Zion Lutheran Church North Canton, OH

Pastor Sherwindt

March 11, 2013

Copyright 2013 Willet Hauser Architectural Glass

• The Chancel Window at Zion Lutheran Church in North Canton, Ohio, was installed in 1959 on the North Wall.

• Designed and Fabricated by Willet Studios in Philadelphia, PA.

• The colored design has been carefully kept in our library. It is a Faceted Window.

• The artist who designed the window is named, Odell “Billy” Prather. Her Biography is on the following page 3.

• It was intended to be moved to the new Chancel area once the new church was built. It was later decided to keep the Chapel permanent which holds 175 to 275 people.

• In January of 2013, Pastor Mark Sherwindt called on our company once again for additional windows in the Nave.

History

Artist Odell Prather 1912-2001• Odell Prather, Billie the name she preferred, was born in Wichita,

Kansas in 1912. She was gifted in music but contracted tuberculosis in her teens, which left out the possibility of touring as a concert violinist. While recuperating, she began to study drawing and then painting with Max Marcinie.

 

• She married during World War ll and after the war moved to Philadelphia where she began to study with Henry Pitz at the Philadelphia College of Art. Her first professional art position was as an illustrator for the children’s magazines Children’s Activities and Jack and Jill, which were published in Philadelphia. Her early stained glass designs show this influence.

 

• She was introduced to Henry Lee Willet in 1951 and began as a staff designer with Willet into the 60’s. During those years she commuted to New York to study at the Art Students League with Morris Kantor and Byron Browne. Gradually her designs became more abstract and more of her work was fabricated in faceted glass. She also studied sculpture with Raphael Sabatini at Tyler School of Art (Temple University).

•  She left Willet Studios to freelance as a stained glass designer. Her work thereafter was fabricated by a variety of studios. She also began to produce sculptures, some small and some monumental. She wrote occasional articles about ecclesiastical art, promoting new forms and shapes rather than old-fashioned sentimental realism. She won a silver Medal for Creative Sculpture from the National Arts Club of New York and the Woodmere Endowment Fund Memorial Prize.

Progress and Decisions• It is a pleasure to work with a group that has such a wonderful vision of their

new windows.

• Designs were shared by the Faceted Glass Windows Task Force in an effort to give a price range for the new windows. The church’s in-house artist is Carol Rossbach.

• Price Ranges: $11,400 each window to $12,800 each window.

• Framing: Our Crew visited the church to inspect the frames in February 2013. It was discovered that you can utilize the existing frames, if the church wishes. 

• Iconography: Seasons of the Church– o   Advent – Light and Darkness– o   Christmas and the Epiphany – Light of the World, staring night sky, village of Bethlehem,

Crowns of the 3 Kings.– o   Lent (purples) Palms of Holy Week– o   Easter – (gold’s and whites) Prominent Cross – different from above seasons– o   Pentecost – (reds) Heavenly Dove, Flames of fire

• Timeline: September/October 2013 to celebrate the church’s Bicentennial in 2014.

• Design Style will be that of the existing Chancel window, thereby exhibiting a continuity of design style and color, yet each Season will hold its own importance, symbolism, and speak to those viewing it in its own light.

Create a Lasting Legacy

You have a vision, a story, a space to illuminate. To Inspire! To honor. To remember…your legacy for future generations.

Renowned Design & RestorationWillet Hauser is

where light learns to speak. We bring a century old legacy of stunning architectural glass design and over six decades of renowned restoration to your project.

Your Legacy Entrusted to ExpertsWhen you choose Willet Hauser to create your legacy, you are placing it in the experienced hands of artists and designers who’s sole purpose is to ensure every detail reflects your unique vision before sculpting it into a tribute of

glass, color, and light.

Our Promise to You

You can trust your legacy to our legacy.

Next Steps• Willet Hauser has provided Zion Lutheran Church with a

Design Proposal for review and consideration• Zion Lutheran Church Faceted Glass Task Force

Committee makes decision to engage Willet Hauser• Zion Lutheran Church makes a decision about the

existing framing• Willet Hauser to submit first design, Advent, for approval

and exact cost• Willet Hauser and Zion Lutheran Church collaborate to

complete the project by the targeted date of September or October 2013

Thank You!Dear Pastor Sherwindt and The Faceted Glass Task Force,

It truly is an honor to be called by your church again for consideration of new Faceted Windows in the Nave. We at Willet Hauser will take special care to assist you in the beautification of your worship space.

Thank you and I hope that you choose Willet Hauser again. We would be delighted to work along with all of you.

Respectfully Yours,

Cynthia