Proudly Presents:

Art Historian Lee Sandstead

The Stained Glass

of America and

Halifax County

“This is an extremely exciting lecture for me,” says Sandstead. “From the first

Gothic cathedrals in Europe, to over 1,300 mausoleums in New York City, to the

churches of Halifax county, I have traveled the world looking for, photograph-

ing and studying stained glass. And what I have I learned? Two things: first,

that Americans between the years 1880 and 1930 made the greatest stained

glass that the world has ever seen, and two— I’m on fire for stained glass.”

This unique medium traces its roots to ancient Egyptian civilization, and as we

know it today in the West, stained glass became the dominant art form in

churches starting around 1100 A.D. But as we travel up and down North Main

Street in South Boston and look at the churches that have stained glass, notes

Sandstead, few know the history of this thrilling medium or how our stained

glass here in Southern Virginia is the product of a much-larger cultural phenom-

ena known as the American Stained Glass Movement.

This illustrated presentation will detail the development of the American

Stained Glass movement, from its beginnings to its climax. Fueled by the fierce

competition between two New York City artists--John La Farge and L.C. Tiffany--

Americans filled their homes, churches and public spaces with stained glass.

Sandstead will survey some of America’s greatest masterpieces, as well as sur-

vey some of the best glass to be seen in Halifax County.

Thursday, September 11 at 7:30 p.m.

The Prizery, South Boston, VA.

Reception to follow. Free and open to the public.

Lee Sandstead

Host of Travel Channel’s

“Art Attack with Lee Sandstead”

An example of Tiffany-inspired stained glass from

First Baptist Church in South Boston, VA.