Thanks to everyone for all your support for this year.  Creating the four large-scale stained glass works and programing the interactive light show to go with the music, was quite the project!

Mystical and Majestic: Music and Light

Music and Art Handbell Concert Sunday June 4th, 2017 at the Masonic Temple in Alexandria, VA.  

 

The second concert on Saturday, June 17th, 2017 from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM, at the Workhouse Arts Center, went wonderfully well.  I was able to change the light show, in between 

To see the video on the making of the artwork, please click the link below!

https://spark.adobe.com/video/zUCv0o114ny3i/

This project has been a wonderful challenge and such a joy to work on  each day.  The Four Works I’ve been creating visuals for are,  Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite, Debussy’s Sunken Cathedral, Mussorgsky’s Great Gate of Kiev and the Nimrod – Lux.  

Despite not having ever worked in  stained glass, it seemed the only choice after  hearing the Virginia Bronze bell ringing group.  Glass and bells, visually work well together and glass lends it’self to the sounds and environmen of clarity and soundings that glass can suggestt.  It seemed obvious that using a simple series of paintings on stage, behind the musician, would have been too stagnant and didn’t seem appropriate for any aspect of  the venue.

The middle panel representing Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite

A very special thanks to following wonderful people, who donated to my Kickstarter.  All the art for this project will be able to come to fruition, due to your help. I can’t thank each of you enough. Thankyou sooo much!

Mark Anderson/ Linda Malmgren/ Jessica Gardner / Sarah Liberatore / Lisa Eckstein / Tim Rizer / Lura Bovee / Erika Malmgren / Camille Henry /  Harald Malmgren / Nataliya Gurshman / Lynn Goldstein / D’Arcy Dean / Stephen Kohashi / Forrest MacCormack /  Bikki Stricker / Betsy Preston / Kathryn Long / Marsali Hancock / Sidney Underwood / Nancy Buchholz / Kevin Pace / Michael Rhode / Helene Vonnegut / Egidio Sabbadini / Danielle Carbonneau / Cheryl Smart / Sophie Giana / Orit Friedland / Mark Weaver / Andrew McLeod / Jeff Morrell / Alain Lewis / William Schran / Sharon Rose Hayward / Steve Conley

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The first work  created, was for Lux Aeterna.  The learning curve was immense, however I enjoyed all the planing and physical work involved. Glass really forces one to think through every line and it’s purpose within the design.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It has such a beauty to it and the textures are just as important as the glass colorings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’m working  with a wonderful metal artist (Tex Forrest) who is custom creating my steel stands.  He’s an artist in his own right and just wonderful to work with.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lux  Aeterna is in the stand!!!

The next part was creating Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite…

Stravinsky in the making:

Learning my way through this process has been a challenge, but I’m loving the medium,   The stained glass work representing Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite will be in three panels.  The middle panel represents the first part of the main phrasing motif  for the finale, the other lower panel illustrates the second half.  The top panel brings the two together and unifies the triptych.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Below is an updated image of all three panels.  The view is upside down, but you can see how they work together.  I will be done with the last of the soldering of the frame and all parts on Saturday March 24th and then the glass is off to Tex, who will work his magic with the stand.  It’s a complex stand, but that is forte.  Meanwhile  I am working on the last two glass work as we speak!  More images will come soon! Please consider going to my kickstarter and helping fund all supplies and items needed for this project!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The final is pretty exciting!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next up… Debussy’s Sunken Cathedral.  I’ll be doing a seascape background.  Once soldered and in the stand, I’ll then be able to add the cathedral in copper.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The color choices may make more sense in the final overview : )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s now soldered on both sides and getting a custom made stand : ) Can’t wait to see it in the stand!  In the mean time, it’s time to get to lighting!  That is the other part of this artistic endeavor…  I’m learning a lot, because lighting is difficult to find.  The kind that does what you want must be created and not bought.  So tonight I’m enjoying a glasss of wine, dinner and time with the lights out, while I learn more…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Met with conductor today, at the Masonic Temple.  Loaded in the background lighting for the show.  Computer had a few glitches, and then… light! Finally get to imagine the four stained glass works, backlit by their light boxes and what the hall will look like.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I feel better, seeing things working.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Currently making a cup of tea and working on the last bits of Great Gate of Kiev!  Working in stained glass takes time… lots of time!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This last one have been dropped off to the stand maker!!! It’s a bear.  It’s too big, (4 feet tall),  but I can deal with that after the concert : )  I’ve learned so much during this entire process and still learning as we speak.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hope to see you on June 4th!

Britt