This private chapel was commissioned to be adorned with stained glass windows, text-based wall sculptures and a massive hand-carved altar. Built in Corpus Christi, TX, the sanctuary features two large circular windows at either end, six rectangular ones that flank either side of the structure high above the eye line, and text works observed as one egresses from the building. With great consideration, this devout Catholic family of Irish and Hispanic descent, selected the very specific imagery and the depiction of Christ over the altar, each window casting a soft red and blue glow throughout the meditative space.

The commissions create a space of reverence that reflects the aspirations of its congregants: depictions of St. Thomas More, St. Philomena, St. Nicholas, St. Philip Neri, Joan of Arc, and Lady Justice, animatedly exist above. These saints were chosen to evoke conversations of great faith, and point specifically to the clients’ devotion to their community and to their blended family of seven children.

Exiting, the bronze texts reading, “It’s Sunday morning somewhere,” “God said everyone,” and “there’s no such thing as coincidence” call out the family’s both spiritual and whimsical intent.

Goals

The intent for this chapel was to create a sacred space that was not only rooted in Catholic devotion, but also in the narrative of the family who commissioned it.

Similar to the Renaissance practice of families creating private chapels to display their faith and provide a place of worship for their communities, this family frequently welcomes their community to have their own special celebrations in this sanctuary.

Process

Talented, seasoned glass artists Liz Conces Spencer and Gene Hester first sketched each window for detailed discussion of subject, composition and palette. They then fabricated maquettes to more concretely share with the client how each piece would respond to light and to determine optimal placement and order in the space.

Each piece was then carefully composed by cutting glass, painting certain elements, firing in the kiln and assembling in the frames – refining to achieve the desired effect.

Sculptor Tara Conley created the three delightful text works out of bronze in curvilinear script, creating a sense of familiarity and approachability. She scaled them to perfectly accommodate the back wall of the chapel.