STAINED
GLASS
CAMPBELL HERITAGE
For over 3 years, I've been experimenting with stained glass. Sustainability has always been at the forefront of my work, either by recycling scrap materials or deconstructing old windows and bringing new life to the glass. Here is a portfolio of my work with stained glass so far.
projects from 2020 ⎼ 2024
“A concerted effort to preserve our heritage is a vital link to our cultural, educational, aesthetic, inspirational and economic legacies - all of the things that quite literally makes us who we are."
- Steve Berry
Table of contents
Campbell Heritage
What is behind Campbell Heritage.
Window Projects
The start of it all, the windows.
Scrap Glass
Stained glass collections made from scrap glass.
Reuse
Deconstructing windows and repurposing the glass.
Commissions
Commission glass pieces created from 2020-2024.
About
Stained Glass
by Campbell Heritage
For a while now my life has revolved around studying art and culture and the meaning of heritage. I’ve learned that cultural heritage can be broken into three sections; artifacts, the natural environment, and the built environment. All three of which we each experience on a daily basis and most of the time go unrecognized and/or under-appreciated. My studies at Willowbank and my work at The Brown Homestead have made sure I pay attention to heritage in all forms. They have taught me the importance of restoration and reuse and most importantly the strength in authenticity.
I’m hoping Campbell Heritage will be a great addition to my personal, on-going case study of cultural heritage.
-- Mackenzie Campbell
Catalog
Willowbank
I think any Willowbank student/alumni would agree when I say stained glass is like the shiny new toy in the world of heritage conservation. When you’re a student at Willowbank School of Restoration Arts, it’s the first trade that is the most unfamiliar in practice.
Here is a deeper look into the first phase of Campbell Heritage. I’m calling it the Stained Glass Era.
First Piece
For my first ever glass assignment I decided to recreate Piet Mondrian’s famous painting Composition II in Red, Blue, and Yellow, 1930.
The simplicity of the piece allowed me to really focus on cutting straight lines and making the window perfectly square.
The frame was custom made out of recycled maple wood found in the wood shed at Willowbank.
Source: Niagara on The Lake Public Library
First Presbyterian Church
Inspiration Piece
This piece was created for another Willowbank class assignment. Instructor John Wilcox asked students to take a walk in their neighbourhood and identify a stained glass window to write a report on. We were to identify the window as a whole and break down the restoration process required to fix it’s issues.
I chose the First Presbyterian Church in St. Davids, 1888. The bright amber colour palette of scrap glass found in the studio inspired me to create a window similar to the ones in the church.
Catalog
Restoration
Stained glass and leaded glass is not typically a part of modern home building. This means that a lot of projects I do either consists of restoring already existing glass windows or creating something new, inspired by the style and era of the home.
There is a physical history behind every laid stone, every hand-forged nail and every material ever touched by another human being. How lucky are we to have a part in conserving these stories.
Shed window
The shed window came to light when I realized the wooden frame for the shed window in my parent’s backyard was rotted.
The materials used to create this stained glass piece were entirely repurposed. The clear glass was from the original window. The green glass was scrap glass found in Willowbank’s glass studio. The wood used in the frame was old trim from a doorframe on the house.
Clear Leaded
Windows
Although working with stained glass is exciting, with all the bold colours, there is something so sweet about working with clear glass and lead. After working on the Hamilton house project along side heritage carpenter Jason Schubert, I was brought on to do the windows for his door projects.
The left and right bottom photographs are of a window I created new for a door Jason built. The window design was inspired by the window beside the front door entrance.
The photo of the top right is of a beveled glass window I restored.
Catalog
Hamilton House Project
From 2022-2024 I created six windows for a Victorian style home in Hamilton, ON. The home owners have been restoring the interior and exterior of the home for the last 5 years. The project included, 2 front door windows, 3 attic windows and 1 window on the side of the house.
Hamilton House Project
Front doors
The transom window was created a few years earlier based off designs of other transom windows in the neighboring houses.
The goal was to incorporate the design from the transom window and the design of the clear leaded window from another part of the house to create the new windows.
Mosaic design
inspired by transom
Picket design
inspired by OG leaded window.
Reclaimed glass roundels from a church in St.Catharines, recycled into these windows
Hamilton House Project
Attic Windows
From 2022-2024 I created six windows for a Victorian style home in Hamilton, ON. The home owners have been restoring the interior and exterior of the home for the last 5 years. The project included, 2 front door windows, 3 attic windows and 1 window on the side of the house.
Change letters to P.S. instead
The idea for the attic windows were to create a sense of unity with the front door windows. The colour choice was reflective of the front doors, with a similar, more muted palette for the attic.
This style of window is called a Venetian Window, with one center palladian (arched) window and two smaller side lights. The initials in the crest are the initials of the homeowners.
Hamilton House Project
Hallway Window
The final window for the Hamilton house was created from the left over glass from the front door and attic projects. This window is located in the hallway on the second floor. The design was created based on the designs of the other windows throughout the house.
The window design was broken into three separate parts. The diamond pattern on the top is reflective of the attic windows. The floral piece in the center was similar to the one on the front doors. The fence board pattern on the bottom is from the front doors and leaded window.
Material Reuse
Reuse Cycle
Source materials
Often times windows/parts of windows are given to me by homeowners. Other times I am sourcing the pieces from used shop locations.
Document and deconstruct
The first step in the deconstructing process is documentation. Rubbings of the windows are made to trace the design of the lead lines. This is achieved using graphite paper. I also ensure to take lots of photographs through out.
Clean and sort
The glass is then cleaned with soap and water to get ride of all the lead and putty residue. Lastly, the glass is sorted and safely stored for future re-use.
Safety tip: Be sure to wear your PPE. Putty and lead are dangerous to touch and inhale.
Design and plan a viable reuse project
Re-using glass pieces that have been used in previous designs can be challenging, but very rewarding. Often times you are designing the project around the size and shapes of the pieces you plan to incorporate into a new design.
Incorporate pieces into large glass projects
I try and encourage my clients to incorporate used glass into their large window projects. Antique glass has a different look to it, with wavy lines and bubbles from being blown.
Create smaller pieces/jewelery to put the scrap pieces to use
It is definitely more practical to create smaller, mosaic style pieces from the recycled glass. Although, it can be challenging trying to cut a small piece of glass. Sometimes you are left doing more grinding than usual.
SCRAP Glass
When cutting glass for windows you end oup with loads of scrap glass. Fustrated by all the waste, I found ways to repurpose it.
Design
Cut/Grind
Renew
#01
#02
#03
The first step is choosing pieces from the scrap that can be practically reused. Sometimes, no matter how pretty the glass is you find, it can not be incorporated into every design.
Luckily most of my larger projects include lots of linear lines, resulting in a lot of rectangular scrap pieces. My earring designs reflect this.
The final step is assembling the piece, either using the copper foil method or traditional lead and solder.
Earrings
from Scrap Glass
Earrings seem to be the most sought after glass creations I make. A lot of of people enjoy the idea of wearing a piece of history/art. I have made earrings using glass that is over 200 years old.
Due to the materials used, these earrings fall under the category of costume jewelry. They are not fine jewels or metals. This means I can be as creative and wild as possible with the designs and I do not feel guilty.
ART DECO
Art Deco
I started Campbell Heritage to learn more about my family’s history and the effects culture can have on many generations. As a way to pay homage to my four grandparents or the “founders” of my life, I have chosen to represent the time period in which they were all born (1920s-30s). Inspired by Art Deco motifs, a collection of stained glass window hangings and earrings, made from recycled glass.
The designs reflect the art and architecture of the time. Art Deco design was meant to convey a sense of symmetry and order, using geometric shapes like triangles, squares and circles.
Collection 1
Campbell Heritage Stained Glass Collection 1: Great Gatsby
WESTERN
Going West
Finding a sense of place is primitive when defining home and if were lucky, some of us will find many in this world. While searching for my family's history, the question of "where is home", came up a lot. Like many, my family immigrated West to Canada from all over Europe. This collection is inspired by these moves and the idea of existing in various cultural landscapes.
Like the first collection, I wanted to represent Art Deco motifs. This time I focused on interior details found inside of Art Deco buildings.
Collection 11
The FANS were designed after tile flooring from an Art Deco building.
Lauren’s Wedding Earrings
It was a blast to collaborate with Lauren for her wedding day earrings. I created custom earrings for her and her four bridesmaids.
Custom
Window HAngings
Over the past few years I have taken on commissions for stained glass window hangings. The greatest thing about working with a client is getting to create something unique for and with someone else. I try my best to encourage my clients to use recycled glass if possible.
CAMPBELL HERITAGE
STAINED GLASS
Contact
Get in Touch
Email: campbellheritage@gmail.com
Socials:
@campbell.heritage
