The conference has not even officially begun and I'm exhausted. I taught the Stained Glass Design workshop on Tuesday and conducted the Stained Glass Tour yesterday. Now it's time to watch others (and save my voice) for a day or two before before the demo on Saturday.
Highlights of the stained glass tour -
* Hearing Rabbi Stiffman, Rabbi Emeritus at Shaare Emeth, sharing his stories about Dale Chihuly circa 1980 ("a nice, humble young man who liked to hang out at the office" - really!). Rabbi Stiffman's presence was a real treat, giving background on both the Gilula and Chihuly commissions with a genuine sense of affection and good humor. And yes, it is interesting to show people a site where there are two glass commissions, one by Dale Chihuly - but where the Non-Chihuly looks more like a 'Chihuly' than the actual Chihuly commission.
* Seeing the sheer variety of people on the tour. There were a little over 30 people on the tour and I saw name tags from states all over the US and a few from beyond. Only one local St. Louisan though - curious.
* Talking with Paul Davies of the University of Sunderland in the UK and surprising him when I said I had visited the now closed Hartley Wood Glass Factory in Sunderland. Very interesting to hear of some of the things going in Sunderland now.
*Finally getting a chance to meet J. Kenneth Leap, one of the best glass painters of my generation. Fascinating to hear of the 'float glass painting' work he is doing with the Derix Studios in Germany.
The quality and variety of stained glass on the tour worked out well. The group were all impressed and stunned by sites like the Cathedral Basilica, with it's huge volume of mosaics; and by the striking Art Deco windows at St. Mark's, with its powerful themes of social justice, so unusual in an ecclesiatical stained glass commission.
Posted by Tom at June 15, 2006 06:41 AM