Natural Order Of Things #1

Stained Glass like no other medium transforms the light that passes through it into something special. To each viewer that moment is unique and personal; an experience that will change from moment to moment.

My roll is part keeper, through my restoration work, ensuring that future generations can enjoy the visions of the past, and part provocateur - pursuing new unexpected perspectives to the art.

Glass Restoration Stained Glass Studios is a full service organization. In addition to new work, if you have a problem with a stained glass window in need of repair or restoration, give me a call or send me an email, we can help.

My introduction to stained glass began while attending church with my parents.The light and color that cascaded through the many windows of the sanctuary fascinated me. However, it was not until years later, while attending Antioch College, Yellow Springs, Ohio that I got my first hands-on connection to the art form. There, I had the opportunity to attend a stained glass class given by the head of the Art Department, Bob Metcalf (internationally recognized master glass designer and author). Through one of Antioch's work programs, Bob gave me an introduction to Willet's Studios, Philadelphia, PA where I apprenticed under the guidance of Crosby Willet. Later, that experience led me to several jobs at studios in the Bay Area among them Cummings Studios of San Rafael, CA. Still, it would be several years before I finally understood the art that had drawn me to it so many years before. To do that, I went to Europe to study stained glass design. There, I enrolled in a comprehensive course of study at Swansea College of Art in Swansea, Wales, UK. The college's name was changed in 2007 to Swansea Metropolitan University. I received a degree, P.C.D. in Architectural Glass, as well as the traditional City and Guilds stained glass craftsman certification (honored in the United Kingdom).

In 1970, I settled in San Francisco, CA. In 1986, with my wife and children, I moved to Burlingame.

Professional Experience:

  Installations:

     San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco, CA
     Hilton Hotel, San Francisco, CA
     St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, San Francisco, CA
     Harrah's Lake Tahoe, S. Lake Tahoe, Nevada
     Tropicana Hotel Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada
     Numerous residences in California and Nevada

  Restorations:

      St. John's Presbyterian Church, San Francisco, CA
      Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, CA
      Glide Memorial Church, San Francisco, CA
      First Presbyterian Church, Berkeley, CA
      Lakeside Presbyterian Church, San Francisco, CA
      St. Luke's Episcopal Church, San Francisco, CA

 Publications:

      Books-
           New Glass by Otto Rigan

      Magazines-
           American Institute of Architects Journal
           Stained Glass Quarterly
           Faith and Form
           Crafts Horizon
           Glass Art Magazine
           Glass Studio
           City Arts Monthly
           Art Week
           Source Book of Architectural Ornament

      Other Media-
           KQED Public Television - "Art Notes"

 Other:

      Teaching-
           California College of the Arts, Oakland, CA
           San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA

      Exhibitions-
           Museum of Contemporary Crafts, New York, NY
           Stained Glass International, New York, NY
           Pacific Design Center, Los Angeles, CA
           Triton Museum of Art, Santa Clara, CA
           Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento, CA
           A.I.A. Gallery, San Francisco, CA

      Artwork included in the collection of the Oakland Museum, 
      Oakland, CA