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Stained-glass studio brings ideas to light in Lake Benton
By Valerie Scherbart Quist
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Joan Hohenstein never thought she'd open a stained-glass studio. Though she
majored in art at Bethany College in Mankato, the art of stained glass never
really interested her.
That was, until three years ago, when she worked
for a couple of months with a woman from Hazel, S.D., who made stained-glass
items. Hohenstein learned the art, and began doing it on her own.
"It's
like doing a big jigsaw puzzle," she said.
And while she says it wasn't
that difficult to learn, making stained glass items means a big investment
in tools and supplies.
"It's a very expensive hobby just to make and give
to people."
So Hohenstein decided to open her own stained glass studio out
of her rural Lake Benton home. The business, Hohenstein Stained Glass Studio,
officially opened in February.
Hohenstein works with both lead and foil
techniques. She orders her glass from a wholesaler, and uses special tools
to score and snap off pieces, and grind off the rough edges.
With the foil
technique, each piece has to be individually wrapped, burnished, and soldered
together.
"You have to be very exact," she said. "Lead is a little more
forgiving." With lead, the glass pieces are fitted into the channels of
lead pieces, and the corners are soldered together.
What's the difference?
With lead, the stained glass piece will eventually have to be redone, said
Hohenstein, because the glass is always moving, and it will shift. Foil
is sturdier, and broken pieces can easily be popped out for replacement.
If a piece is broken out of a lead window, it has to be dismantled for repair
to take place.
While most people think of stained glass in churches,
Hohenstein said, it can add a touch of elegance to any home or business.
Besides beauty, she said, stained glass helps to block ultra-violet rays,
helps to prevent fading of carpeting and furniture, and adds a sense of
privacy.
Most of Hohenstein's customers have an idea of the area they would
like to enhance with stained glass. She helps them decide whether they would
like a pattern or a scene, and what colors they would like to use.
Most
people, she said, prefer a classic, Victorian look for their stained glass
windows. Windows can be designed to match a particular theme, or decor in
a customer's home.
"I draw almost all the patterns myself," she said. "If
I can see it, I can draw it."
The most difficult aspect is choosing the
glass to go with the design.
"Glass comes in so many different colors and
textures," she said.
"That's the hardest part-choosing. There's a lot of
design that goes into that part of it."
For those who want a stained glass
look but not the window, there are other options. Hohenstein makes "light
boxes"-14-by-17-inch glass panels illuminated from behind-that can be put
into or on a wall.
Other stained glass pieces Hohenstein makes include terrariums,
suncatchers, picture frames, and boxes. She hopes to have some of her gift
items for sale at local stores.
Hohenstein will work with individuals by
appointment. She may be reached at (507) 368-9275.
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