Stained glass windows bring light, colour and history to new Library

The 'Fall' panel - one of four pieces of stained glass art by Gary Wilkinson that were recently installed during construction of the new Collingwood Library. Gary's original sketch for the 'Fall' panel that helped him secure the project.

Gary has recently completed a large commercial project to create four custom stained glass windows for the new Collingwood Library.
 

Each of the panels are approximately 5 feet by five feet in size. Gary hand-cut, ground and soldered more than 7,500 individual pieces of glass for the project and employed the "copper and foil" method after being inspired by Louis Comfort Tiffany's stained glass work. 
 

The Library selection committee invited proposals with the theme "Collingwood in Four Seasons" and Gary wasted no time honing in on a number of unique images of the Town that would translate well to stained glass. 
 

The new building was completed in early 2010 and Gary's works are now enjoyed by hundreds of library patrons each day. 
 

"It's a great honour to have my work in such a prominent and public setting as the new library. And it's humbling to know my work is going to outlast me. I always put a lot of effort into the initial sketches that I produce for any project and it's good to know that the selection committee shared my vision for the project."
 

The four windows have been installed in the Library's first and second floor north and south walls and showcase some of Collingwood's best known landmarks such as the grain elevator and lighthouse. Other Collingwood touchstones are also present, including ski trails, the mountain and of course Collingwood's shoreline.

ABOVE: the four panels in sequence - click on any panel for a larger view.

If you have a large stained glass project in mind for 2010 or early 2011, now is the time to speak to Gary about it.