St John's Presbyterian Church, San Francisco, Ca - Restoration
St John's Presbyterian Church, San Francisco, CA This large (6 lite - 3 arched over 3) window was built in 1889 and required a complete restoration. The window faced south by south-west with maximum sun, wind and rain exposure. Not only was the window's structure weak and ready to collapse, the painting of the St. John figure was nearly worn away. Add to this the fact that the wood of the frame was weathered beyond repair; we were faced with a major restoration. We coordinated our work with the window frame shop to ensure that the glass would fit back into the new frame. The 6 lite window was dismantled and completely reglazed using the original glass. In the case of St. John there was not much to work with and nothing of the original painting could be salvaged. The pastor and the congregation were very pleased with the restoration. The result, as they say, speaks for itself.
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A Maker who has been a valued part of this community for several years.
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This Maker has consistently demonstrated excellence in craftsmanship and customer service.
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
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