Stained Glass with Charles Lefebvre (2004)
Charles Lefebvre
gives a four-part, four-hour class program.
I
actually saw the different phases Charles follows when working on a new
piece.
The
piece entitled “Victoria”
can now be seen at Mikes restaurant in Lachute.
I was given a demonstration working with computer
software, which allows Charles to design the piece, choose the type of
glass, texture and colour and the number of pieces it is made of. He
prints it out and proceeds to cut numbered paper patterns for glass
cutting. The pieces are laid on a light-table
(see
Victoria
above).
The pieces are welded together with copper. The process is
fascinating.
Charles explains the secrets of his craft clearly. He
has also prepared a folder guiding his students through the different
stages of creating Stained Glass, along with interesting historical
facts about this fine craft.
Charles has been making artistic stained glass for the
past 25 years. He is an assiduous and meticulous fine craftsperson.
When you see Charles working, you realize that he is rightly proud of
his craft.
In
his studio you will find three-dimensional pieces such as lamps, boxes,
card holders, kaleidoscopes, and of course his popular sun-catchers.
Charles studio has been part of Route des Arts since
2000. If you have never been there before don’t miss it this summer.
Interested in Stained Glass making?
Call Charles: 450-562-3298.
The following text was published in Main Street: within
my column ARTS Etc., By: Ilania Abileah, March 2003.
Featured
Artist
There is a small boulevard that is hidden away in
the old parish of Saint-Jérusalem, Lachute. It leads to a
hundred-plus-year old farmhouse, overlooking an undulating pastoral
meadow, a garden and an old barn. The old trees leading to 378
St-Jérusalem create a canopy that welcomes you to the world of
Charles Lefebvre.
Charles is a Stained-Glass artist, “who fell in
love” with the craft. He taught himself, and now he teaches others.
His atelier starts before you even enter the house. The window in the
front porch displays a stained-glass cabinet and sun-catchers. The room
you enter hosts an enchanting display of imaginative stained-glass
objects, created to reflect a vast array of colours. There are small
boxes, hourglass, lamps, window hangings, kaleidoscopes, business card
dispensers, and pieces of furniture with stained-glass motifs. The
window above an antique desk offers the most marvellous landscape of an
old leaning shed, through the prismatic effect of a floral stained-glass
hanging.
A narrow steep staircase leads to a workshop where
there are shelves with numerous types of imported stained glass sheets.
There is an illuminated drawing table, glass-cutting equipment, an
assemblage area and many items in progress. Charles works there to the
sound of classical or jazz music and comes up with unique creations. He
treats shreds of glass as his pallet and the metal used to put them
together is his brush. It is work that requires a lot of patience and
skill. Charles is very careful to apply the threads of metal
meticulously, since he has a deep-rooted professional pride in his
craftsmanship. Charles is now working
(with the help of Carol Lyng, another Route des Arts artist)
on a set of windows for the St. Simeon's Anglican Church on Main Street
in Lachute. These windows will be ready for Easter Mass.
As I said above, Charles teaches the art of stained
glass. If you wish to learn more about his magnificent art world, you
can reach him by e-mail
charles@routedesarts.ca or phone
450-562-3298 or visit the web site
http://www.routedesarts.ca.
Colours
and dimensions artwork may be slightly different from the original.
