Juliette MacDonald

Illuminating Stained Glass: Creativity, Conservation and Craft at Barley Studio Juliette MacDonald

With the closure of traditional church buildings, leading to fewer opportunities to develop the art and craft of stained glass, the future of this well-loved discipline is in danger. However, throughout the centuries, stained glass has had a capacity to adapt to the ever-evolving cultural, artistic and technological landscapes, enabling the medium to inspire viewers through its unique ability to use colour and light to uplift our senses. This book provides a compelling overview of how stained glass can play a significant role in our visual culture and heritage.

The conservation of historic windows and creation of contemporary work at Barley Studio over the last 50 years provides an ideal platform to examine and explore stained glass today, with insights from the authors’ personal experience as designers, conservators, and educators. They reflect on how stained glass has evolved from solely conveying religious didactic messages, to forming new-found connections in secular and spiritual settings. The book begins by examining Barley Studios conservation and restoration work, particularly focusing on the unique schemes of medieval windows at St Nicholas Church, Stanford-on-Avon, Northamptonshire and St Mary’s Church, Fairford, Gloucestershire.

It then considers Helen Whittaker’s work as a practitioner and demonstrates the variety of techniques used in her work to engage a contemporary audience. It discusses the key design factors that stimulate Helen’s creative approach to each commission and reflects on the connections between traditional and contemporary approaches to stained glass. The range of perspectives presented within this book draws attention to and celebrates the power of this unique art-form and reveals how it can adapt to changes in popular tastes and trends.