Decadence in Stained Glass

Let’s end the year with some stained glass decadence from another era in time, shall we?

Imagine waiting out the rain in Spain in this beautiful foyer of Art Nouveau stained glass (circa 1880). The drizzle and downpours would look rather pretty looking through these windows, wouldn’t it?

It’s going to be a New Year and a new decade! Not sure where our hunt for stained glass windows will take us in our travels in 2020, but we might have to put this vestibule on our bucket list if we swing by Barcelona for the weekend or something. Are you there Santa? Have you put this place of interest on my wish list?

Merry Christmas from MZ Glassworks! We appreciate your patronage. And to all the other creatives in the world working to make the world a more beautiful place, “May Thou Art Be Blessed in the New Year!”

 

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Increased Visibility

Just some fun holiday facts today on MZ Glassworks creative blog space…

Did you know more than half of the population goes to church over the holidays? “Christmas is one of the busiest times of the year with many churches having extra Christmas Eve services and special programs,” Scott McConnell, Executive Director of Lifeway Research says.

Guess who takes the lead in the number of churches having both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services? The Lutherans, according to this article.

So, given the facts, it stands to reason all the stained glass windows get more visibility during the Christmas/New Years holidays than any other time of year!

If you enter through the church doors during the holidays, take special notice of the stained glass windows. All the artists who created them will appreciate your attention to their fine art craft!

And if you hear the famous Christmas Carol, “Angels We Have Heard on High” think of my Christmas angel light catchers. After all stained glass creations run from simple to complex!

Just saying….. Let us shepard you into the Christmas season with some of our holy seasonal designs!

Interested in ordering? Click on this link for information!

Enjoy this time of waiting and anticipating through the Advent Season!

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Barn Installations

Trending upward is the repurposing of old barns for living quarters, restaurants and even art venues. Barns are becoming more visible thanks to the creative efforts of “quilt trail” enthusiasts. If you are not familiar with quilt trails, they are a growing phenomenon of tourism in may places .Here is how it works: People with barns on their properties are putting up painted quilt designs on their structures. People follow the “quilt trail,” learning more about the history of barns, how they are used agriculturally or otherwise, and they entice people to become more familiar with their rural surroundings. It’s all good as far as we are concerned!

Stained glass can be used to make a real statement in old barns that have been re-purposed. We can only imagine this sweet little barn with stained glass installation in the two rounded windows – it sure would kick it up a notch even further! Custom, hand forged craftsmanship always goes hand in hand with barns!

Here are a few more examples of barn stained glass installations.

Thinking of adding some custom designed glass to your barn? Contact us! If we can’t help we may be able to steer you in the right direction! We are always on the trail looking for creative ways art is used to enhance peoples lives!

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Baltimore Blue Glass Museum

One of the largest collections of blue bottle glass is housed in the Emerson/Maryland Glass Museum (now known as the Bromo Seltzer Art Tower). It’s where Bromo Seltzer was invented in 1888. The medicinal compound was one of the earliest antacids produced, and known by it’s signature deep lapis-colored blue bottles.

The Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts has turned the building which housed Captain Isaac Emerson’s business into creative space for the performing arts, art exhibitions and music events. Resident artists, architects, jewelers and writers occupy the gallery space and it is recognizable by the huge 1911 Seth Thomas Clock installed in the tower. The Maryland Glass Company is located on the 15th Floor.

Stained glass artist Margy Ziegler is pretty busy getting ready for the holidays. Perhaps it will be time after the New Year to get out of the studio for a little bit and soak up some inspiration to start the new decade in 2020. I’m sure there are a few people who would be happy to go along for the ride! In so many historical Baltimore buildings and in the surrounds, there are wonderful stained glass installations to get out and see.

For more information on the Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower, please visit this website.

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Halloween Treats from MZ Glassworks

“I was working in the lab late one night

When my eyes beheld an eerie sight…”

~ Bobby “Boris” Pickett

Above: Margy’s Haunted Village. Which building do you imagine houses her studio?

Today we are going to throw open the doors and give you a rare peak inside MZ Glassworks. The studio has been busy making, to prepare for several holidays coming up.

What are your favorite occasions to haul out the decorations? Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Years?

How could a Scorpio, like Margy Ziegler, not love Halloween? Celebrating All Saints Day may just surpass her love for Christmas. Ever since she was a young child, decorating for Halloween was taken very seriously. She and her Mom really went at it.

As an adult, not much has changed. She still enjoys treating her family and any one else who enters her home to her vast display of Halloween decorations. She’s been known to throw parties just so she can treat others to seeing her place bedecked, bedazzled and bewitched with ghosts, goblins, spiders, witches and other haunting appearances on All Hallows Eve!

You can be sure MZ Glassworks loves creating seasonal stained glass designs for her favorite day, Halloween and for Margy Ziegler they double as birthday decorations too!

From today’s peak you can see there’s a wide range of Halloween themed glass works from MZ! Have a Happy Halloween, Everyone!

This blog was created to give our buyers a closer glimpse into the artist behind the art of MZ Glassworks.

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Monasterial Commission

Eighty-seven year old stained glass artist, Gerhard Richter, has obtained a  commission to design three stained glass windows at the oldest monastery in Germany. Benedictine Tholey Abbey’s windows will be designed with inspiration from Marc Chagall’s designs which are installed in France’s Metz Cathedral. A documentary film was produced about the work of this artist and you can read more about it here. 

Richter will “use the stained glass as an opportunity to create a visual manifestation of musical compositions by longtime friend and collaborator Arvo Pärt, an Estonian composer”, according to Deutsche Presse-Agentur. It will be the only non-figurative themed windows in the monastery.

For more information about this artist and his commission at the monastery, please visit this link.

 

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Glass with a Past

“There is no investment you can make which will pay you so well as the effort to scatter sunshine and good cheer through your establishment.” ~ Orison Swett Marden

From simple design to gothic designs preservation of historic stained glass windows is important because its part of the cultural heritage of our country. Artisans study stained glass design in old buildings and churches to understand the past and to create for the future.

In order to fully appreciate the beauty of stained glass windows, regular cleaning is recommended so the rays can shine through the brilliant colors We’ve had some inquiries about how to clean old stained glass windows, particularly in churches. Depending on the condition and the size of the project, some old windows can be cleaned without the help of a professional and others may need a stained glass conservator to tackle the problem. Often times the kinds of deposits which have built up on the glass and the age of the window will be a factor in how to best clean the windows. Before moving forward, seek professional advice.

This article is a good one which will help you to determine which option may be best.

 

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Earthy Colors

“Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree.” ~ Unknown

Summer is drifting further away and soon, autumn winds will be whipping up scattering leaves everywhere and people will be getting their rakes out!  On September 23rd fall will officially make its appearance on the yearly calendar.

With the change of seasons we human beings often transition into different clothing color choices. It’s likely the color palette in the studio of MZ Glassworks will change too. Glass of merry magenta, brilliant blues, sunny yellows, pert pinks and emerald green will be swapped out for colors such as maroon, mustard, burgundy, ember, rusts, pumpkin and browns. We will ramp up our production of autumn-themed sun catchers and wind chimes.

All things fall foliage are happening in the studio right now!

 Here are a few examples:

Above: Sun catcher from MZ Glassworks

 Above: Autumn Breeze Windchimes from MZ Glassworks

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Play Nice!

I suppose a good way to teach one’s children to be nice would be to build them a playhouse like the one pictured. Surely they’d quickly come to know throwing sticks and stones shatters glass and hearts too. If they liked their cool playhouse well enough, they’d resist. Building such a structure for kids to play in would involve a certain amount of risk, but I guess you’d have to put your faith in your children!

I came across an interesting article the other day. Did you know there is really a Stained Glass Playhouse? It’s in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Being a fan of live theatre, I found the information about it quite interesting. My skills and experience as a graphic designer have been put to good use designing tee-shirts for a summer community theater in Hereford, Maryland for many years now!

Check out this information about The Stained Glass Playhouse.  After reading about this organization I am willing to wager a bet that some of their productions are focused on playing nice too!

 

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Learning Opportunity

“The arts are the best insurance policy a city can take on itself.”
–Woody Dumas, former Mayor of Baton Rouge

Ok, all you artists in Baltimore, this one is for you. You already know that what happened to the Orioles this season and how the crabs ran this summer. But, are you up to snuff on what’s happening in the stained glass world here in Baltimore?

As all artists know, no matter how accomplished, the learning never ends. And there aren’t many who teach the craft of stained glass making.There is a fantastic opportunity that awaits in December at the Walters Art Gallery. Instructors from Terraza Stained Glass are offering a workshop. Find your inspiration from an exhibit hanging at the museum about Charles Rennie Mackintosh, a watercolorist, designer and Scottish architect.

Follow this link to learn more about the workshop. The fees are so reasonable at $45 ($35 for members of the Walters Art Gallery), so why not sign up and expand your knowledge of the art you love?
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