SOUTH LOOP — A 134-year-old stained glass window belonging to considered one of Chicago’s most storied locations of worship is being eliminated for the primary time.
A crew began delicately eradicating the ten,000-piece window at Second Presbyterian Church, 1936 S. Michigan Ave. this week in a course of that was anticipated to take two days. The 1893 stained glass jeweled window — designed by the Tiffany Glass and Adorning Firm — shall be positioned in a specifically designed delivery crate and pushed to Troy, N.Y., the place will probably be restored over a 14-month interval.
Venturella Studio proprietor Tom Venturella is heading the $700,000 undertaking. It’s the third window he’s restored for the church, and the job by no means will get previous, he informed Block Membership.
“It’s the enjoyment you get from seeing how excited others are to see the window restored,” mentioned Venturella, who has labored on tasks and solid friendships at Second Presbyterian since 2006. “It’s a present again to everyone right here in order that they’ll get pleasure from it much more.”
The window is 16-feet-high and is 8-and-a-half-feet-wide, with “jewels” which can be tough minimize chunks of glass designed to seize and refract the sunshine like a diamond. The jeweled window is considered one of 9 within the church designed by famed stained glass artist Louis Consolation Tiffany’s agency, and the fourth window to be restored.
Earlier than delivery the piece to Chicago, Tiffany first exhibited the window in his New York studio in August 1893.
The restoration of the window, donated by Marshall Area, shall be a “labor intensive” endeavor, mentioned Venturella.
As soon as each piece reaches his workspace, Venturella mentioned that he and his crew will {photograph} its easel, inside and exterior with transmitted and mirrored gentle, to make a report of what’s earlier than them. They’ll additionally make rubbings of each panel, back and front, and duplicate them.
“All of the items are numbered, in order that you understand how this puzzle goes again collectively once more,” Venturella mentioned.
Every bit of glass shall be extracted from its lead framing and cleaned individually, Venturella mentioned. He mentioned his crew makes use of a particular epoxy materials to edge-glue damaged items “as a result of I wish to retain as a lot unique materials as doable.”
Linda Miller, president of nonprofit Associates of Second Presbyterian, described restoring key elements of the 151-year-old church an ongoing course of. A number of different home windows within the sanctuary and in different elements of the constructing are additionally in want of care, she mentioned.
As a longtime church docent, Miller has witnessed the awe from vacationers who’re visibly touched each time they step into the sanctuary — an expertise that drew her to the church as effectively.
“I got here in for a tour in all probability 15 years in the past, hottest day in the summertime, and this isn’t air conditioned, nevertheless it nonetheless felt like a spot of serenity and coolness,” Miller informed Block Membership. “I used to be simply awestruck and it simply pulled me in. I’ve been engaged on giving excursions and elevating cash ever since.”
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