A Stained Glass Museum for the Millennium by Barbara Stodola
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THE TM 911 Franklin Street Weekly Newspaper Michigan City, IN 46360 Volume 28, Number 7 Thursday, February 23, 2012 A Stained Glass Museum for the Millennium by Barbara Stodola Some of us still remember when there was noth- ing out at Navy Pier. Nothing except lake breezes, dilapidated warehouses from Chicago’s defunct shipping industry, and a long walk out to the end of the 3,000-foot pier. Then, as often happens with odd bits of urban infrastructure, Navy Pier was rediscovered by ar- tistically-inclined individuals. In 1979, Art Expo blossomed in an old shed on Navy Pier – followed in 1993 by SOFA (Sculpture Objects and Functional Art) and still later by the Navy Pier sculpture walk. But the decaying structure had already become too juicy a piece of real estate to continue serving mere- ly the artistic community. Mayor Richard M. Daley and Chicago business leaders were eyeing its com- mercial and recreational potential. Angels, with their wings and robes and symbolic settings, provided Tiffany’s “Charity” window was inspiration to many stained glass artisans. set in the Women’s Building at Chicago’s 1893 World’s Fair. The Edward Byron Smith Jr., Chicago business con- introduction of this fi gural type to sultant and art collector, came to Mayor Daley’s at- the Midwest greatly infl uenced other installations, such as tention. Smith and his wife Maureen had amassed Michigan City’s old library building a collection of more than 150 stained glass windows (now privately owned.) – large pieces requiring a large exhibit space – and Navy Pier had ample space to be fi lled. Through the efforts of Chicago Cultural Commissioner Lois Weisberg, and stained glass authority Rolf Achilles, the Smith collection became the fi rst museum of its type in the country. The Smiths gave their collection to the City of Chicago in 2000, a gift marking the millennium, and Botti Studio of Evanston did the stunning installation. Stained Glass Continued on Page 2 THE Page 2 February 23, 2012 THE 911 Franklin Street • Michigan City, IN 46360 219/879-0088 • FAX 219/879-8070 In Case Of Emergency, Dial e-mail: News/Articles - [email protected] email: Classifieds - [email protected] http://www.thebeacher.com/ PRINTED WITH Published and Printed by TM Trademark of American Soybean Association THE BEACHER BUSINESS PRINTERS Delivered weekly, free of charge to Birch Tree Farms, Duneland Beach, Grand Beach, Hidden 911 Shores, Long Beach, Michiana Shores, Michiana MI and Shoreland Hills. The Beacher is also delivered to public places in Michigan City, New Buffalo, LaPorte and Sheridan Beach. Stained Glass Continued from Page 1 The printer’s craft is elevated to an artistic level through this rendition in stained glass. It is still a long walk to the end of Navy Pier, but almost one-third of the distance is enriched by a people-friendly museum of amazing beauty. Massive stained glass windows, once the adornment of fabu- lous churches and mansions, now line both sides of the pedestrian walkway. They are mounted at eye- level and back-lighted, accentuating the brilliant col- ors and craftsmanship that were prized more than 100 years ago. Each window is set within a bullet- proof enclosure, thus providing a level of protection that allows for careful examination of these historic treasures. The stained glass museum is easily accessible, situated at ground-level, with no elaborate entry or intimidating signage, and no admission fees. Sudden- ly you stand in the midst of works of art. And your school-age companions, fresh from their ferris-wheel rides and still munching their caramel corn, are en- joying art in spite of themselves, without feeling they were tricked into visiting a museum. Most of the pieces have a Chicago provenance. In- teresting information posted on the walls explains who produced the windows and where they were in- Stylized fl owers brought elegance and stalled originally. Some of the artisans were John La simplicity to windows during the Arts & Farge, inventor of opalescent glass; the famed Ger- Crafts period. man fi rm F.X. Zettler; and the Moravian Art Nouveau artist Alfonse Mucha. In 2001, the Smith museum St. Patrick, a Chicago favorite, was enhanced by 13 Tiffany windows, from the collection of Chicagoan Richard H. has his own niche at the Smith Museum. Driehaus, and these are placed in a separate alcove. THE February 23, 2012 Page 3 Celestial Splendor Beethoven Piano Concert No. 4 featuring world-renowned pianist Andrius Zlabys Sibelius Symphony No. 2 March 4, 2012 3:00 pm Elston Performing Arts Center Industrial scenes and electrical towers brought the art of stained glass into the 20th century. Michigan City The historical data brings an educational ele- Sponsored by ment to the display, but the windows themselves have such strong visual appeal that they can be en- joyed with or without the background information. The gradations in color, the cunning ways in which pieces are fi tted together, the hand-painted details Tickets: of faces and hands – all these features attest to the $18 Adult • $15 Senior glassmaker’s artistry and are apparent to the view- er, with very little explanation. Children/Students - FREE Purchase Tickets at LCSO.net - 219 362-9020 Angelo Bernacchi Greenhouses, La Porte La Porte County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Michigan City Arturo’s Baked Goods and More, Michigan City Rohe Therapy, Portage Wear PINK to this concert and receive a gift from IU Health La Porte Hospital. Nikia Hammonds-Blakely will return to the orchestra stage to honor four musicians who are breast cancer survivors. The Chicago skyline window was commissioned by a utility company in Joliet. Join Us for – The 19th century saw a resurgence of the stained glass industry. European immigrants settling in First Friday…March 2nd Chicago constructed churches reminiscent of the featuring buildings they had left behind. Church windows from this era depicted the Annunciation, the Cru- “Nature’s cifi xion and other Biblical scenes, favorite saints, Whimsy” such as St. Patrick, and great numbers of angels. The mansions built during the Victorian era were by Watercolorist lavishly decorated with wood carvings, molded plas- Barbara Balis terwork, and stained glass windows. Even business establishments had ornate decorations. The popu- Originals - Giclée Prints larity of art glass continued into the 20th century, taking on new forms under Arts & Crafts artisans a and Chicago’s famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Only in the mid-20th century did architectural or- y 912 Franklin, Michigan City • (219) 879-2115 namentation sink into decline. r Open Tuesday - Friday 9 to 5, Saturday 10 to 4 [email protected] Stained Glass Continued on Page 4 THE Page 4 February 23, 2012 Landscape scenes were a specialty of Tiffany studios. Alfonse Mucha’s “Four Seasons,” adapted from his famous lithographs, were made for a Chicago house on North Sheridan Road, and later bought at auction after the house was given to a monastic community. Stained Glass Continued from Page 3 The Smith Museum demonstrates how the his- Another notable feature of the museum is the tory of stained glass unfolds, evolving from litur- sizeable collection of windows from the New York gical fi gurative works to geometrical designs and studios of Louis Comfort Tiffany. Founded in 1885, unique expressions by modern artists, such as Ed Tiffany studios had wealthy and prestigious clients Paschke and Roger Brown. One of the most beau- up and down the east coast. The Tiffany style spread tiful installations is the four-panel “Four Seasons” to the Midwest after the 1893 Columbian Exposi- attributed to Alfonse Mucha (1860-1939), the Mora- tion in Chicago. Among Tiffany’s innovations was vian artist whose Art Nouveau posters fl ourished in the preference for landscapes, which continued into fi n de siecle Paris. The windows, based on Mucha the modern era. The Chicago museum has striking lithographs, have cold-painted facial features. They landscape windows, one depicting the Chicago sky- were done during the year that Mucha taught at the line, and another including electrical towers. Art Institute of Chicago, and, according to Smith Amidst the honkey-tonk of Navy Pier’s attrac- Museum curator Rolf Achilles, “only a master who tions, the stained glass museum provides a tribute knows the lithographs intimately could have paint- to Chicago’s cultural inclinations – and a sense of ed like this.” enrichment all too rare in excursions of this type. Photos courtesy of Thomas Roche, Crystal Lake, IL and Galen R. Frysinger, Sheboygan, WI Computer Training: Computer Basics I “Scenes of the Region” Photo Exhibit Bits and Bytes will continue Tues., Feb. 28 from “Scenes of the Region” opening reception will be 1-4 p.m. at Westchester Public Library, with Com- held at Hoosier Highlander, 2932 Highway Ave, puter Basics 1. Attendees will meet in the Bertha Highland, Indiana, on Sat. Feb. 25th, from 2 p.m. Wood meeting room on the second fl oor of Thomas to 4 p.m. There will be light refreshments served. Library, 200 W. Indiana Ave., Chesterton. The class The “Scenes of the Region” exhibit is being put is free, but registration is required. on by the Northwest Indiana Artist Support Group Registration is underway. To reserve your spot, (NIASG) and will run through March 24th. visit, or phone the Serials Department at 219/926- Featuring artists are Donna Catalongo, Joanna 7696, or register online at www.wpl.lib.in.us/. Click Dornick, Jen Jackson, Jim Karczewski, Lora Mer- on the Bits and Bytes link. cado, Melissa Pak, John B. Stephens, and Stephie The class is a beginner’s entry level class that Zyglowicz. will introduce the user to the computer.