Glass artist proud of her work for the Cathedral of the Madeleine

Intermountain Catholic

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Allison Klinger works in her shop, Western Art Glass, in Salt Lake City. She created the fused glass tiles installed in the bronze railing surrounding the baptismal font of the Cathedrral of the Madeleine.IC photo by Priscilla Cabral

SALT LAKE CITY — As Judy and Ron Christopher, from Cleveland, Oh.c, stroll around the Cathedral of the Madeleine of Salt Lake City, they cannot help to be amazed by it.

"Look at the baptismal font," said Judy to Ron with a tone of surprise in her voice. She said she had never seen a baptismal font like the cathedral’s in a Catholic church, where people can be immersed.

Msgr. Joseph Mayo, pastor of the cathedral, said baptismal fonts for immersion are not rare in Catholic cathedrals. In fact, many cathedrals have them to respond to the Second Vatican Council’s efforts to restore the early Christian baptismal practice of immersion. The font of the Cathedral of the Madeleine also accommodates the pouring of water.

"The location is central. The ones I’ve seen are usually on the side," said Ron.

The symbolism of the font might help explain its location. It combines the symbolism of the octagon – which signifies the eighth day of eternity – and the cross – which signifies the death and resurrection of Jesus. At the center of the lower font, there is an ornate pattern that can be read as paradise, a crown, the sun, the tree of life, or the center of the world.

Although Ron did not stop in front of the font to ponder on its symbolism, he did notice the colors and details on the tiles of the font and the railing that surrounds it.

The font was dedicated in 1993, but the railing was installed just in time for this Easter celebration and the 100th anniversary of the cathedral’s dedication.

"We added the railing for safety purposes. It was an important addition," said Msgr. Mayo.

It was just as important for the railing to blend in with the remodelation at the time of the restoration in 1936, he said.

The hand-painted glass tiles installed in the railing embellish it and make it practical and beautiful.

"The tiles have 24 k gold foil in them," said Allison Klinger, the glass artist who was commissioned to make the cathedral tiles.

She said she fused two glass tiles, with the golden pattern in the middle, in a kiln.

"It takes about 24 hours to heat them all together, but that makes it permanent. You could never get the gold out," said Klinger.

She then had to wait approximately 15 hours for the glass to cool down to room temperature, and start painting tiny triangles.

The design is very simple – two triangles make up a square –, but the work is not.

Klinger said it took her about an hour to paint each tile. She painted 64.

"I used a very small brush. It was about the size of a tookpick," she said.

Klinger also used a special type of paint.

"It is traditional glass paint made in Germany; and is made of glass, so when you heat it, it sticks to the glass," she said.

To create a glass art piece is more about knowing the tricks and the right paint and tools to use, said Klinger.

"It’s not hard, but it takes time. You have to sit down and be patient."

It also takes years of practice and training. Klinger started working with glass ten years ago, when she took a job just to get her through the summer. She has not quit ever since.

"With glass, you get to be creative, you get to make art. There are lot of varieties of glass and techniques. Glass is everywhere," she said. "You just want to learn more."

Klinger traveled to Washington State to learn how to work with gold, and she also took a course on painting in Colorado. As she learned, she felt an urge to teach, which she did for two years at Woodland Hills School, a private high school in Salt Lake City.

"I had a good laugh every day… I learned from the kids not to be afraid of using color to create art. Colors love colors," said Klinger.

"When you are younger, you worry less. As you get older you forget art is OK. It is an expression."

Klinger said she had teary eyes when she saw her work in the cathedral.

"I spent a lot of time on them, and I am proud about how beautiful they turned out. I am pleased with a lot of stuff I do, but I could not be happier with these," she said.

Although she is not Catholic, Klinger said she loved working on a project for the cathedral.

"These tiles will be in the cathedral long after I’m gone. When I’m old and gray, I can go see them. They will outlast me by far. They look beautiful in there," she said.

She is not the only one pleased. Just like the Christophers, other people admire the font as a whole and the tiles individually.

"They turned out very nice, very fine. They are what we expected," said Msgr. Mayo.