Picture courtesy of Day Kennedy
In a ground-floor studio at Met Atlanta, a artistic workplace complicated within the West Finish, you will discover ATL Glassworks, a haven for stained glass makers and lovers. The area is cheerfully designed: bubblegum-pink accents line the concrete partitions; A lime-green sofa anchors a seating space whereas suncatchers adorn the home windows. Within the again, a workspace awaits artists seeking to create their very own or take a category.
Then there’s glass: hundreds of glass panels line bookshelves, inviting you to peruse the choices of stained glass producers. “Glass is magical,” says founder Day Kennedy as he locations a sheet of clean, blue-green glass on an illuminated desk, revealing watercolor swirls. “There are such a lot of completely different coloration combos and textures.” It is no marvel his prospects come from Alabama to purchase glass and instruments or to select up a few of his artwork.
Kennedy based ATL Glassworks in 2021, after stumbling upon stained glass accidentally a number of years earlier. “I’ve at all times been a passion collector,” he mentioned. “I did every part like watercolors and embroidery. Technically I understand how to knit,” she provides with amusing, “though I have not completed something.”
In 2017, Kennedy was watching YouTube movies to show himself welding when the algorithm offered him with one other tutorial — this one for making stained glass. “I purchased a terrific starter equipment and began enjoying with it,” he says. “I used to be hooked and instantly fell in love with it.” Kennedy labored in graphic design on the time however began a aspect enterprise promoting his suncatchers at markets round city.
Picture courtesy of Day Kennedy
Picture courtesy of Day Kennedy
Stained glass is an historical artwork type that had its cultural revival within the medieval interval, when cathedrals put in stained glass home windows depicting biblical scenes. Kennedy launched a contemporary twist to artwork: his first items had been birds, peaches and Artwork Deco-inspired designs. Since then, his work has developed to incorporate geometric-meets-abstract creations and extra refined items like butts (sure, human butts) of assorted sizes and styles. However Kennedy says he is most pleased with his pet portrait. Not like an summary, a pet portrait requires precision, as he tries to match the canine’s likeness utilizing glass.
Early artists used scorching irons to chop glass, however as we speak’s fashionable instruments make the method simpler. Kennedy creates a sample utilizing a digital design program, then traces it onto the glass earlier than scoring it into separate items with a handheld, wheel-shaped cutter. “Then we wrap it in copper foil and solder it collectively,” she explains. “I believe the toughest half is selecting the glass for the design—so many choices.”
Picture courtesy of Day Kennedy
Kennedy affords lessons a number of instances a month, throughout which stained glass lovers can dip their toes into the craft. College students choose from an inventory of design choices corresponding to cowboy boots or flowers. They then spend 4 hours studying concerning the course of of creating stained glass, which includes slicing the glass, grinding the sides after which soldering the entire piece collectively. “For those who like the method, we promote you every part to get began and you’ll arrange a house studio, or we’ve open studio hours,” says Kennedy.
Since Kennedy first started promoting his wares, he has seen extra individuals curious about making their very own stained glass, and a rising shopper enthusiasm for the artwork of stained glass. “That is one of many causes I like the store,” Kennedy mentioned. “I need to nurture that group. I need everybody to fall in love with stained glass.
This text appeared in our January 2025 problem.
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