Introduction to Stained Glass: Christmas Ornaments
A one-day beginners’ workshop with Mary Claire MacDonald
Spend a December Saturday learning the craft of stained glass, and go home with your very own hand-made Christmas ornament to share with your family or give as a gift. No experience needed.
The Day
- Morning
- A brief introduction to the history of stained glass and to your instructor. Choose your ornament pattern, then learn to cut and grind glass and wrap each piece in copper foil.
- 11:45 am
- Optional: join the monks for Sext, their midday prayer.
- 12:00 pm
- Catered lunch and time together as a community.
- Afternoon
- Solder your ornament and add a border, then clean and polish it.
- 4:00 pm
- Head home with your finished stained glass ornament.
Mary Claire MacDonald
Medieval Arts Teacher, Saint Louis Priory School
Mary Claire MacDonald teaches medieval arts at Saint Louis Priory School, including stained glass, mosaic, Gothic calligraphy, illumination, and iconography. She was first introduced to Priory’s artistic tradition through her husband, a Priory alumnus who studied under Brother Symeon Gillette and worked with him on stained glass windows.
A Texas native, she studied classics at Baylor University and earned a master’s degree from the University of Edinburgh. Working at Edinburgh Castle and worshipping at St Giles’ Cathedral, she was surrounded by extraordinary stained glass and medieval art, an experience that drew her to the sacred arts.
Iconography is her primary discipline. She apprenticed with Jane Ladik in Dallas, studied with Elvin Taca in Cusco, Peru, and for the past three summers has trained with master iconographer Father Alex at Priory. In recent years she has expanded her practice to glass painting.
For Mary Claire, sacred art is above all a form of contemplative prayer. She delights in welcoming students into this ancient practice, where hands at work become a quiet path to God.