And All That Glass!

San Juan, Texas, August 27, 2022: The Gelman Stained Glass Museum invites the public for a behind-the-scenes look in “And All That Glass!” where local stained-glass artists, La Casa del Vitral will be installing one of their renown windows by Mary Tillinghast (1845-1912). This window was originally installed in 1906 at First Presbyterian Church in Syracuse, New York (which has now been demolished and replaced into a parking lot), titled “New Jerusalem,” has traveled through time and across the country to reach its new permanent home, The Gelman Stained Glass Museum. Soaring over 27 feet, this window is a quintessential piece to the museum’s collection as it complements the artistic portfolio of masterworks by America’s most famous female stained-glass artist Mary Tillinghast. 

“We are very excited to share the behind-the-scenes experience with the public for this live installation,” stated Gelman Stained Glass Museum Director, Miriam Cepeda. “Most of our visitors are fascinated knowing that all-of our windows are original antiques from various churches across the United States. Their first question is ‘how did they end up in the RGV?’ That being said, we wanted to share this experience for our visitors to enjoy the craftsmanship and history that is shared with every window. For example, this window, “New Jerusalem” by Tillinghast is an example of the entrepreneurial spirit of independent women in 19th Century America, and by having events such as these are keeping her legacy alive with the same excitement of a window dedication in the 1900s.”