Between the transparency of glass and the opaqueness of architecture, there lies the possibility of a translucence which brings Divine light into a worship space.
When I design a window, I feel that I am touching two characteristics of God, of his very person—color and light. I want each window to be a jewel, a work of beauty through which God’s glory can shine.
In the spirit of Aholiab and Bezalel,
Stephen A. Wilson
From an early age, Stephen Wilson was attracted to the beauty of crystals and water—not just any water, but the moving water of creeks and streams that transfigure light into living jewels.
Later he was struck by the light-suffused images of scripture—the emerald rainbow of the heavenly realm, the jasper countenance of the Christ, the jeweled foundations of the Holy City.
At LSU Steve disciplined these interests, acquiring foundations in modern color theory and stained glass technique from mentor Paul Dufour and studying the work of masters such as contemporary painter Wolf Kahn, French medieval cleric and architect Abbot Suger, and Gothic Revival glass designer Charles J. Connick.
Today, Stephen Wilson brings decades of reflection, training, and experience to each window he creates. He is known for his ability to develop a client’s ideas into perceptive visual meditations in light of liturgy, architecture, and scripture.
Education and Associations
- MFA Stained Glass, 1978, Louisiana State University- BLA Landscape Architecture, 1975, Louisiana State University
- Stained Glass Association of America
- First Presbyterian Church of Baton Rouge
Selected Commissions (opens in new tab or window)
Recognitions
2008 ::.
- Autonomous works featured in The Art of Light: Works in Glass, an exhibit at the Baton Rouge Shaw Center for the Arts, Alfred C. Glassell, Jr. Exhibition Gallery of the LSU School of Art.
- BENE Award, Ministry & Liturgy Magazine: Chapel Cross, Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church, Houston, TX
2007 ::.
- LSU College of Art and Design, Distinguished Alumni Award, December 21, 2007
- BENE Best of Show Award, Ministry & Liturgy Magazine: Holy Ghost Catholic Church, Hammond, LA
- BENE Award, Ministry & Liturgy Magazine: St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, The Woodlands, TX
- BENE Best of Show Award, Ministry & Liturgy Magazine: Cross of the Lost & Found, St. Helen Catholic Church, Pearland, TX
2006 ::.
- BENE Award, Ministry & Liturgy Magazine: St. Helen Catholic Church, Pearland, Texas
- BENE Award, Ministry & Liturgy Magazine: St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Church, Houston, Texas
- Honorable Mention Award, Ministry & Liturgy Magazine, St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, The Woodlands, TX
Publications
- "Liturgical Art and Community Identity" by Cynthia Ford Meyer, Episcopal Café web journal, June 20, 2008
- "In the Spirit: An Artist's Journey through Church, Scripture, and Light" by Cynthia Ford Meyer. Call to Worship: Liturgy, Music, Preaching & the Arts. Vol 41.4. May, 2008. Read article.
- "By Some Mysterious Means" by Stephen Wilson. Commencement Address, LSU College of Art and Design. December 21, 2007.
Studio Staff
Jill Thomas ::.
Jill Thomas coordinates studio operations and assists in all aspects of project design, glass selection, and fabrication Jill holds a B.A. in Philosophy from LSU, where she also studied art history and studio drawing and painting.
I am drawn to color, optical effects, and the way the eye works to perceive light. Glass is an intrinsically beautiful material. In each window we create, I am fascinated to see the colored projections that result, the subtle changes in value, and the infinite possibilities of transparency.
Fabrication Team ::.
All SWSG projects are completed in the studio by skilled artisans with experience in all aspects of stained glass fabrication. The team (which also excels in the arts of music, photography, horticulture, teaching, fine cooking, and amiable conversation) includes Jill Thomas, Janet Schoonmaker, Danielle Runnels, Warren Simmons, Gregory Bourgeois, and Susannah Damann.