Featured Window

Our Lady of Grace, Dearborn Heights, Michigan

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MSGC : Collections : Window

Window

Building Name: Cherry Hill United Presbyterian Church

Studio Name: Phillips Stained Glass Studio

City: Dearborn

Window Shape: 2 (rectangle)

Date of Window: 1969

Subject/Title of Window: Through Faith in the triumph of the Gospel our youth are led to a greater understanding of Christ our Saviour

Brief Description of Subject: The West window tells us that through faith in the triumph of the Gospel, which is symbolized by the Cross and the Orb, our youth are led to a greater understanding of Christ our Saviour (again the Cross of Redemption) and the grace of God, symbolized by the vertical movements of small pieces flanking the Cross. The colors are used as liturgical symbols as well as for their beauty. The Cross is off center creating an asymmetrical design. Although we have symmetrical form in the Cross and a symmetrical window opening, we have related the position of the Cross to the window shape by a counter change of color. A band of gold, yellow, and oranges circles the Cross and then moves over to the left, and reappears in the bottom left of the window. The vertical shapes of yellow repeat the vertical movement in the narrow pieces of glass. In a similar fashion, the violet color of penance at the upper left of the window moves down about midway the window and then reappears in the lower right hand corner. As small fragmented pieces move throughout the window from top to bottom in some instances they pick up the color of the area through which they pass, creating an involved tapestry effect. A variety of rich deep colors have been used to take advantage of the later afternoon sun on the West and the morning sun on the East, translating rays of light into brilliant interior color patterns. In addition to the practical aspect of light control and interior coloration, color has been used in a symbolic and liturgical sense. Red and orange is the color of love and zeal; yellow the color of goodness and glory; green the color of hope; and blue the color of truth and universality. Violet is the color of penance. In using these colors with symbols, an allegorical theological concept has been created which involves the viewer both emotionally and intellectually.

Condition of Window: Good

Height: 25'

Width: 14'

Type of Glass and Technique: Slab or Faceted Glass (Dalle de Verre)

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All images in the Index are either born-digital photographs of windows or buildings or are scans of slides, prints, or other published sources. These images have been provided by volunteers and the quality of the material varies widely.

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