An Artistic Evening for MECAC and Friends

The room quieted. Forty pairs of eyes focused on the black curtain veiling the artwork. As Dr. Don and Marcia Adema each pulled their own cord, the curtain moved aside to reveal a 1500-piece Tiffany-inspired stained glass window designed and created by Pine Valley resident Keith Barrett. A gasp filled the room as the Ademas’ guests surveyed the work of nine months: 40 different colors and textures of glass forming the image of a grape arbor and garden columns framing a lake, a house, and hills with a background of a sunset sky. Applause filled the Descanso house at sunset on the evening of September 27.


(The window before unveiling)

The extremely-detailed stained glass window, in the color palette of browns, golds, and reds, was commissioned a year ago at a dinner party given by the Ademas of Descanso. Keith, who learned stained glass techniques at Christian High School in the mid-70’s, has completed approximately 70 windows, mostly commission work. The window, measuring approximately four feet by five feet, contained some pieces so small that four pieces of glass fit on the face of a dime simultaneously. This window has been the most detailed and ambitious window he has created.


(The stained glass window)

The inspiration for the window came from a book of Tiffany windows. Keith then took photographs of Dr. Adema’s grape arbor and his wife’s flower garden that he used to design the foliage. The beautiful mountain sunsets we view from our front porch became the inspiration for his portrayal the sunset – layers of colors ascending into deep blue at the top. The most amazing aspect of the window was Tiffany’s technique of using two panes of glass in certain places to give more depth of color and texture which Keith also used in the sunset sky, the hills, and the lake.


(The artist, Keith Barrett, shares his stained glass knowledge)

Keith used several newer tools in the completion of the window, including diamond-bladed jig and band saws and a wet belt sander to create art with this degree of detail would not have been possible when Keith first learned the art of glasswork without these tools. He used zinc caming to create the border; usually lead caming would be used but the zinc provides more strength. For the pieces within the frame, Keith used over 500 feet of copper foil which is taped along the perimeter of each piece of glass and then is soldered together, first the back of the window, and then the front. Keith also used a small glass kiln to fuse the paint used on the small house into the glass itself. All of these techniques came together to create this gorgeous stained glass window.


(The Townsend girls perform psalms set to classical music)

The Ademas’ artistic evening, which included a delicious spread of food and glasses flowing with champagne and sparkling cider, also showcased a musical treat by Psalms Forth Ministries. The Franklin and Townsend families entertained the guests with psalms sung by four young girls and the composer’s wife, set to music composed with a classical flair and accompanied by cello, piano, and flute. While some guests listened to the music, others took a closer look at the stained glass window, asking the artist questions and making comments as to the beauty of the work. Keith Barrett had also created a Power-Point presentation demonstrating his inspiration, his photographs, and the process of creating the window which he will use in a future MECAC Artistic Evening. September 27 was a most enjoyable artistic evening, one for which we thank the Adema family for hosting so beautifully.