The Artist's Perspective
Leigh Greaves
Artemisia Glass, Owen Sound
The opportunity to design windows for the Beth Ezekiel
congregation came about as a result of a decision by Alisa Van Wyck to have
two memorial windows created to celebrate her mother's life. These windows
were installed in the Shul, and soon sparked the interest of the rest of the
congregation in using the remaining windows to tell the stories of the
families that continue to support this unique synagogue.
After a congregational meeting, it was decided that I
would be responsible for meeting with the participants and interpreting
their individual stories in glass. A consultative design process meant
having the opportunity to develop a relationship with each family, and their
ideas and desires ultimately guided the process. In order for these very
different designs to work together, it was necessary that there be some
common elements in all the windows. If you look closely, you will see that
clear beveled pieces, iridescent glass, and a background of Baroque glass is
used throughout. The border glass is also the same on all the windows, and
each pair share a common corner colour, which is carried to the facing
windows across the synagogue. The techniques used by the artisans at
Artemisia Glass during fabrication include leading, copperfoil, and
sandblasting of red and black "flashed" glass.
It has been my great pleasure to meet with the families
involved and gain a greater understanding of the factors that brought their
ancestors to settle here in Owen Sound. Tears were not uncommon as the
histories were told, and more than once I had goose bumps as I listened to
tales of great courage, true compassion, and steadfast love. It is a gift to
be able to see your relatives in these terms, and I congratulate the
sponsoring families and the entire congregation for honouring the memory of
their loved ones in this way.
I thank Alisa Van Wyck for being the catalyst and a very
enthusiastic supporter throughout the project. Alisa and Mike Rabovsky were
invaluable resources when it came to interpreting the Hebrew! Thanks also to
Jeff Elie for his guidance throughout, and for his editorial and
photographic efforts with regard to this account of the windows.
It is a rare honour for an artist to be asked to do work
that will reside in a house of worship. I feel privileged and blessed.
Phase two
The lower panels
The design of the lower panels of the windows had to
accomplish several things:
-
Connect in a definite way with the story panel above
it
-
Endeavour to tie the existing west windows with the
new windows
-
Reinforce the message of the story window directly
above
-
Create a unified, finished look for the project.
In order to accomplish these objectives, the lower panels
were designed to repeat the red and black border treatment, while using a
baroque background glass that could be seen to be flowing from the upper to
the lower windows. The rectangular grid pattern with the central red circle
was a direct reflection of the west windows, creating a common pattern for
the eye to follow around the room.
The choice for the symbol to be sandblasted into the red
flashed glass circle took some thought. I wanted the symbols to relate
directly to the story window above, but also to be subtle and natural, in
the hope that they will serve as points for contemplation during services.
The approach to these circles is quite different in the
vestibule. There, the message of the dove is constant: Peace as you arrive,
Peace as you leave, Peace as you ascend and descend the stairs. The two
doves facing each other in the double windows are there to remind us that it
can be one of a person's greatest accomplishments to turn an enemy into a
friend. |
