Michigan Stained Glass Census

Artist / Studio

Studio

Loire (Gabriel) Studios

Birth Year: 1904

Death Year: 1996

Biography: Gabriel Loire was born in 1904 in Pouance, France. He studied the art of stained glass while at the Catholic University of Angers and wrote his thesis on it at the age of twenty. In 1926, Loire worked with Charles Lorin (1874-1940) in Chartres, France. He immersed himself in learning all he could from Lorin, and even designed some stained glass of his own. By 1936, Loire aspired to have his own studio, and to break his contract with Lorin, Loire agreed not to work in stained glass for ten years. Loire spent the next decade painting, illustrating and writing books for children, and finding other outlets for his creativity. However in 1946, he returned to his true passion, stained glass. The technique that Loire specialized in, faceted glass, appeared in France in the first third of the 20th century, and Loire thought it perfect for the architecture of the times. His work really took off when, in 1950, a Frenchman and admirer opened Loire Imports in New York, contributing greatly to Loire's work being seen outside of his native France. It was around this same time that some of his most famous windows made their mark on the United States. Loire designed windows for the First Presbyterian Church in Stamford, Connecticut. The church there is in the shape of a fish and surrounds the viewer with faceted glass walls. As described in the SGAA Reference and Technical Manual: A Comprehensive Guide to Stained Glass, this church paved the way for new ideas in church design, with its overwhelming colors saturating the interior. It was thought of as one of the "most powerful modern churches in the world."

Designers:

Loire, Gabriel

Window Name: The South Portal

Building Name and City: Chapel of the Holy Trinity - Concordia University

Window Name: Academic Window

Building Name and City: Chapel of the Holy Trinity-Concordia University

Window Name: Romanesque arch

Building Name and City: Chapel of the Holy Trinity-Concordia University

Window Name: Gothic flying buttress

Building Name and City: Chapel of the Holy Trinity-Concordia University

Window Name: Modern skyscraper

Building Name and City: Trinity Episcopal Church

Window Name: Classical column

Building Name and City: Chapel of the Holy Trinity-Concordia University

Window Name: Baptismal

Building Name and City: Our Shepherd Lutheran Church

Window Name: Ten Commandments

Building Name and City: Our Shepherd Lutheran Church

Window Name: Four Gospels

Building Name and City: Our Shepherd Lutheran Church

Window Name: Prayer

Building Name and City: Our Shepherd Lutheran Church

Window Name: Holy Spirit

Building Name and City: Our Shepherd Lutheran Church

Window Name: Communion

Building Name and City: Our Shepherd Lutheran Church

Window Name: Lamb of God

Building Name and City: Our Shepherd Lutheran Church

Window Name: May bug

Building Name and City: Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church

Window Name: Palm tree

Building Name and City: Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church

Window Name: Shooting Star

Building Name and City: Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church

Window Name: Horn of the Ox

Building Name and City: Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church

Window Name: Tree in bloom

Building Name and City: Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church

Window Name: Work of man

Building Name and City: Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church

Window Name: The sun

Building Name and City: Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church

Window Name: Sky full of stars

Building Name and City: Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church

Window Name: The Seven Sorrows of our blessed Mary

Building Name and City: Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church

Window Name: Seven Joys of our Blessed Mary

Building Name and City: Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church