Passion and perspective at work: meet Aaron Anderson of Glassery Stained Glass Studio
When we marvel over towering, luminescent masterworks like stained glass windows in iconic Upstate churches, we often lose sight of the hand of their creator. It can seem as if the centuries-old art form has always merely existed.
This colorful tradition, however, is alive and well at Glassery Stained Glass Studio in North Greenville, where Master Artisan Aaron Anderson crafts stunning new pieces every day. “My style is [very much informed by] Louis Tiffany and the Art Nouveau movement, as well as Impressionism,” says Anderson. “It has the opalescent, colorful look, but I enjoy geometric designs, too.”
To create his work, Anderson buys sheets of glass out of Pennsylvania, determines the overall design, and cuts the sheets to fit. “I think letting the glass [guide] the work is the big thing,” adds Anderson, who painstakingly sketches out every design by pencil before he begins—even creating an at-scale watercolor painting for larger commissions. “That really brings out the colors and gives you a better idea of what it will look like.” Finally, the assembly: inserting the individual pieces of glass between lead came strips, also known as an H channel, before soldering, grouting, and occasionally reinforcing the final work with rebar.
“Once [the stained glass] is in place, it is very sturdy. If done right, a window should last decades: 85, 90 years,” reveals Anderson. After that, the lead between the panes begins to break down—and that’s when the master artisan steps in to repair and restore the work, which involves disassembling the panes and rebuilding the window.
Anderson didn’t set out to become a stained glass artist. By chance, the Minnesota native lived down the street from a studio and picked up the trade easily. For over 35 years, Anderson has created unique pieces for churches as well as homeowners, and though his portfolio shines with examples of both, he most looks forward to colorful home commissions. “Homes are a little more personal,” he says. “With a church, you want to please everyone, but it might not be possible. With homes, you’re working closely with [the owners], and [you hope they are] going to love the work. In the ’80s and ’90s, [more people] wanted bevels and clear glass, but now, it seems like they’re willing to go in a more colorful and intricate direction, which I like.”
When asked if he thinks stained glass is a dying art form—at least among young creatives—Anderson is optimistic, if not a realist. “It’s not an easy craft to master. I think it’s like playing a musical instrument: it takes a lot of time to get good at it. I think there will always be a need for it and a desire for it, but it’ll ebb and flow. It’s been around a thousand years, so I don’t see it going anywhere.”
Visit the Stained Glass Studio
The Glassery is often open to visitors when Anderson is at work. Simply call ahead or swing by.
Glassery Stained Studio
534 Rutherford Rd., Greenville
864.395.1026
glasseryco.com
Photography by Will Crooks.
