This is possibly the most exciting blog I have made. It's long, but I think worthwhile.Today the DP Bloggers Theme Day is "Something That Will Soon Disappear". 51 bloggers are taking part (click links below)
Almost the first words Kevin Little said to me when I wandered into his workshop to ask him if I could take a photo of him at work were “I’ve been here for a long time, but not for much longer”.
Kevin is 75, and, one of, if not the, pre-eminent Australian stained glass artists. His workshop is right near where I live.
In its heydey, Kevin's business employed 30 artisans here and throughout country areas. He's had commissions from many of Sydney's leading institutions, includingthe Town Hall, Sydney Hospital and St Mary's Cathedral. But, he told me, "There’s not much of a living to be made any more from being a stained glass artist. “The Protestant churches don’t put in stained glass windows any more, and the almighty dollar rules everything. Even restoration jobs are done on the cheap these days” he said. Kevin also lamented the destruction of much of the stained glass in churches and houses as newcomers rip them out. [I'm pleased to say that we had Kevin repair one in our house when it was damaged a few years back.]
As well as work in glass, Kevin also restores furniture and all manner of things including a gorgeous grandfather clock he found in pieces in a kerbside junkout. He collects an array of things too vast to describe, and his studio/workshop is a veritable museum. Every object has a story, and the connections they weave between people are amazing.
Kevin took me on a tour of his world, and I especially loved seeing a couple of fragments of 14th century stained glass, and the “sweatshop” end of the studio, where Kevin showed me the traditional method of drawing a design in chalk, before tracing it on to paper.
See more photos of Kevin and his workshop here.
This is true artisanship, which is not going to be there for much longer.
Links to the other Daily Photo sites:
1 (Porto ) -2 (Seattle WA USA (Kim) ) -3 (London, UK ) -4 (Greenville, SC ) -5 (Albuquerque, NM (USA) ) -6 (St Paul Kate ) -7 (ShangHai, China ) -8 (Phoenix, Az ) -9 (Twin Cities, MN ) -10 (Sequim, WA ) -11 (Stayton, OR, USA ) -12 (Bandung (Indonesia) ) -13 (Dallas, USA ) -14 (Stavanger (Norway) ) -15 (Singapore (zannnie) ) -16 (Budapest (Hungary) ) -17 (Paris (France) ) -18 (Tuzla (BiH) ) -19 (Melbourne, (Aust.) ) -20 (Auckland, New Zealand ) -21 (Singapore (Raymond) ) -22 (Dubai UAE (DXBluey) ) -23 (Vantaa, Finland ) -24 (Oshawa, Ontario, Canada ) -25 (St. Paul MN Carol ) -26 (Singapore (Keropok) ) -27 (Delta Colorado, USA ) -28 (Rotterdam (Netherlands ) -29 (Queens, NY (USA) ) -30 (Tenerife (Spain) ) -31 (Santiago (Chile) ) -32 (Nelson, New Zealand ) -33 (( Japan ) ) -34 (Hyde (UK) ) -35 (Sydney (Sally) ) -36 (Manila, Philippines ) -37 (Aliso Viejo, CA (USA) ) -38 (Nottingham UK ) -39 (Brussels, Belgium ) -40 (Sharon, CT (USA) ) -41 (Sydney Australia (Nathalie) ) -42 (Edinburgh, Scotland ) -43 (Evry, France ) -44 (San Diego, CA (USA) ) -45 (Santa Clara, CA (USA) ) -46 (Saarbrücken, Germany ) -47 (Joplin, MO (USA) ) -48 (Indianapolis,IN (USA) ) -49 (rujillo (Peru) ) -50 (arcelona (Spain) ) -51 (Berlin (Germany)) -
Great exposure! Great composition! Great subject! Great picuture!!
ReplyDeleteFascinating story Sally and lovely shot. I have just finished reading a biography of Louis Tiffany, a master glass maker and can really appreciate the skill that craftsmen like Kevin possess. It’s sad that all that experience and knowledge will eventually be lost.
ReplyDeleteWhat an inspiring portrait Sally, this is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThe sad part is, if he lived in Europe Kevin wouldn't be out of work. Highly trained professionals, although few in numbers, are in high demand and get commission work all the time restoring cathedrals, chateaux etc. And he would be training apprentices who would be in awe to work with a master... What a shame.
Lovely story, he'll be missed.
ReplyDeletesuperbe portrait de Kevin Little, et visite tres interessante de son atelier. merci pour l'histoire.
ReplyDeletesuperb portrait of Kevin Little, and visits very interesting of its workshop. thank you for the history.
Great story and excellent portrait shot.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure he will be missed and his work will be there for looooong time to appreciate his work.
France (and Europe) is the place for beautiful stained glass.
ReplyDeleteFound you through the Paris Daily Photo blog. I'm an Aussie living in Paris. You may be interested in my video blog - www.mylifeasafrog.com
Some of the lovliest stained galss windows I've seen here has been in Chateau Chenonceau in the Loire Valley. There's photos in my blog -www.welcometowallyworld.com in the Gallery section or perhaps I put them in "About the Idiot Behind this" - can't remember. Bisous, Mal.
Lucky you to have such a tour, and such a personality so close to home. A great post which suits the theme nicely. Well done.
ReplyDeleteSally, I love a portrait of someone at work, someone being busy, the picture carries the character of the subject. Hopefully, Kevin has taught someone to carry on after he has left!
ReplyDeleteCurly's Photoshop
I don't know, but the only thing I can think of is to bow and thank him for keeping such art a little bit alive. I mean I feel great respect and admiration when I find someone like him who seems to have devoted an entire life to this craft.
ReplyDeletei enjoyed reading your story very much Sally, impressive man, very sad to see him go!
ReplyDeletegreat entry, thanks for sharing =)
We are living in a fast-paced world that has changed much of what has been familiar for generations--changes which seem to be happening in the blink of an eye. Your subject is an artisan and a beautiful craftsman. Thanks for the photographic essay!!
ReplyDeleteGood one Sally, very simple, very honest very human. You get my vote
ReplyDeleteBest wishes
A lovely story, and a nice man. He doesn't have kids continuing with the family business?
ReplyDeleteI hope another person will take over those job...
ReplyDeleteNice photo, sally
Great story and photo. His talents will be missed, but like Ben said too, his legacy will remain.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic story and thoughtful post. I do hope you'll show him his photo on the www and how although times change, he will be around for a long time. I also liked your very first comments on the post. We enjoy having you here as well!
ReplyDeleteI took hard copy photos round to Kevin. He's a very taciturn kind of man til he warms to you, and it seemed I passed muster cos he was very grateful. But the computer age has truly passed him by! I even saw his hand-written invoice book on my "tour".
ReplyDeleteHe has had various apprentices over the years, and has also taught at some of the major art schools, so I guess he has made his contribution to the future,
He has two children, who he says are both artsists, but not the right kind of eye, or artistic sensibility for stained glass.
Kevin said that the most likely candidates are actually graffiti artists, and he has tried in the past to interest graffiti artists - I think there was limited success.
Thanks to everyone for your really nice comments. i re-wrote the blog several times so it wouldn't be TOO long; thanks for sticking with it! It's always a gamble, but I was pleased it paid off. :-)
I'm really enjoyinmg this trip around the world today, from dinner in Porto to election campaigns in thestates, and everything in-between!
Fantastic story Sally !
ReplyDeleteWhat a marvelous photo series (including your extras page) and great narrative - I learned a great deal! I hope there's some way that his knowledge can be preserved and passed on!
ReplyDeleteits a wonderful post Sally. it was really worth to make it long:)
ReplyDeleteSally, again well done! Great reading material. Maybe you should work for the local newspapers :)
ReplyDeleteSally, this is just a super post! All of us do pass on in this life, but people like Kevin Little who are artist leave behind a legacy of work that keeps their ideas and skills alive long after for others to think about, admire, and enjoy. In my youth I worked for a leaded glass shade and window maker and I much admire the work of those who are masters of this lovely work. Thanks for sharing this with us!
ReplyDelete-Kim
interesting story. focus on a diappearing art and the artisan.
ReplyDeleteI really like the extra photos you shared. It is sad to see a master artist like this disappear.
ReplyDeleteGreat picture, great post! Thank you for sharing this....
ReplyDeleteSally, this was wonderful. Thank you for sharing it.
ReplyDeletegreat post! i see his deep passion in your photo.
ReplyDeletegood for you to have found him :)
Great entry on Kevin Little. I thought you might be interested in a church we came across in Buckland Tasmania which is reputed to have a 14th Century stained glass window from Battle Abbey in Hastings, England. It was buried during the Cromwellian rebellion and supposedly shipped to Tasmania under mysterious circumstances. Great legend, a bit da Vinci codish.
ReplyDelete