stained glass by Kathleen Krucoff
Continuing a theme of artists with a passion and gift for depicting animals, I'm grateful to the recently featured Tracey Clarke for exposing me to multi-media artist Kathleen Krucoff. Kathleen graciously accepted an invitation to display some of her own work, and even wrote a personal reflection to accompany it:
Some of my early fascination with glass came from the stained glass windows in the churches of my hometown. Every Sunday morning I would look at those windows that had such beautiful figures in glass, painted and depicting love and dedication to our Lord. I never dreamed at that early age I could work with glass myself. My artist statement really sums up my inspiration: "My art is inspired by nature, realized in glass and metal."
Animals have played a very important role in my life, in particular dogs. I don't really know how to explain it, I just know they do. I have a special connection with dogs. I can look into their eyes and see their souls, their inner being. Their eyes tell me if they are sad, happy, friendly, and painfully ... if there is nothing there ... they are just empty. That hurts me the worst, to see a dog with no spirit. To me, it's as if they have not been nurtured. By no means am I anything like Cesar Millan; I'm not a dog whisperer. I am just a human being who can connect with many of them.
One of the most memorable and special dogs in my life was Taylor, my German Shorthair. From the day I went to see the available puppies, Taylor and I connected. He picked me: he came up to me, licked my face and never left my side. That pretty much was our relationship for his entire life. He was a dear friend and companion. He broke his back left leg when he was just five months old, playing with me in the back yard. That exuberance of a shorthair, as he jumped in the air and landed wrong, caused a spiral fracture. That night, I slept on the floor of the living room and he kept his head on me until we could go to the vet in the morning. Twelve years later as he left this world, I was with him still as I had promised him, and the vet said he passed so calmly that he knew Taylor and I had a special bond. In all his years as a vet, he had never seen a dog depart as peacefully. I made a counted cross-stitch picture of him; but I never made a stained glass window of him as I didn't feel I could do him justice.
Now I share my life with three bassets, and I have a unique connection with each of them. My closest bond is probably with the youngest, Newton. From the morning he was handed to me, he wags his tail every time he sees me. Newton and I earned a Rally Novice title; I was trying to help his mother earn a title based on the number of pups from her litter earning titles. If it wasn't fun for Newt, we didn't do it. And he was the one who did the work, I was just his guide. Our Bueller has Addison's disease, and trusts me to help him no matter what. Nocturne recognized my voice on the day I picked her up after a two-month wait. We saw her at a show in Pueblo and fell in love with her at six months of age. As she grew, so did an overbite which disqualified her from the show ring. She became ours, and on the day I picked her up she heard my voice and her tail started beating against the side of her crate. She's been a gem ever since.
For me, to earn their trust and respect is a true blessing. My first basset stained glass windows went to each of the people who helped my husband and I bring them into our lives. Below are the three basset windows I've made to date. The "Basset Railroad Conductor" resides in Doug & Missy Taylor's Bassetorium. They had the father of our Bueller and let Nocturne enter our lives. "ShowMe Hounds" is a silhouette of the mother of our Bueller. And "Tracey Stands in Front of the Tetons" belongs to Marilee and Brian Epperson who helped us find our bassets from people they knew.
Another aspect of how animals are featured in my art is a hummingbird stained glass garden stake that I made for a friend whom I've known since ninth grade. Her father passed away before my father did. I did not know she had created a memorial garden for her dad, until my dad passed away and I told her I was planning to create one for my own father. My dad was a landscaper, and I couldn't think of a more fitting tribute than a garden with a special angel to watch over it. When I told her about this, she said she had done something similar for her dad and had plenty of flowers in her garden to attract hummingbirds. Hummingbirds were her dad's favorite, and at that moment I knew I needed to design this hummingbird garden stake.
I have felt throughout my entire life that God has guided me, and now I feel his guidance in the glass work that I do. The basset windows and hummingbird garden stake are a way of saying thanks for, and to, the delightful friends and companions God has brought into my life. I firmly believe that things happen for a reason, and sometimes God also presents opportunities and challenges to help us prepare for the next situation in this life, and ultimately for our next life with Him.
Thank you for reading, and I thought I might attach one of my favorite pictures with Newton as well.
(Many thanks to you, Kathleen, for the beautiful story and artwork (all images courtesy and copyright Kathleen Krucoff). Please make a point to check out Kathleen's rich artist site!)
August 10, 2009
Reader Comments (9)
Ben, I cannot thank you enough for sharing my story on Not On Sparrow. I am blessed to know you through our connection with Tracey Clarke.
Thank you so much!
Kathleen
Ever since I found out about your blog, I look forward to reading it, Ben. Kathleen's story was a delight, and her artwork is lovely. So is Newton.
I love this! What a wonderful story and a blessing to get to know Kathleen better!
Thanks for posting, Ben.
What wonderful work and such an introspective piece! Animals are so integral in my life, that your way of "communicating" with them rang true with me. They are more than just companions, they are family. Newt is a fine looking basset, and I'm sure brightens each day with his antics. Your stained glass creations are beautiful!
Thank you, Kathleen, I'm really glad the post has been such a hit! And thank you, Francine, Tracey and Jim for your very kind comments as well, it's an encouragement to know you enjoyed Kathleen's post! Ben
That was a wonderful story to share with us. Your pieces are delightful. Thank you, Ben, for sharing this with us. Lynda
Thank you very much for dropping by, Lynda, and for your kind note - Ben
Ben, great stuff here!!! Thank you for sharing what you do. ~Jos
Thanks very much for your kind note, Josephine, and for your own compassionate voice for animals - Ben