3D Sacred Stain Glass Windows
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| Alpha & Omega: Edina Community Lutheran Church | Mogen David: How Do You Remember What You Never Forget? |
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Redemption Window
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| Photo credit: Tim Rummelhoff. | |||
Redemption Window, 2002-04 - Hill-Murray Chapel, Maplewood, Minnesota
13'-9" H x 8' W x 3' D
Art glass, aluminum, steel, limestone boulders, 34 low-E, Andersen windows.
Redemption Window was installed in September 2004. Joe Peschges, President of Hill-Murray School, wrote a beautiful reflection about the window and about the hope and promises of the Advent and Christmas seasons.
Redemption Window is a glass and aluminum sculpture-window, viewable from both inside and outside.
Miscellaneous shots taken during project's fabrication
1. Introduction
I designed Redemption Window for Hill-Murray Chapel,
which is connected to Hill-Murray School, a Catholic secondary school in Maplewood, Minnesota.
2. A Window and a Sculpture?
Redemption Window is a functioning window
and sculpture consisting of two parts: The exterior window membrane which angles outward and the interior sculpture.
I refer to Redemption Window as a "sculpture-window", ©2004.
In 1996, I began working on the idea of a two-sided chapel window and by 1998 I made the first prototype: Noah Window.
3. Redemption Window Imagery
Redemption, the promise of light, is the guiding inspiration for this Window. The imagery consists of dark clouds, rocks, large circle
and spiral structures with rays emanating from the cross.
Inspiration
The inspiration takes form in the materials used--aluminum framing
holds different colors of angled art glass and the glass cross
perched on top of rocks is positioned to receive and reflect light.
Another inspiration is accessibility, the need for the Window to
visually welcome all guests inside and outside the chapel. Too often, when driving past a church, we are looking at the
back of a stained glass window. One has to be in the church to experience the window.
4. Interior Window
At the top right, a canopy of dark clouds hovers above the cross.
On either side of the dark clouds is pale, sky blue glass. The canopy touches the cross.
No Matter How Dark the Sky...
Within the dark clouds there are areas of amber glass. Occasionally, the amber light bursts into rays. No matter how dark the sky, the light comes
through. The promise of redemption is made visible.
The Glass Cross
The glass cross is perched on limestone boulders. Limestone is a common stone in the Middle east.
The Rock Steps of Golgotha
The rocks come in to the space of the chapel, metaphorically inviting all to stand at the cross. The aluminum spiral organizes the rays of light, glass and space. The spiral is the symbol for eternity. Rays of light angle toward us, touching the rocks on one side and the edge of the window casing on the other.
5. Exterior Window
The exterior of Redemption Window is not a flat plane and
creates an entirely different viewing experience! Counter to the history of
traditional ecclesiastical stained glass windows, it goes past the flat plane
of the building and reaches out to the world at large. Its angled sections of
clear, textured glass gently protrude toward a 5' circle of shimmering glass
that resembles water.
Interior Space meets exterior space
I incorporated the circle motif on the south side of Hill-Murray
School into the Window's design. This is a visual crescendo that hovers behind
the cross on the inside of the sculpture. The end result is that the chapel
space--both inside and outside--is unified.
Around the circle is elongated, clear, textured glass with occasional amber rays. The clear, textured glass has "seeds" of air pockets, which makes viewing hazy. This textured haziness allows for privacy and light to come through. All exterior windows are low-E, energy efficient, tempered windows. The protruding shapes of the Window catches light, casts reflections and announces the chapel to the outside world.
6. Aluminum, Glass & Rock
The aluminum frames holding glass sections and windows are
designed for easy glass replacement. Everything is fastened, secured and the Window requires minimal maintenance. The interior aluminum framing
is flat black and the cross is warm brown. The exterior, flat black, aluminum frames hold the tempered windows.
Redemption Window is poised, ready to receive and reflect light.
7. Project Team
A special word of thanks to Don & Pat Garofalo & their family for their generous support.
Many different people, through their vision, hard work and expertise made Redemption Window happen. In no particular order, they are:
- Andersen Windows
- Wil Slough, Aspen Research
- Steve Johnson, Rainville-Carlson
- Andy Jensen, Jeff Haberer, Cardinal Glass
- KML Windows, Ontario
- Gaytee Stain Glass
- Jeff Meyer, White Bear Glass
- Eric Bunkers, John Tinker, Mattson/Macdonald Structural Engineers
- Linder's Greenhouse, Garden Center, Flower Marts & Landscaping
- The visionary folks at Hill-Murray School, parents, students and especially Joe Peschges, Sue Paul, Jo Ann Gelbmann, Sue Skinner, Erin Herman, Jacquie La Monica.
Copyright Information:
Note:
All images are original artworks created by artist Pat Benincasa. The images
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