Maureen McGuire is one of this
countrys finest designers in liturgical stained glass.
After receiving her Masters degree in sculpture and stained
glass from the Pope Pius XII Institute in Italy, she became
one of the first stained glass artists in the US to work as
an independent designer and has remained so for 35 years.
She traveled extensively in Europe to study the windows of
the great stained glass master Georg Meistermann, who has
been a significant influence in her own work. She also took
advance study with the contemporary German masters, Ludwig
Schaffrath and Johannes Schreiter. She is the recipient of
numerous religious art awards, and a member of the Interfaith
Forum on Religious Art and Architecture.
Maureen collaborated with
the studio on a number of projects, including two churches in
Columbus, Ohio.
The three windows in the
Eucharistic chapel of Our Lady of Perpetual Help make extensive
use of opak glass to control the strong sun from the south.
The natural tonal shading of hand blown glass is emphasized
by the light absorbing white layer. Evenin low or subdued light,
the glass gathers available light, and the windows
glow with a soft diffused luminosity. Maureens powerful
use of representational motifs is typical of her design approach.
These windows grace either
side of the altar in St. Peters Church in Columbus. The
old church had been almost completely lost in a fire. This section
of an original stone wall was preserved and serves as the backdrop
to the altar in the new sanctuary.
The net motif is powerfully
rendered within the saturated color characteristic of Maureen's
windows. The rich color manages restraing without the use of
painted shading . Maureen makes extensive use of hand blown
opak and opal glass, which is rare among American designers.
Some of this glass has been acid etched in the studio to achieve
the gentle shading which adds to the life of the composition.
The windows were fabricated under Maureen's supervision at the
studio.