New wedding tour, plus tours of Cairnwood Mansion offered

Glencairn Museum’s medieval stained glass collection taking spotlight with afternoon of workshops, tours, exhibits and hands-on activity

A collection of medieval stained glass, described as among the world’s “finest and most extensive,” can be explored at Glencairn Museum in Bryn Athyn Feb. 12 at an event featuring workshops, exhibits, tours, and an opportunity to make a stained glass piece.

The event, “Reflections of Faith: A Stained Glass Sunday at Glencairn,” is set for 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and kicks off the museum’s winter/spring lineup of activities. In honor of the kickoff, the museum, at 1001 Cathedral Road, is waving its usual admission fee, opting instead for “donations welcome.”

“The Feb. 12 event is going to be an exciting and busy day,” said Joralyn Echols, Glencairn’s events and public relations assistant, noting there will be some “firsts” for the museum, including a coffee bar.

Stained glass at Glencairn has a rich history.

In supervising construction of Bryn Athyn Cathedral, Raymond Pitcairn, who built Glencairn as his family home, hoped to duplicate the medieval glass he admired in churches in Europe. The undertaking was monumental, requiring a team to be sent to England and France to study stained glass. Pitcairn also had a 12th century manuscript describing the art of stained glass-making translated from German. And he established a stained glass studio and factory in Bryn Athyn.

In 1921, Pitcairn’s efforts found him in New York City, where he secured 23 panels of medieval stained glass. Eventually his collection grew to 260 panels, prompting Philippe de Montebello, director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, to declare: “The Romanesque and Gothic art that was assembled by Raymond Pitcairn represents the world’s finest and most extensive collection of medieval sculpture and stained glass still in private hands.”

The “Reflections of Faith” afternoon includes:

• Workshops by noted stained-glass artist Kenneth Leap of the Stained Glass Center at Wheaton Village in Millville, N.J., will be presented at 2:15 and 3:15 p.m. Participants will apply glass pigment to designs adapted from Glencairn’s windows. Painted glass panels will be fired in an ultra-fast gas kiln so items can be taken home that day. Only 24 spaces are available for this event. Reservations are recommended and may be made by calling 267-502-2981. Fee for the workshop is $10; $5 for museum members and students. Participants must be age 8 and over.

• Exhibits include a look at tools used in making stained glass at Bryn Athyn Cathedral and Glencairn. Also, Dr. Michael Cothren, a medieval stained glass expert, will hold informal talks and interpret panels from the Pitcairn collection.

• Tours of Glencairn and its collections will be available, including a new “marriage tour” highlighting art from different cultures that depict marriage, a view of the teachings of the New Church related to marriage using images in the building and a glimpse of the Pitcairns’ beliefs and through family portraits, jewelry, and their choice or art.

The “Reflections” afternoon also features light refreshments and a coffee bar, available for a nominal fee.

Also that afternoon, guided tours of Cairnwood Mansion, located next door to Glencairn, will be offered at 2, 3 and 4 p.m. In a feature entitled “Historic Cairnwood: Family Life in 1895,” visitors can get a glimpse of the Gilded Age in America through the life and experiences of industrialist and entrepreneur John Pitcairn and wife, Gertrude, Raymond’s parents. Also on view, will be a temporary exhibit of family life at Cairnwood, including personal objects and photographs. Visitors can step back in time in the Carriage House with its restored carriages, peruse collections in the Garden House, and explore the grandeur of this Beaux Arts country house. Donations are welcome at Cairnwood, located at 1005 Cathedral Road.
In addition to the stained glass event, Glencairn’s winter/spring calendar includes:

• Pennsylvania Youth Chorale, 4 p.m. March 11. The non-profit children’s choir will present a varied program of art music, folk songs in different languages, and choreographed Broadway sets. Admission: $10; $5 for museum members and students; children 5 and under, free.

• The Wister Quartet, 3 p.m. March 19. The group features Lloyd Smith, violoncello; Nancy Bean, violin; Pamela Fay, viola, and Davyd Booth, violin. With special guest Marcantonio Barone, piano. Admission: $10; $5 for members and students; children 5 and under, free.

• Eric Ruske, horn., 3 p.m. April 9. Ruske has established himself as an artist of international acclaim. At age 20, he was named Associate Principal Horn of the Cleveland Orchestra. He recorded extensively during his six-year tenure as horn player with the Empire Brass Quintet, in 1986 won the Young Concert Artists International Auditions; the 1987 American Horn Competition, and in 1988 the Concours International d’Interpretation Musicale in Reims, France. Admission: $10; $5 for members and students; children 5 and under, free.

• Posaune Decopule, 3 p.m. April 23. A unique trombone performance with players from around the world. Beginning with a solo by Glenn Dodson, the program progresses to a duo, trio, quartet and on to a 10-piece finale. Admission: $10; $5 for members and students; children 5 and under, free.

• Medieval Faire, 1 - 5 p.m. The popular annual festival is another “donations welcome” event. Experience medieval life by mingling with the Royal Court, braving a pilgrimage tour in honor of St. Jacque, and viewing the collection of stained glass in the United States. Interactive crafts and programs by Bryn Athyn College medieval history students. Come in a medieval costume and get a Glencairn poster.

• The DaVinci Code: Fact or Fiction?, 8 p.m. May 4. Dr. Diane Apostolos-Cappadona examines the novel, “The Da Vinci Code” by Dan Brown, in conjunction with release of the movie. It’s a look behind the hype to explore the meaning of Mary Magdalene in Christian history, scripture and art. Admission: $10, free for members and students.

For additional information, call 267-502-2600 or visit www.glencairn.org.

Caption info:
This example of the stained glass at Glencairn is a 1920 copy of a French 13th century window.

Contacts:

Media information:
Rebecca Felten
215-672-3152

Glencairn:
Joralyn Echols
Outreach and Public Relations Coordinator
267-502-2987

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