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 fixation.
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 other settings. Clients seek their talents out from all over the country.
As an artist, Zeigler 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.
One project in particular got his complete attention. Zeigler was commissioned by Cathedral of Christ the King to create eight windows for the new Chapel of the Perpetual Adoration currently under construction at the church's location on Colony Boulevard. The eight pieces were installed earlier in January while the chapel was still under construction.
The 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 hall were commissioned in the 1960s 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 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. The thick pieces are cut on a diamond saw or are chipped with sharp hammers that shape the glass into the desired contour then set in epoxy. The dense but translucent qualities of dalle de verre and the 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 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 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 for the original windows.
"One of the main things we observed was the use of a special faceting hammer called a marteline," he said. "I knew I had to have one."
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," Zeigler said. "A lot of this work is done by hand, and having the marteline that we ordered from France has made such a difference."
Father Mark Dreves, Christ the King Rector, said Zeigler was a logical, and 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 new 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 take place in March 2012 when the addition is complete.
Visit Christ the King Catholic Church's website at www.cathedral.cdlex.org for information on the unveiling of the new chapel.
Visit Zig Zeigler's website at www.zeiglerglass.com for more information on the artist's work and services.