Stained Glass Artist Lawrence Frey

Ihad the distinct pleasure to meet stained glass artist Lawrence Frey (pronounced Fry) and readily accepted his invitation to tour his company, the Appalachian Stained Glass Studio, In Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania. It is here that he designs and builds custom stained glass works for everything from apartments to multimillion-dollar homes. He creates stained glass panels ranging from smaller leaded glass for transoms and doors to very large-scale multi-panel installations for vast spans of windows. Using light as his canvas, Frey’s designs blend his fresh and unique style with glass techniques eons old to create works of art.

The studio is located just off the beaten path surrounded by thick forests of hemlock, native rhododendron and fern providing a peaceful setting where he creates his works.

Frey was recently commissioned to design and install two large 6’ arching glass-works high in the gable of a log home. After careful study of the house and property and listening to the homeowners he began. His concept was that the window needed to be not a window but rather a transition that pulls together and reflects on the natural elements of the home, its surroundings and the owner’s lifestyle while providing an airy feeling of light and color.

To the homeowners delight, Lawrence had created a canopy of graceful maple branches and foliage embracing a breadth of sky and light. The glass-work fools the eye as if the maples are just outside enticing one to ‘drift through’ the boughs and leaves.

Lawrence has a style all his own.

As I looked through his extensive portfolio of glass-works that he has designed and installed I couldn’t help but find his designs to be refreshing and far different than the stained glass that I’m accustomed to seeing. Beautiful.

I asked if there was a designer, artist or particular style that had influenced him. “ I think everyone’s work should be different”. “That I’ve never used pre-drafted patterns, I’ve been able to achieve my own style over the years. My earlier work was more colorful and traditional.”

It is usually the more ‘traditional’ that first comes to mind when I think of stained glass.

Like me, many may think of spectacular geometrically balanced Gothic windows or extravagant Victorian stained glass be-speckled with vibrant and abundant colors – jewels to behold and dazzle the eye. Perhaps they reflect on the creations of the arts and crafts movement and the intricate symmetrical styling of Frank Lloyd Wright, Elbert Hubbard or the free-flowing patterns of William Morris, or maybe they picture elegant Art Nouveau styling of John La Farge or Louis Sullivan.

For some what comes to mind when they think of stained glass is the grand, tightly ornate and opulent precision of Tiffany, the rigidity of the Eastlake style or the architectural glass of Willet Hauser.

Lawrence’s work however, is something quite different. He has an eye for capturing the rich tones, colors and organic shapes in celebration of the natural world around us. Many works are cause for a double take.

Within some works he has blended in a small detail, element or touch of whimsy of perhaps something that one would overlook at first glance such as a songbird or beautifully intricate dragonfly. Such are details he leaves for us to discover and delight.

After asking him about his design process he began to flip through his notebook of sketches (he is a talented artist) to show me various stages of concepts. “The design stage is the most important part of the process”. He then walked me through from sketch to layout to how the window would look in its full color final form.

He also shared a number of examples where he used traditional centuries-old techniques whereby he has created custom elements and effects by fusing glass materials in his kiln. He also pointed to a number of details where he used similar traditional methods to prepare mixtures of finely ground colored glass and metal oxides to achieve unique colors and hues with which he could “paint” intricate details and then fuse them permanently into the glass.

Business has been brisk and Lawrence is a very busy man. He has numerous works in progress, a steadily growing client list with many coming back for more. When asked recently by a local reporter if the recession was impacting his business Lawrence replied that he has chosen not participate in the recession adding that because he can customize not only the design but also the price he has remained extremely busy. One very exciting note is that after a long review of numerous design submissions from artists’ and stained glass designers’ both near and far, it was Lawrence Frey that was chosen to design, build and install the stained glass windows for an entire church in Eastern Pennsylvania.

The day that I met with him he was preparing the final touch to a concept design for a client: The large 6’x 8‘ design of delicate orchids and a tall off-set potted palm with its reaching graceful fronds would be set into the multiple divided lights of a pair of large french doors thereby creating the appearance of a lush garden room just beyond the threshold. He is a trompe l’oeil artisan in glass.

I learned later that the client was so thrilled with his design they are considering commissioning several additional works for their home.

If you would like to contact Lawrence Frey, you can reach him at his Appalachian Stained Glass Studio by dialing (484) 461-5566.

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