Mel Howse, The Illumination window (2019), Durham Cathedral.

Photo: Mel Howse / Vitreous Art Ltd

Mel Howse, detail of The Illumination window (2019), Durham Cathedral.

Photo: Mel Howse / Vitreous Art Ltd

Durham Cathedral

Address

Cathedral Church of Christ, the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Cuthbert, Durham DH1 3EH

Theme

Anglican Cathedrals in England (43)

Comments by

Peter Hildebrand

Overview

The few remaining precious items of medieval glass in the cathedral are supported by many Victorian windows from a number of the leading studios, together with the work of some of Britain’s greatest post-war stained glass artists. The latter reflecting the cathedrals commitment to contemporary art. Windows from the last 50 years include:

- - Alan Younger, Bede window, Galilee Chapel, 1973
  - Leonard Evetts, Stella Maris window, Galilee Chapel, 1993
  - Joseph Nuttgens, Millennium window, South Quire Aisle, 1997
  - Tom Denny, Transfiguration window, South Quire Aisle, 2009-10, and
  - Mark Angus, Daily Bread window, Nave, 1984

Highlight

The Illumination Window in the North Quire aisle

Artist, maker and date

Mel Howse, 2019

Reason for highlighting

The Illumination Window is a beautiful memorial to a young Durham University student, who died tragically young just prior to completing her degree. It shows contemporary stained glass at its best, and how the ancient tradition of memorial windows can be updated and made relevant to the modern world.

Artist/maker notes

Mel Howse (b.1968) is a British glass artist and graduate of the Swansea School. As a student, and throughout her career, she has won numerous awards for her work as contemporary designer, maker, and for the contribution her art has made to heritage.

Her versatile and ambitious portfolio includes stained glass, vitreous enamels on steel, and progressive industrial pieces using toughened glass, in her quest for individual and inspiring aesthetics.

She continually re-evaluates the opportunities presented by glass as a creative architectural medium, within installed commissions for public art and places of spirit.

Mel’s work focuses on the nature of a piece, aiming for completeness of vision, and spirit of place. In this sense every commission is its own world in terms of innovation, purpose, symbolism or form.

Source: Mel Howse website

Highlighted dates at this location

2019 (Go to date search)