A history of stained glass art at Brisbane Girls Grammar Sch

much of the windows’ effect comes from the quality of the glass itself. Intensive use is made of richly

coloured glass and bevelled glass (for example, in the Creativity Window for the shards of light

streaming from the centre). Blair also used clear glass, textured glass, overlapping glass, patterned

glass and glass jewels shaped like teardrops which in the Metamorphosis Window are clustered

together like bunches of grapes. Indeed, Blair intentionally changed small parts of the

Metamorphosis design specifically so he could employ some of the “fabulous” glass that he had collected over the years and which had been sitting in his studio waiting for the right job i .

Thus, the 11 panels for the library foyer were grouped into three separate window designs. Five

panels on one side of the main entrance to the foyer comprised the Creativity Window . A set of four

panels on the other side made up the Metamorphosis Window and were installed in either late 1998

or early 1999. To complete the narrative of learning, the Tree of Knowledge was designed as two

panels to flank the doors of what was then the former site of the Beanland Library.

For Warwick Blair, this window came into being around the time that Warwick was diagnosed with a

terminal illness. Time was against him and both Jennifer and Warwick felt the pressure of realising a

final design that did not compromise the integrity of her creative concept.

For Warwick, the window then took on an extremely spiritual aspect, reflecting the swirling waters

of life. It was about realising and surmounting the problems that we all face in life while making

most of the opportunities that are given to us by God in the time that we have.

Metamorphosis - Kathleen Lilley Building