolph Marshall Hollerith, the cathedral’s current dean, said during the dedication on Saturday. “They told a false narrative, extolling two individuals who fought to keep the institution of slavery alive in this country. They were intended to elevate the Confederacy, and they completely ignored the millions of Black Americans who have fought so hard and struggled so long to claim their birthright as equal citizens.”
In 2021, a committee unanimously selected Marshall to design new windows for the cathedral, which were fabricated by the stained-glass artisan Andrew Goldkuhle—his father, Dieter Goldkuhle, created more than 60 windows at the cathedral. Marshall, who had not previously worked with stained glass, hand-painted details on the works. Support for the project came from the Ford Foundation and the Mellon Foundation, as part of the latter’s Monuments Project, an initiative to think more critically about memorialisation and the US’s civic landscape.
Kerry James Marshall Photo: Courtesy the Washington National Cathedral
The original windows are being stored and conserved at the cathedral while officials make their final decisions about their fate. Some of the original glass, however, has been kept in situ above Marshall’s windows, as a way to remember the past. Over the next nine months, an additional work will take shape beneath: Elizabeth Alexander’s poem American Song, written for the project, will be hand-engraved onto stone tablets in the bay. The cathedral is continuing to review the iconography of all of its windows to examine existing stories within its walls and account for those that have not yet been told.
“I want to be clear that this is not the end of the end of the cathedral’s journey; rather, today is an opportunity to recommit ourselves, and to recommit this cathedral, to join that march towards fairness for all Americans, but especially for African Americans,” Hollerith said on Saturday. “There is a lot of work yet to be done to confront systemic racism, to foster racial reconciliation and to be repairers of the breach, both in the past, the present and in our future.”
“Now and Forever,” a new social justice-themed stained-glass window installation by Kerry James Marshall was unveiled at the Washington National Cathedral on Sept. 23. | Courtesy Washington National Cathedral
An original poem by Elizabeth Alexander will be enshrined in stone at the base of the stained-glass windows designed by Kerry James Marshall
NEW STAINED-GLASS WINDOWS with contemporary images that speak to fairness and a just society were recently unveiled at Washington National Cathedral. Renowned artist Kerry James Marshall designed the installation, which was commissioned by the church to replace windows that featured the Confederate flag and paid homage to Confederate generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson.
The Cathedral hosted a public dedication to celebrate the new window installation and a mark a new chapter in the church’s history as a “house of prayer for all people.” It was an august occasion. A series of notable speakers delivered remarks, including Marshall, poet Elizabeth Alexander, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, Henry Louis Gates Jr., and Cathedral leadership. There was music and song throughout the program and a blessing of the windows.
“Even the God of the Cathedral didn’t have a permanent remedy against the evils that we humans seem destined to inflict on one another,” Marshall said at the dedication.
“Today’s event has been organized to highlight one instance where change of symbolism is meant to repair a breach of America’s creation promise of liberty and justice for all, and to reinforce those ideals and aspirations embodied in the Cathedral’s structure and its mission to remind us that we can be better, and do better, than we did yesterday, today. Now is the time, because tomorrow is not promised to any of us.”
Sept. 23, 2023: Kerry James Marshall delivers remarks at the dedication of “Now and Forever” at Washington National Cathedral. When the artist began speaking, he said: “I had hoped that everything that I had to say could be said by the windows that were made because indeed I put a lot of thought, a lot of effort and a lot of myself into what I wanted those windows to do. But I’ve been asked to say a few words and so I will.” | Courtesy Washington National Cathedral
He continued: “I am deeply humbled, incredibly grateful, for the opportunity and hope that the things the windows propose continue to be a catalyst for the kind of transformation that the Cathedral stands for, what this nation stands for…and what I hope we all will embody and stand for and bring forward ourselves.”
Titled “Now and Forever,” the project encompasses four windows, installed side-by-side. Referencing the civil rights marches that were instrumental in gaining critical rights and freedoms for African Americans, Marshall created a series of images of Black people protesting.
Most of the figures are wearing jeans and carrying signs in front of their faces, rendering them anonymous. Marshall included a range of body types. One figure is sitting in a wheelchair. The windows do not portray a specific historic event, but rather represent an enduring pursuit of justice.
The protest signs read “Fairness,” “Not,” “No,” and “No Foul Play.” The lower parts of the windows are rendered in colored glass, while much of the upper portions depicting the signs, are designed with white glass allowing natural light to flood through, bringing a brightness and sense of hope to the works and the meaning they are intended to convey.
Kerry James Marshall in his Chicago studio working on his stained-glass window design. | Courtesy Washington National Cathedral
MARSHALL’S ARTISTIC INTERPRETATION of what social justice looks like today, replaced unvarnished representations of the Confederacy and all that it stood for, including preserving a way of life that depended on the enslavement of Black people if the Confederate South had won the Civil War.
Donated by the United Daughters of the Confederacy, the previous windows were installed in 1953 and remained on view for six decades. Enshrined in the Cathedral’s architecture, the windows were prominently located on the southern face of the nave, displaying symbols of racism and hate in the main worship space where congregants sit for services. The windows sent a message that stood in stark contrast to the Cathedral’s mission and vision.
The Very Rev. Randolph Marshall Hollerith, dean of Washington National Cathedral, spoke directly to this striking disconnect during the dedication on Sept. 23.
“Simply put, these windows were offensive, and they were a barrier to the ministry of this cathedral, and they were antithetical to our call to be a House of Prayer for All People. They told a false narrative, extolling two individuals who fought to keep the institution of slavery alive in this country. They were intended to elevate the Confederacy, and they completely ignored the millions of Black Americans who have fought so hard and struggled so long to claim their birthright as equal citizens,” Very Rev. Hollerith said.
“I want to be clear that this is not the end of the end of the Cathedral’s journey; rather, today is an opportunity to recommit ourselves, and to recommit this Cathedral, to join that march toward fairness for all Americans, but especially for African Americans. There is a lot of work yet to be done to confront systemic racism, to foster racial reconciliation and to be repairers of the breach, both in the past, the present and in our future.”
One of two Confederate flags featured in the original windows is removed. The original windows featuring Confederate symbols were donated by United Daughters of the Confederacy in 1953. They were removed in 2017. | Courtesy Washington National Cathedral
Then-Cathedral Dean Gary Hall was the first to raise concerns about the windows and what they symbolized. In 2015, he called for their removal after a mass shooting at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C. Nine Black people, including the church’s pastor, were killed by a 21-year old gunman—a self-proclaimed white supremacist.
In response to Hall’s admonition, the Cathedral embarked on a thoughtful, measured process to discuss the issue and determine how to move forward that involved clergy, scholars, and museum officials, and several public forums. The efforts unfolded over the course of highly fraught years of political and racial division in the country—presidential leadership that emboldened white supremacists and heightened police killings of Black people that led to nationwide social justice protests in the summer of 2020 (amid the pandemic) that resonated around the world.
A five-member task force was formed in 2016 and the windows were removed in 2017, after the deadly Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Va. Eric L. Motley, deputy director of the National Gallery of Art, and Chase Rynd, former director of the National Building Museum, co-chaired the Cathedral’s Window Replacement Committee. (Motley and Rynd also served on the task force.) The committee focused on reimagining the stained-glass works and in 2021 announced Marshall had been commissioned to create new social justice-themed windows.
Artist Kerry James Marshall and Very Rev. Randolph Marshall Hollerith, dean of Washington National Cathedral, on the steps of the church in September 2021. During his dedication remarks, Marshall said the two bonded over early Southern country blues. | Courtesy Washington National Cathedral
MARSHALL LIVES AND WORKS in Chicago. His critically recognized practice is focused on the African American experience and the Black figure—which he nearly always depicts with black paint. He makes thought-provoking portraits and grand history paintings and is particularly invested in increasing the representation of Black people and black subjects in museum collections and on museum walls. Garnering tens of millions of dollars, his work is the most expensive at auction of any living Black artist.
“We chose Kerry James Marshall because he’s an eminent, well-respected, highly regarded artist, unquestionably one of the most important artists in the world. But also an artist who is Black who uses the color black to convey the absence and the presence of the individual,” Very Rev. Hollerith said in “Now and Forever: A Story of Freedom on the Move,” a short video documentary the church produced about the project.
The committee asked Marshall to respond to the following prompt:
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We seek to tell a story of resilience, endurance, and courage that gives meaning and expression to the long and arduous plight of the African American, from slavery to freedom, from alienation to the hope of reconciliation, through physical and spiritual regeneration, as we move from the past to present day. The artist will capture both darkness and light, both the pain of yesterday and the promise of tomorrow, as well as the quiet and exemplary dignity of the African American struggle for justice and equality and the indelible and progressive impact it has had on American society. Each artist should respond in his or her own creative way to these ideals and aspirations, framing both the earthly and the divine, within the sacred space of the Washington National Cathedral.
Nov. 9, 2022: Kerry James Marshall and Andrew Goldkuhle, Washington National Cathedral’s stained-glass artisan, review color options for the artist’s window design. | Courtesy Washington National Cathedral
“You’re starting anything and you gotta try and define what the purpose of the work you’re doing is going to be,” Marshall said in the documentary. “So you try to figure out what it is supposed to be about. And then once you figure out what it is supposed to be about, then you try to figure out what the most appropriate way to represent it is going to be.”
Marshall worked with stained-glass for the first time and completed the project in collaboration with Andrew Goldkuhle, Washington National Cathedral’s stained-glass artisan. He fabricated the windows based on Marshall’s design in his Hanover, Va., studio.
“Now and Forever” references the civil rights protests that dominated a critical period in Black history and American history and have resonated in the decades since as a spectrum of populations and groups—including migrant workers, women, the LGBTQ+ community, Black Lives Matter, and union employees—have adopted the same strategy, seeking rights and fairness by marching, taking their concerns to the streets, and carrying signs that state their demands.
The images Marshall created for the Cathedral windows are in conversation with Alma Thomas’s “March on Washington” (1964), an important civil rights painting that features an abstracted representation of a crowd waving protest signs. The images also bring to mind contemporary works such as “Untitled (I Am a Man)” (1988) by Glenn Ligon and “I Am a Man” (2016) by Hank Willis Thomas.
KERRY JAMES MARSHALL, “Now and Forever,” 2023 (stained-glass, four-window installation), Washington National Cathedral, Washington, D.C. Marshall told the Washington Post that he requested a nominal, symbolic fee from the Cathedral, charging only $18.65 for the commission, referencing the year 1865 when the Civil War ended and the 13th amendment was ratified abolishing slavery. | Courtesy Washington National Cathedral
Their works are informed by historic photographs by Ernest Withers of striking sanitation workers in Memphis, Tenn. Calling for safe working conditions and better wages after two Black garbage collectors were crushed to death by a malfunctioning truck, the strikers held up signs that read: “I Am a Man.” Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., spoke to the group the night before he was assassinated in 1968.
Key pieces of the original stained-glass design remain in the new windows. Marshall chose to keep ornate quatrefoils featuring a cross and an armored figure and surrounding elements that crown the tops of the windows. The Cathedral addressed this decision in an FAQ about the project:
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Marshall thought it was important for the past to have a “conversation” with the present, and to note in a small way what had been there before.
In his words, “I’m not so interested in completely erasing the history of the relationship of those windows of the Cathedral, and the replacement of the original windows with what’s there now. I’m OK with a little bit of tension. I mean, maybe I’m OK with a lot of tension.”
Marshall’s window installation joins a rich collection of art and architecture across stained-glass, stone carving, wood carving, wrought iron, and needlepoint that beautifies the Cathedral spaces.
Kerry James Marshall and Elizabeth Alexander in front of the “Now and Forever” window installation. The Cathedral commissioned Alexander to write a poem, “American Song” that accompanies the stained-glass work. In his dedication remarks, Marshall said: “Elizabeth Alexander, who is a great friend of mine, has created such an incredible piece of poetry that complements the windows and helps to amplify and deepen the message that the windows mean to present…” | Courtesy Washington National Cathedral
THE DEDICATION OF ‘NOW AND FOREVER,’ featured religious and lay speakers. Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.), Marshall’s stepdaughter spoke. She was elected for the first time to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2022. The Congresswoman read from Ecclesiastes (3:1-8), which states, “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” Gates, the historian and Harvard University professor, quoted Romans (12:9-18). The scripture begins, “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” Justice Jackson gave a reading from King’s 1963 Letter From Birmingham Jail.
A critical aspect of the window replacement project, the Cathedral commissioned a poem by Alexander, the poet and president of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, to accompany the stained-glass installation. Following the official dedication and blessing of the windows, Alexander stood before the new installation and gave the first public reading of her poem, titled “American Song.” She read in part:
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Imperfect, in struggle, contested, more
than one voice at a time. Onward, multi –
American song, American psalm.
A single voice raised, then another. We
must tell the truth about our history.
How did we get here and where do we go?
Walk toward freedom. Work toward freedom.
Believe in beloved community.
In the coming months, “American Song” will be carved by hand into the stone tablets beneath Marshall’s windows. The project is expected to be completed in 2024.
Earlier in the program, Marshall took a moment during his remarks to reflect on the role of visual art in society and its potential to make an impact.
“I’ve spent my entire life making pictures, so I don’t hold any delusions about the transformative power of artworks. Not enough people ever see them to interrupt the dynamism and challenges we face living from day to day,” Marshall said. “But what they can do, however, is to invite us and anybody who sees them to reflect on the propositions they present, and to imagine one’s self as a subject and an author of a never-ending story that is still yet to be told. Now this is what I’ve tried to do, tried to accomplish with words, images and colored glass, for right here and for right now.” CT
The National Cathedral’s replacement windows are funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation’s Monuments Project. Benefactors also include the Hearthland Foundation, founded Kate Capeshaw and Steven Spielberg (sponsoring the stone tablets inscribed with poetry by Elizabeth Alexander), and the Ford Foundation, which is supporting public programming around racial justice and racial reconciliation issues. Alexander is the president of the Mellon Foundation.
FIND MORE about the Washington National Cathedral’s dedication ceremony in the official event program
READ MORE about the Cathedral windows, selection of Kerry James Marshall, and the artist’s initial thoughts about the project on Culture Type
Sept. 23, 2023: Kerry James Marshall delivered remarks at the dedication program, speaking about transformation, symbolism, the role of art in society, and what he intended to represent with his design for the new stained-glass windows. | Video by Washington National Cathedral
The Cathedral produced “Now and Forever: A Story of Freedom on the Move,” a 20-minute documentary about the stained-glass windows designed by Kerry James Marshall. | Video by Washington National Cathedral
DESIGN
Nov. 9, 2022: Kerry James Marshall and stained-glass artisan Andrew Goldkuhle review the artist’s concept for the windows in his Chicago studio. | Courtesy Washington National Cathedral
Nov. 9, 2022: Working drawings for Kerry James Marshall’s stained-glass window design. | Courtesy Washington National Cathedral
June 18, 2023: Kerry James Marshall in his Chicago studio working on the design for “Now and Forever.” | Courtesy Washington National Cathedral
June 18, 2023: Kerry James Marshall in his Chicago studio working on the design for “Now and Forever.” | Courtesy Washington National Cathedral
June 18, 2023: Kerry James Marshall and the Very Rev. Randolph Marshall Hollerith, dean of Washington National Cathedral, discuss the windows project in the artist’s Chicago studio. | Courtesy Washington National Cathedral
FABRICATION
July 27, 2023: Washington National Cathedral’s stained-glass artisan Andrew Goldkuhle working on Kerry James Marshall’s design. Goldkuhle inherited the craft from his father Dieter Goldkuhle (1938-2011), who fabricated more than 60 windows for the Cathedral. | Courtesy Washington National Cathedral
July 27, 2023: Schematics for Kerry James Marshall’s stained-glass window design at Goldkuhle Studio in Hanover, Va. | Courtesy Washington National Cathedral
July 27, 2023: Stained-glass artisan Andrew Goldkuhle fabricating Kerry James Marshall’s window design. | Courtesy Washington National Cathedral
July 27, 2023: Panels from Kerry James Marshall’s window installation at the studio of stained-glass artisan Andrew Goldkuhle, who fabricated the artist’s design. | Courtesy Washington National Cathedral
INSTALLATION
KERRY JAMES MARSHALL, “Now and Forever” (2023) is installed at the Washington National Cathedral by Andrew Goldkuhle. | Courtesy Washington National Cathedral
KERRY JAMES MARSHALL, “Now and Forever” (2023) is installed at the Washington National Cathedral. | Courtesy Washington National Cathedral
KERRY JAMES MARSHALL, “Now and Forever” (2023) is installed at the Washington National Cathedral. | Courtesy Washington National Cathedral
Details (2) of “Now and Then” stained-glass windows include the signature of Kerry James Marshall on the left panel. | Courtesy Washington National Cathedral
DEDICATION
Sept. 23, 2023: At the windows dedication ceremony, from left, The Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington; Very Rev. Randolph Marshall Hollerith, dean of Washington National Cathedral; and poet Elizabeth Alexander. | Courtesy Washington National Cathedral
During the official dedication of “Now and Forever,” Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, blessed the windows. | Courtesy Washington National Cathedral
Sept. 23, 2023: Washington National Cathedral commissioned a poem by Elizabeth Alexander to accompany “Now and Forever” by Kerry James Marshall. Alexander gave the first public reading of the poem, “American Song,” at the windows dedication ceremony. | Courtesy Washington National Cathedral
Installation view of KERRY JAMES MARSHALL, “Now and Forever” (2023). The windows are prominently displayed in Washington National Cathedral, located on the southern face of the nave in the main worship space where congregants sit for services. | Courtesy Washington National Cathedral
Sept. 23, 2023: The Cathedral’s full dedication program featured several speakers, including Kerry James Marshall, Elizabeth Alexander, Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, Henry Louis Gates Jr., and Cathedral clergy. | Video by Washington National Cathedral
BOOKSHELF
“Kerry James Marshall: The Complete Prints: 1976–2022” is forthcoming in November. “Kerry James Marshall: Mastry,” accompanied the artist’s 35-year traveling retrospective. Other recent volumes include “Kerry James Marshall: Painting and Other Stuff,” “Kerry James Marshall,” released by Phaidon, and “Kerry James Marshall: History of Painting,” which explores the artist’s 2018 exhibition at David Zwirner Gallery in London. Elizabeth Alexander is the author of several books and poetry collections. She has featured artworks by Alma Thomas, Betye Saar, and Bob Thompson on the cover of her books. Her collection “Body of Life: Poems” features “Could This Be Love?,” a 1992 painting by Marshall on the cover. “The Light of the World: A Memoir” was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in biography. The book is a love story about Alexander’s life with artist Ficre Ghebreyesus (1962-2012), her late husband who died suddenly at age 50. “Ficre Ghebreyesus: City with a River Running Through” accompanied an exhibition at the Museum of the African Diaspora in San Francisco and features a foreword by Alexander. Artwork by Carrie Mae Weems graces the cover of her latest book, “The Trayvon Generation.”
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Stained glass making is quite an ancient art and is perceived as an item of the rarest luxury. Initially, these were majestic canvases made of small colored glass, which were an integral part of the architecture of Gothic cathedrals. In later eras, such masterpieces of art were available only to eminent people from the family of kings and nobles. Currently, beauty connoisseurs have the opportunity to order an individual project that corresponds to personal views and ideas. Of course, the technique of making mosaic paintings could not stand still, and modern stained-glass windows in all their diversity and improvement are now the fruit of glass miracles.
Development of stained glass creativity
Stained-glass windows were used in architectural buildings to fill various openings. As a type of decorative art, they could have an ornamental character or depict everyday scenes. Gradually, technological innovations and changes in fashion have transformed antique elements of decoration into attributes for design purposes. Todaymodern stained glass windows look a little different and stagger the imagination with their multifaceted and intricate ideas.
Russians were familiar with the existence of the stained glass craft as early as the 12th century. During the Renaissance, it was presented as a painting on glass, using the method of scraping paint on the image in certain places. Particular interest in creativity among the population increased in the 13th century in connection with the passion for chivalric romances. These stories aroused in people the desire to imitate the Gothic culture, and thus stained glass became fashionable. At the stage of formation of technological processes and other secrets of stained glass craftsmanship, Western Europe did not have the opportunity to supply products to the foreign market. During the Renaissance, medieval art masterpieces were brought to Russia.
Thanks to the fact that gifted creative individuals managed to carry through the years and preserve the skills and some technologies of the once lost centuries-old art, we can admire them, and also use them to equip our homes. In order to transfer skills to a new generation, a lot of various developmental events are held in our country.
This type of creativity is also used to develop the artistic horizons of students in educational institutions. Being in the status of modern decorative art, the stained-glass window contributes to the spiritual development of a person and has an attractive power. In children, it forms a love for creativity and art, develops in them the perception of an active viewer. In addition, this kind of classes help students develop skills for accuratemeasuring and cutting details, and the ability to collaborate with others.
Demonstrations of creative works
Stained glass as a modern exhibition art can be found at special cultural events, where masters present their best work. Here, stained glass artists exchange their experiences and discuss issues related to the trends in the further development of glass image manufacturing techniques. Exhibitions with works of art are organized in cities where the stained glass craft flourished earlier. For example, in 2015 it was held at the Museum of Architecture in Paris.
In 2012, a demonstration called «Art in Interior» was held in Russia. The purpose of this creative event was to combine a wide exposition with its various ideas, which can later become design fragments for interior decoration. Make-up artists plan to embody their ideas in a variety of decorating styles — from classic to modern style.
Purpose of glass jewelry
The secret of creative works lies in the successful combination of sunlight with colorful glass particles. With the help of live flickering of highlights, the effect of scattering, elusive colors is achieved. In view of this idea, the basis for creating ornaments should be transparent. At the same time, the ancient artists pursued the following goals: to attract the eye of a person, to produce an indelibleimpression and radically transform the architectural structure. Although there have been grandiose changes in the process of technology, modern stained-glass windows have not lost this purpose. They are still able to impress and fascinate the viewer. Many products are made in such designs that it is possible to admire them at any time of the day, regardless of the angle from which the light falls on the picture.
Stained-glass windows in a modern interior are exquisite and rather practical elements that do not require special care and can decorate absolutely any type of room. First of all, they are intended for design arrangement of premises and are the main accent in the interior. From this it follows that the artistic composition will look great in the living room, kitchen and on the central wall of the bathroom.
Those who want to complete their design solutions with such an element are guaranteed to see their home in light and amazing colors. To make the interior look coherent and unified, professionals advise decorating it in harmony with the stained glass attribute, namely in the same style or the most suitable in terms of aesthetics.
Popular species
There is a huge variety of types of modern stained glass, and each of them belongs to one specific style. The most popular include: classic, modern and stained glass neo-Gothic.
Classic. This style is characterized by simplicity, sophistication, nobility and naturalness. Chief designthe rule is to maintain symmetry in the drawings. The images themselves can have any theme — from geometric shapes to creative artwork. Pictures or ornaments are made in dark or pastel colors.
Neogothic. A very interesting style, the compositions of which are used selectively. It is important to be able to choose the right ratio in size. In large rooms, stained-glass windows in window openings should be dense, and in rooms with a small area — transparent, almost colorless, with characteristic variegated blotches.
Modern. In the handwriting of the Art Nouveau variety, elegance and extravagance are clearly expressed. Feathered edges, ornate extraordinary patterns, drawings imitating various plants — all these intricacies are inherent in the new and firmly established style in design. Another of its hallmarks is a palette of colors, characterized by delicate undertones.
To create decorative works, various methods of decorating mirror and glass surfaces are used. This involves different ways of processing both a separate finishing process and by combining different techniques. Modern stained-glass windows are famous for a rich range of technologies that are strikingly different from each other. We propose to consider them in detail.
Classic style
The stages of its manufacture are as follows:
- the starting point of the project is the execution of a sketch;
- next, a drawing of the future image is built from the metal profile;
- preliminarilyprepared parts are inserted into the profile;
- at the end, the product is painted.
For work, a profile with an H-shaped section is used, which can only be made of high-quality materials — copper, lead or brass. Its grooves are filled with colorful fragments corresponding in width, which is usually 5 mm.
Fusing
Glass paintings are created by sintering all parts of the picture under the influence of strong temperatures. This process consists of the following steps:
- a clear sketch of the pattern is made;
- decorative elements are cut;
- glass blanks are folded into a single pattern;
- then placed in a fusing oven.
Tiffany
The most complex, aristocratic style, with characteristic picturesque landscapes. The paintings look realistic through the use of elements of a peculiar configuration, with a convex and concave surface. These are handmade works that are genuine works of art. A more creative approach is used to produce highly aesthetic paintings:
- a sketch is being developed;
- the picture is divided into several main fragments;
- cut out individual elements;
- each part goes through a turning process where it is immediately given the desired shape and size;
- all pieces are skillfully wrapped with copper tape;
- used to connect themlead-tin solder.
Photos of modern stained-glass windows made in this style are illustrated in our article.
Jellied
Flooded modern stained-glass windows are considered a real imitation of the old Tiffany mosaic. Their execution requires artistic talent and professionalism. In appearance, the technique sometimes resembles painting on glass. Its distinguishing feature is the presence of relief outlines made of polymer material. Paintings are made as follows:
- drawing is developed on a computer with markings of colors and sizes;
- cleaning and degreasing of the surface;
- sketch is placed under the glass base;
- a pattern is applied using polymer paint;
- after drying, the fragments of the picture are filled with paint and then with varnish.
Sandblast
A matte ornament is applied to a colorless glass or mirror sheet. For this purpose, special devices have been developed that allow the release of a jet of compressed air in combination with quartz sand. This removes the surface layer from the glass. The master is expected to be able to work with the equipment, since this technique is quite difficult. Some solutions require double-sided finishing. Moreover, depending on the degree of application, the pictures come out very different. The final result depends on the depth and area of processing and the size of the sand grains. To create frosted stained-glass windows, a number of sequential techniques are carried out:
- the drawing is carefully worked out, the necessary markings are made;
- sample being created;
- cut out all the main details;
- then the stencil is fixed;
- under high pressure the surface is matted with a jet;
- The finished canvas is covered with a hydrophobic varnish.
Design Tips
In addition to the stained glass windows described above, there are several more types of new technologies. These include: film, painted, frosted, faceted, combined, stained glass 3D, cast, collages and photo printing. Some of them are budget options and look pretty good. Everyone can choose a decoration that suits their personal tastes and abilities. In this case, it would be nice to use the recommendations of professional designers.
Classic options can be used as a window opening, original partition or screen.
Calmness and comfort bring pastel colors and smooth contours of Art Nouveau. They are beneficial in that they can be combined with different interior styles.
Gothic look expands the space visually and fills the room with bright colors. These are stained-glass windows with elongated shapes that create the illusion of a flying pattern.
The options for using modern stained glass windows are wide. You need to remember just a few design tricks. The main condition by which an artistic element is selected is the harmony of colors. If the picture is notcombined with the rest of the objects in the room, it will not fulfill its role and will have a negative impact on the psyche.
You should not place bulky furniture and other bulky items on the same area with stained-glass windows.
Conclusion
By using stained-glass windows as a decorative element in modern interiors, experienced designers are flexible and create a unique atmosphere in the room. Using the services of professionals, you can bring notes of antiquity and a certain charm of mystery and harmony into your home. Undoubtedly, such a decision will not come cheap. However, the work of skilled authors is worth it. To create stained-glass windows, in addition to the mental flight and talent of the artist, certain skills of craftsmanship are also required. As a rule, the process of making glass paintings is accompanied by complexity and painstaking hard work.
15 Stained Glass Window Ideas for Any Room
Stained glass windows, though not extremely common in today’s homes, add so much elegance and charm to any room. We often see stained glass in doorways and stairwells, though it looks beautiful in all types of spaces throughout the home—there’s no reason not to incorporate it into the bathroom, dining room, kitchen, or living room.
Below are 15 inspiring spaces that feature various stained glass window designs.
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Add a Surprise to the Stairwell
@northernbird_____ / Instagram
How’s this for a fun surprise on the landing? A sun-shaped stained glass design adds intrigue to this stairwell, and the additional playful accessories complement the hues perfectly.
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Set the Tone
@little_edwardian_semi / Instagram
A peppy stained glass design takes over the small entryway of this home and sets the tone for the color-filled, vintage-inspired space. The charming design brightens the space and allows sunlight to beautifully filter through.
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Transform the Sink Area
@athomewithmelmel / Instagram
Treat yourself to a pretty view while doing the dishes by installing a stained glass window above the sink—such a feature is unexpected but majorly elegant. This green and red pattern nicely matches the surrounding green cabinetry.
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Try Any Stained Glass Door Approach
@edwardian_vignette / Instagram
Stained glass doors come in all shapes and sizes—some are more intricate in design, while others are fairly simple and just feature a couple of panels, as we see here. There’s no right or wrong way to introduce stained glass into your home; it never fails to make a statement. Have fun choosing the design that goes well with your existing decor.
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Maximize Your Home’s Tall Ceilings
@martharileynash / Instagram
Take advantage of an entryway with high ceilings and add an extra stained glass panel above the front door to allow even more light to shine into your space.
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Play Off Your Glass Design
@little_edwardian_semi / Instagram
Stained glass also shines in this stairwell. The accessories placed nearby are well-suited to the space with complementary colors. A few bouquets and some plants play off the flower-shaped design.
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Skip Art and Let Your Stained Glass Do the Talking
@kath_cooke / Instagram
This stained glass door doubles as art in what is otherwise a simple, neutral entryway. There’s no need to cover every inch of your walls in frames when you’re lucky enough to have a home with built-in beauty.
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Make It Extra Cozy
@earlydawn22 / Instagram
This reading room is both moody and cozy with its vintage decor and patterned throw pillows. It’s the perfect combination of mixed patterns and eclectic design. The green stained glass window adds a pop of color to the welcoming, well-curated space.
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Give a Sliding Door New Life
@tre.vue / Instagram
Give a sliding door a bit of extra personality by adding some stained glass paneling into the mix. If bright colors aren’t your thing, fear not—this neutral design is just as eye-catching as some of the bolder ones we’ve seen.
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Go Bright and Colorful With an Intricate Design
@houseandgardendog / Instagram
This vibrant stained glass door looks even more beautiful paired with the decorated Christmas tree in the background. If you enjoy going all out with color and patterns in your home all year round, don’t shy away from a design like this one.
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Incorporate a Practical Element
@numberonevictorianterrace / Instagram
Cleverly incorporate important details like your house number into your design. This way, your design will be intentional and practical. The stained front door draws the eye upwards with the bordered, bright colors.
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Jazz Up the Dining Room
TEA2 Architects
Imagine sitting down for meals in a dining room that boasts a full stained glass wall. A setup like this one couldn’t be more sophisticated and will be the talk of all of your dinner party guests.
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Try DIYing This Double Door Addition
The Handmade Home
Why settle for plain interior doors when you can design your own using stained glass? If you’re looking for an out of the box way to incorporate more color into your home, consider taking this approach, which was actually a DIY. The final result adds so much life and energy into this home.
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Add a Light Fixture to Match
Little House on the Corner
To create an entryway that really wows, pair stained glass windows with a sculptural light fixture that makes an artful statement. You’ll experience some extra pep in your step as you dash out the door in the morning.
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Keep It Simple
Little House on the Corner
We’ve seen a lot of spaces that feature more intricate stained glass windows, but keep in mind that there are plenty of simpler styles to choose from, too. The upper windows in this living room are one example of how a minimalist stained glass design can still add plenty of charm to a space.