This is the Hawaii Forest Farm
Stained Glass Story
In a moment of inspiration
the Hawaii Forest Farms
Brain Trust commissioned
a challenge to the members
of One Gallery in downtown
Hilo to submit ideas for
Mamaki inspired art.
Two artists responded to the challenge and the story below is the story of Kathleen the stained-glass artist who produced the exquisite stained glass mamaki leaf that now adorns the Hawaii Forest Farm Lanai.
Here is the original photograph sent for the artist to choose the most inspirational Leaf of the five most common varieties growing at Hawaii Forest Farms. Come back later and see if you can guess which one she worked from.
After a number of initial sketches, this was the working sketch to develop the diagram for the stained glass pieces. While admirable in its detail it had far too many pieces to be practical to make a stained glass window in the size anticipated.
The project framework diagram sets out where the pieces will be and where are the soldered lead joining material will be applied. Note the segments in the background area as well as the frame around the image.
The diagram is affixed to the artists table or workspace and the glass pieces carefully cut to match the shapes and laid out on the diagram.
Completed assembly of the glass pieces and the initial lead strips in the gaps.
Kathleen was able to obtain a special dark red richly colored solder material for the veins of the Mamaki leaf.
The completed project outside the artist studio shows the image complete with the background accentuating the green glass of the leaf and the clear glass of the negative space and the bright red of the frame and the dark red of the veins.
Viewing the stained glass with a different color background generates a different visual effect, part of the enduring appeal of stained glass windows where the light is forever changing.
Now a fixture on the Hawaii Forest Farms Lanai, the stained glass frames 2-oz packages of Mamaki tea sold by Hawaii Forest Farms or given to guests on VIP tours and events.
Mosiac
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
