Golden Light: The Legacy and Future of Subiaco’s Historic Stained Glass

The United Nations International Year of Glass provides a timely opportunity to bring Subiaco’s rich heritage of stained glass and leadlight to local, state, national and international prominence.

In conjunction with the Rotary Club of Subiaco and with a City of Subiaco Community Development Grant, art collector, broadcaster and company director, Thomas Murrell is hosting an event to engage with the local community, provide a documented photographic record of Subiaco’s historic stained glass and leadlight and help conserve and promote this very visual and valuable form of art.

The workshop will be free to attend with a line-up of impressive experts from culturally diverse backgrounds.

The workshop will also allow for facilitated input from delegates to come up with ideas and strategies to promote, preserve and celebrate Subiaco’s rich heritage of stained glass and leadlight.

Ideally, home owners will attend the workshop and nominate their historic stained glass and leadlight to be documented and photographed.

The content from the workshop and photographs will be the basis of future publications on this important and underappreciated form of art.

Workshop Agenda – Tuesday April 18, 2023, World Heritage Day.

530 pm to 830pm Upstairs Subiaco Hotel

1. Conference MC, Facilitator and Convener, art collector and Subiaco resident, Thomas Murrell – Acknowledgement of Country and welcomes delegates – 5min

2. Five-minute video presentation by President/Chairperson of GLAAS Inc Dr Bronwyn Hughes OAM outlining The United Nations International Year of Glass and the role of GLAAS Inc. 5 Min

3. “A Subiaco Icon – The Stained Glass and Leadlight of Fairview” – Sandra Curtis, Leadlight Window Researcher. 20 Min

4. “Preserving and Restoring Your Heritage Stained Glass and Leadlight”, Kim Fitzpatrick, fourth generation owner and operator of Traditional Stained Glass and Leadlight. Discusses the importance of authentic restoration and preservation. 20 Min

5. “Historic Stained Glass for Contemporary Living” architect Sam Teoh, Sam Teoh architects Shenton Park. Uses case studies from notable Subiaco homes to illustrate how historic stained glass and leadlight can be used in modern design for contemporary living spaces. 20 Min

6. “Photographing Stained Glass” – Tyson Foster, professional art photographer, Fox Lab Fine Art. Expresses to homeowners what he is looking for with his photographic documentation process. 20 Min

7. Facilitated Panel Discussion – “Future Trends in Glass Art” – Noongar artists Amanda Bell and Shannon Clohessy discuss how glass is being used in new and novel ways using case studies from their own art practices. 20 Min

8. Facilitated Workshop breakouts with delegates. Aim to generate ideas and feedback on how to promote, preserve and celebrate Subiaco’s rich heritage of stained glass and leadlight and generate a list of homes/buildings within the City of Subiaco with historic stained glass and leadlight worthy of photographing and documenting. 60 Min

Speaker Biographies

Thomas Andrew Calvert Murrell BAgSc (Hons) (Adel), DipAgEcon (UNE), MBA (UWA), CSP, Vincent Fairfax Fellow

Art collector, broadcaster and experienced Company Director, Thomas Murrell MBA, CSP is the owner of The Fairview Art collection, a nationally significant collection of women’s art from South Australia and Western Australia.

President/Chairperson of GLAAS Inc Dr Bronwyn Hughes OAM

Dr. Bronwyn Hughes has spent thirty-five years as a glass artist, lecturer, and historian of stained glass. Since the 1990s she has increasingly focussed on documenting Australian stained glass in order to highlight the importance of historical understanding as one tool to ensure successful conservation of glass for future generations. She holds the most significant personal collection of stained-glass images in Australia.

In 2008 she curated a major exhibition on First World War commemorative windows by William Montgomery at the Shrine of Remembrance, Melbourne. Over the next few years she undertook a comprehensive study of stained-glass memorials throughout Victoria, supported by a grant from the Army History Unit, Department of Defence: the material has been published by the Victorian Veterans Unit, Department of Premier and Cabinet as part of Victoria’s War Heritage Inventory. The research has since expanded into all states and culminates in Lights Everlasting, the first publication about Australian commemorative-stained glass. Her completed manuscript, “Yrs affectionately Mont”, based on the First World War letters of William Montgomery Junior, is pending publication.

She was a founding board member of The Duldig Gallery (2002-2014); a long-standing member of the National Trust Public Art Committee and continues as editor of the first encyclopedia of Australian stained-glass makers, an on-line project. Her volunteer work in Manuscripts and Picture Library of the State Library of Victoria includes describing collections of stained-glass artists and firms in preparation for catalogues and digitisation.

In 2019 she was awarded the Order of Australia medal for services to the Visual Arts.

Academic qualifications: PhD (Melb 2007); MA (Melb 1997); Dip Ed (Melb 1986); Grad Dip (Chisholm IT 1982); BA (Caulfield IT 1980)

Sandra Curtis, Leadlight Window Researcher

Leadlight windows captured Sandy’s attention in 2008 while completing a practicum unit at the Subiaco Museum, where she was researching the significance of Leadlight windows in Subiaco. At the time Sandy was completing her undergraduate studies, a Bachelor of Arts with majors in Cultural Heritage and Architecture at Curtin University. Since then, Sandy has continued her research into Leadlight windows. Her endless research has resulted in written materials and articles, the development of exhibitions and the development of several walking tours.

This work has seen Sandy build strong relationships with several leading glass artists in Western Australia, who have imparted an unending supply of reliable information on the early practices of glass art and glass manufacture in the state. In a time where little has been collected by collecting agencies and little was known about the creators of domestic leadlight windows, these relationships have proven to be a valuable resource to the research topic that has a long way to go in paying homage to glass artists of the past. Most importantly, these ongoing relationships have contributed to Sandy’s understanding of the social meaning of leadlight windows.

Prior to her university journey, Sandy held a 34-year career working in the built environment, where much of the work she coordinated involved heritage homes, many of which were in Subiaco. Sandy was working on a Subiaco heritage house when the “Subiaco Gone Mad” movement occurred. In fact, it was this movement that moved Sandy towards becoming a Heritage Practitioner and attaining the correct qualifications, in the hope to provide some clarity around the ensuing confusion stemming from this time.

Sandy is now a well-recognised leader in the social significance of domestic leadlight windows.

Kim Fitzpatrick, Fourth Generation Glass Artist and Restorer

Kim Fitzpatrick is an internationally recognized glass designer and master craftsman.

His 110-year old family company is based in Perth and he has worked internationally in places like Dubai, Hong Kong and Europe.

It was while living in Canada that he first discovered his personal love of art glass technique and design.

His artistic effort is found in cathedrals, hotels and Houses of Parliament as well as in some of our finest private homes, including those in Subiaco.

Sam Teoh, Owner and Principal of Sam Teoh Architects, Shenton Park

Sam Teoh is from Chinese Malaysian cultural background and has worked in the restoration and renovation of some of Subiaco’s most notable historic homes.

He uses historic glass in unique and exciting ways, especially using modern lighting to create memorable spaces for contemporary living.

Teoh’s Chinese Malaysian heritage influences his design style. He incorporates modern design and layout principles while incorporating the true ethos of eclecticism. His award-winning trademark eclectic style, combines historic high-end architectural salvaged elements with his signature straight lines and crucible axis.

He is a graduate of the University of Western Australia and has been operating out of his Shenton Park office since 1996.

Tyson Foster, Professional Art Photographer, Fox Lab Fine Art

Tyson is an expert at capturing the beauty of art through a photographic lens. He has been working in the photographic community for more than 10 years and in that time has been directly involved in the evolution of Perth’s Art Reproduction services. Since creating Fox Lab Fine Art out of the need for a more collaborative approach to art reproduction, publishing and print making, he has been able to offer the artists of Perth and Australia a service that goes above and beyond the way art has been documented and printed in the past. Working with some of Perth’s most distinguished artists has given Fox Lab Fine Art a reputation as Perth’s leading Art Reproduction Studio.

Tyson is continuing to further the way we document and print artwork by introducing new and exciting additions to printing as well as new technology to capture and create the best reproductions possible.

Amanda Bell, Noongar Artist

A striking neon glass sculpture from Badimia and Yued woman Amanda Bell is the emerging artist’s first acquisition into the State Art Collection currently on display at the Art Gallery of Western Australia. Titled From our lip, mouths, throat and belly, the bright pink work takes the form of the Noongar word “Moorditj”, which means good or awesome in English.

A sound work accompanying the sculpture plays the voices of Aunty Gloria Hill and Aunty Lola Garlett sharing their stories. The work reflects on the weight of words, and the power of language in connecting with one’s cultural and familial heritage.

From our lip, mouths, throats and belly premiered at Fremantle Arts Centre’s (FAC) 2021 Revealed Exhibition, an annual showcase of Western Australia’s emerging Aboriginal artists. The work has gained iconic status and is an innovative use of neon glass. She is a finalist in the 2022 John Stringer Art Prize.

Shannon Clohessy, Noongar Artist