Lexington, KY - Zig Zeigler decided to retire eight years ago from a career in publishing. This would afford him the time to devote to another type of work he had developed a passion for: stained glass.
It all started long ago when he decided he wanted a special piece of glass for his front door. Zeigler resolved to learn a little something about stained glass and maybe do the glasswork for the door himself. He fell in love with the art form and began doing pieces for friends and churches. He looked forward to a day when he could devote a little more of his time to his new passion. After retirement, he quickly found himself in one of those "be careful what you wish for" situations. With Zeigler Stained Glass studio, he's now busier than he's ever been, but it is obvious he loves his work.
Zeigler and his team work long hours restoring stained glass windows that have fallen into disrepair and creating new ones for homes, offices, churches and a variety of buildings. Clients seek them out from all over the country.
The artist employs many techniques and likes to match the style he uses to the project at hand. Some of his methods are centuries old and some are newly developed or modified.
Currently one project in particular is getting his complete attention. Zeigler has been commissioned by Christ the King Catholic Church in Lexington to create eight new windows for the new Chapel of the Perpetual Adoration currently under construction at their location on Colony Boulevard. The eight windows depict six different themes. The five larger windows feature the Holy Family, Mother Teresa, Pope John Paul II, St. Gabriel and St. Michael. Three smaller windows depict St. Kevin and his Irish homeland.
The windows in Christ the King's main church were commissioned in the 1950s and were created by Gabriel Loire, a renowned stained-glass artist from Chartres, France. The windows were created at the time utilizing a unique process of stained-glass work called dalle de verre. Stained-glass artwork dates back to the Byzantines. Many techniques have evolved for working with the colorful medium, and technology has brought some newer changes, but in many ways, stained glass remains faithful to its ancient roots.
The word dalle refers to thick slabs of handmade colored glass tiles that weigh 10 to 15 pounds each. Sometimes referred to as slab glass or faceted glass, the thick pieces are cut on a diamond saw or are chipped with sharp hammers that shape the thick glass into the desired contour then set in epoxy. The dense but translucent qualities of dalle de verre and the thick, broken edges are very characteristic of the style. The end result is a heavy and very durable piece of art that can stand the test of time.
At the time the Perpetual Adoration Chapel committee took up the task of planning the new space, there was a desire to create the new chapel in keeping with the original building's architecture and to have the new windows match the style of the older windows. Choosing someone who could not only match the style but also the quality of the early windows was important.
Fortunately a former parishioner and deacon in the parish had just the skills required, and artist Zig Zeigler stepped up to create the new windows.
"I love the cathedral and the beautiful glass in the sanctuary and tower. I was thrilled to work on the new windows. It's a good fit," he said.
He traveled to France and observed firsthand the dalle de verre techniques used in the original windows.
"One of the main things we observed was the use of a special faceting hammer called a marteline. I knew I had to have one," he said.
As with any craftsman and his work, having the right tool is important.
"It's unbelievable how simple but how perfect it is to use," said Zeigler. "A lot of this work is done by hand, and having the marteline that we ordered from France has made such a difference."
Zeigler's daughter, Emily, who is assisting her father in this project, demonstrated the special hammer and the technique used to shape the dalles. Looking a bit like the process for creating an arrowhead from a piece of flint, the dalle is chipped and shaped by striking the glass with the marteline, with its sharp edge held in just the right way to carefully shape the glass into the design that will become part of the greater mosaic of the window's design. When it is complete, the project will have taken the better part of a year to create.
Father Mark Dreves, Christ the King Rector, said Zeigler was a logical and an easy choice.
"Zig has been a parishioner here," Dreves said. "He knows us and the building. He had the ability to give us exactly what we were looking for. His sketches pleased the church community very much. We knew we were in good hands. He's so talented and he made the process seamless."
Dreves said he looks forward to the chapel's completion.
"The saints are great reminders and examples of our faith," he said. "The parishioners will find our new chapel an excellent place to nourish their faith."
The official unveiling will be in March 2012 when the addition is complete.
Visit Christ the King Catholic Church's website at cathedral@cdlex.org for information on the unveiling of the new chapel.
Visit Zig Zeigler's website at zeiglerglass.com, for more information on the artist's work and services.