Client: Ev. Kirche der Pfalz

Overview

For the interior design of this in-house chapel, the client partnered with the Department for Glass and Ceramics at the University of Applied Science in Koblenz, initiating a competition among its graduating students. Michèle Janata was selected to design the art glass for the chapel at Butenschoen Haus, a evangelical Center of Learning that is open to visitors/visiting groups and holds workshops all year round.

Goals

For artist Michèle Janata, the installation at Butenschoen Haus was her first liturgical commission. It was her objective to give consideration to the twofold nature of the space as a place of worship as well as a space located at the heart of an educational facility.
Through the interplay of light and glass, the four steles flood the space with color, creating a serene atmosphere that is reminiscent of tradition stained glass. At the same time, Janata’s contemporary design is full of energy and inspires curiosity, creating a space that is open and welcoming to everyone.

Process

For her art work, Michèle Janata combined a mix of traditional and modern materials and techniques. She selected high quality dichroic glass and different sheets of hand blown antique glass. The experienced team of glass painters at Derix Glasstudios then acid etched the glass in several layers and laminated the glass to a safety glass unit. Each stele is 9.8 feet high and fixed top and bottom in a steel anchor.