Mark shared with us some of his techniques for creating his art.  We got right to business by silver-staining a bunch of pieces of float glass on the first evening and using traditional tracing black on others to start some small compositions.  Over the next days, we continued to work those pieces, which were fired overnight, and to create new ones as well.  I absolutely loved seeing how his mind works and how he goes about creating his artwork.  He has a fabulous personality and is very open and graceful in the way that he teaches.  I gained so much over the course that I could never have learned on my own and I am eternally grateful for the experience.  I immediately grabbed a slot (one of the few remaining, apparently) in the Bild-Werk’s International Summer Academy and I am already eagerly anticipating what I’ll learn then!

If you’re not familiar with it, as I was not until I found I was coming to Germany and someone graciously suggested it to me on www.Warmglass.com, The Bild-Werk is a school and art facility dedicated to furthering all forms of art and inspiration from music and theater to painting, drawing, and especially glass work – just to name some.  It’s situated in Bavaria in the beautiful little village of Frauenau which also houses the Glass Museum and many glass production sites and outlets.  The website for the Bild-Werk is http://www.bild-werk-frauenau.de/en/home/index.php and I would encourage anyone who is near the area to visit!

My latest discovery was the Gelöbniskirche und Wallfahrtskirche “Maria Schutz” in Kaiserslautern. Ludwig Schaffrath is another one of the contemporary glass artists I wanted to research during my time here and I was delighted to find that the whole church is filled with his work. Installed in 1998/2000, there are gorgeous blue and green windows lining the hallway (or Kreuzgang) along the outside of the church and uplifting clear and amber pieces aloft in the sanctuary itself. (These are what I had access to, although I believe there are a few others in the choir and perhaps in the sacristy.)

I was lucky enough to be granted a sunny day to view the windows. It has been dreadfully dreary here for the past months, and it was a real treat to see the windows with sunlight streaming in and dancing off of the sanctuary walls. The windows are mostly clear with amber accents and quite a few bevels that cast beautiful colors onto the adjacent walls (see photo).

What I like the most about these windows is that I simply find them to be very pleasant to look at. They do not assault the senses as some of Schaffrath’s works do; they caught my attention rather completely and then quietly let it go leaving a definite mark in my mind, but not so much as to distract from the general quietude of the church itslef.  The electricity of the hallway works (blue, green and clear with shots of magenta and orange) seem to fit their placement in the lively walkway into and out of the sanctuary. The “Hallos”, “Guten Tags,” and lively conversations that are sure to take place there seem to be echoed in the window designs. See below . . .

Conversely, the reserved color scheme and more orderly lines of the sanctuary windows convey a sense of serenity and peace. Plus, the fact they are high above the viewer’s line of sight, gives an automatic reminder to look skyward. I don’t know what Schaffrath intended with his designs specifically, but as I look at these windows, I can see impressions of sky and clouds. The amber glass reminds me immediately of halos and heavenly gold.

As I look at these contemporary works of art that I am seeking out while here in Germany, I see not only the windows, but I feel that I also see the marks of the artists themselves. The German tradition of having stained glass artists who are formally trained in the fine arts as opposed to a strictly artisan approach, makes for a wonderful collection of beautiful works spread across the country. I can’t wait to find the next treasure! See the rest of my photos from the Maria Schutz Church at: http://www.facebook.com/help/?page=412#!/album.php?aid=56517&id=100000560056594

Yesterday, I had the great pleasure of visiting the Evangelische Melanchthon Kirche in Mannheim Germany. I knew that there was some of Johannes Schreiter’s work there. What I didn’t know was that the whole church is filled with his captivating stained glass. Imagine my delight when I made my way to the small church tucked into one of Mannheim’s busy city neighborhoods and found that all of the sanctuary windows including the lobby window were Schreiter’s uniquely distinct art!

I’ve admired Schreiter’s work since the first time I saw it listed in one of my beloved glass books. I happened upon some of his work in an earlier trip to Germany, but this was the first time I’d actually gone out in search of it. I was thrilled to discover that I could walk right up to the windows on the inside and examine them. They are not protected on the inside by a layer of tempered glass and I could actually reach out and touch the expressive leadwork and see details that no picture could relay. (Nevertheless, I will include some of my photos here.)

There are eleven windows in the Melanchthion Kirche, each of which bears Schreiter’s famous “U-Form” which is symbolic as well as technically masterful in the art of stained glass. Also evident, of course is his expressive line and leadwork along with the distinctive color shading and balance of composition that marks his work. I found window #8, “Karfreitag” to be particularly interesting, especially when I read the verse associated with it: “Jesus betet: ..Mein Gott, mein Gott warum hast du mich verlassen?” Lukas 22,24. ( Translated as “Jesus prays, My God, my God why hast thou forsaken me?”

This window starts to take on more meaning when viewed with the others such as the one entitled “Ostern” or “Easter” which conveys a different sense. (see right) I hope to keep seeing more and more Post-War stained glass while here in Germany and I will continue to post as I am able about what I see and find. See all my photos from Melanchthion Kirche on my facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?id=100000560056594&aid=56239