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2024 Design Leadership Award: Rhotenberry Wellen Architects
Texas Tech College of Architecture
Andy Chandler, AIA: Rhotenberry Wellen Architects, Midland, TX
Sealy Bryan & Raymond Chaisson, superintendents: Cooper Construction Co., L.P., Midland, TX
Pam Edwards, Beth McBroom, Terry Biegler: Cosmic Caulking Consortium, Upper Limpia Canyon, TX
South Window, Welcome!
6.3' w by 13.4' h
Transom Windows, Ascension
4 @ 6.2' w by 5.6' h
West & East Transept Windows, God's Gifts
2 @ 3.4' w by 7.7' h
West & East Altar Windows, God's Gifts: Eucharist
2 @ 2.9' w by 20.2' h
Skylight Window, Hidden Presence
7.0' w by 7.0' h
Chapel Window, Tree of Life/Light
6.7' w by 10.0' h
A more complete, descriptive text will eventually be added. This isn’t strictly a case of procrastination on the part of the artist. It is hoped that in the weeks to come, worshippers will have many opportunities to get to know your stained glass on a personal level. By experiencing the windows at different times of the day, under various weather conditions, and changing moods, parishioners will hopefully begin finding their own meaning in the windows – begin participating in the final phase of the creative process, and increasingly embracing the stained glass as “their own”.
Part of the architectural vision has been the integration of multi-dimensional stained glass into an inspired and inspiring worship space – a space within which light is emphasized as an elusive and unpredictable presence. Most of the Sanctuary’s beautifully articulated walls are finished in lustrous Venetian plaster which further encourages the ever-changing dance of light and color throughout this sacred space. . . Stay tuned.
PLEASE NOTE: On the day of the first photoshoot of these windows, alas, the whole day was cloudy! While neutral overcast allowed for more accurate documentation of the 150+ colors of glass, you won’t see much of the dynamic interplay of sun-projected color across the Sanctuary’s interior surfaces. This is only a first look. Future visits to Midland will hopefully provide a more representative overview of the Windows for Christ Church.
SEE ALSO: “The Making of the Windows for Christ Church”: A detailed overview of the 2+ year gestation of this project from the Design Phase, through Material Acquisition, Cartooning, Fabrication and Installation.
COMMENTS:
I want you to know that your work at Christ Church continues to be an inspiration to the congregation and clergy and adds abundant life to the sanctuary. I wanted the building to be a canvas and for the light to be the hand of God bathing the building in beautiful light. Seasons change, but the light is unfailing. I find it hard to concentrate on the service sometimes as I watch the colors pass across the walls. Several months after the building was open, a retired priest in the congregation, stood up in the middle of the service, and said that he had something to say. At that particular moment on that day of the year, the stained glass in the roof monitor skylight was projecting a perfect image of itself down on the wood cross lower on the wall. [The priest] continued to say that he didn’t understand why we put that box on the roof, and initially thought it was a waste of money, not understanding its purpose. He asked everyone to look at the image of the glass that was splashed on the wall, and what a beautiful representation of God’s love for us it was. Then he sat down and the service continued. Your talent will always be a blessing to us. Your glass makes the space magical. Thank you, thank you.
Andy Chandler, AIA; Rhotenberry Wellen Architects, Midland, TX
Materials: European mouthblown glass, Austrian crystal prisms, domestic rolled glasses, lead & solder.
