Peter Mollica has been a central figure, perhaps the earliest, of a generation of West Coast stained glass artists who emerged in the late 1960s and early ’70s. At age 23 he committed to what would become a lifelong passion: stained glass. His book, Stained Glass Primer, has been a staple in the Stained Glass Garden classroom for many years, and his collectible stained glass panels are available for sale in the gallery.
Mollica’s unique style is rooted in 20th Century German stained glass design. His works are generally based upon “a grid pattern” that is “interrupted by lyrical passages.”Like German glass design, his lead lines play a graphic role, and he is inclined to restrict or eliminate color. Mollica’s work, whether in public buildings or private residences, grows from the surrounding architecture making use of the colors, textures, ripples and bubbles in hand blown glass to enhance the full environment. His public commissions are inclined to rely more heavily on “gridded structures,” whereas windows for private residences flow with more “flexible structure.” Mollica’s autonomous panels, often whimsical and lighthearted, are inclined to be far more personal and expressive than his larger architectural works. These are the pieces often featured in the Stained Glass Garden showroom.
The new triptych entitled “Augsburg Boys” are based on a set of windows are considered to be the oldest stained glass still in their original site, located in Augsburg, Germany. They are dated ~1065 a.d. There are 5 of them and maybe others that are missing. (Hence the third panel of an “Augsburg Boy” exiting.)
Come by the gallery (7 days a week) to enjoy all of Peter’s new panels on display!
Stained Glass Garden: 1800 Fourth Street Berkeley, CA 94710 (510) 841-2200
New Work by Peter Mollica- Stained Glass Legend!
