DutyofCare_learningresource_stainedglass01

CREATE YOUR OWN
STAINED
GLASS
WINDOW
A CANBERA GLASSWORKS
ACTIVITY RESOURCE
IN RESPONSE TO
DUTY OF CARE
BY TONY ALBERT

VISIBILITY
NO GLASS STAINED GLASS WINDOW
Follow these steps to create a stained glass like artwork without using glass, based on the work by artist Tony Albert in
the exhibition Duty of Care.
MATERIALS LIST
coloured cellophane paper or tissue paper
contact paper
A4 black paper or card
scissors
pencil or marker
Optional extras
craft hole puncher to make different shapes
ruler
Image, left
Tony Albert, artist in residence, Canberra Glassworks.
Brothers (The Prodigal Son) - work in progress, 2019
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PREPARE
Step 1
Roll out your sheet of contact,
and mark out two pieces slightly
larger than your piece of paper.
Cut out the two pieces of
contact
HINT: You want enough extra
contact around the edges that
they can seal the paper inside.
The reference squares on the
contact will help you.
Step 2
Fold your paper or card in half.
This will make the frame. Use the ruler
to measure about 3cm in from each
edge (this is usually width of your
ruler!) to make a rectangle from the
folded edge of the paper.
Step 3
Cut the inside rectangle out using
scissors. Unfold the black paper
to discover the frame. HINT: you
could also try folding the black
paper several times then carefully
cut out small shapes like triangles,
squares or circles. When you unfold
the paper you'll have your own
unique pattern with different holes
to fill with coloured light.
Step 4
Cut out shapes from your coloured
cellophane or tissue paper.
You might like to lay out the
cellophane and draw shapes on it
with a marker, or you might like to
cut different shapes and see what
you come up with..
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CREATE
Step 4
Peel away the contact from its
backing paper. You might need to
find a friend to help you with this.
Step 5
Stick down the black frame. Now
you have a sticky surface to begin
your stained glass window.
Step 6
Place your cellophane or paper
onto the sticky surface within the
black frame.
Decorate as you like. You might
like to develop a pattern or place
pieces all around.
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CREATE
Step 7
Consider how your piece will look
when held up to the light.
Will you cover the whole surface
or leave spaces? Will you use a
warm or cool colour pallete?
Step 8
Peel your second piece of contact
away from its backing paper.
Carefully stick the contact on top
of your window, working from one
side to the other and squishing
out any bubbles as you go.
Step 9
Press all over so the contact is
stuck down.
Step 10
Cut the excess contact off from
the edges.
HINT: leave a 5mm trim around
the edge so the contact seals
around the frame.
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ADMIRE
Step 11
Hold your artwork up to the light.
Admire how the light illuminates the
colours.
Just like glass, cellophane glows and
looks beautiful when held up to the
light.
Hang your artwork in the window and
watch it change throughout the day.
Now that you've mastered the steps, play around with different
designs, shapes and colours.
Try using black paper in different areas to cast shadows.
Try cutting out different shapes in the black card to fill with
colour.
What happens when you overlap different colours?
What happens if you find petals or leaves to include?
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This activity resource has been developed based on work
by artist Tony Albert in the exhibition Duty of Care.
In this piece, Albert is discussing the following themes
• the importance of family
• the power of acceptance
• the ways we are vulnerable
• the history of treatment of Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander people in Australia
Tony Albert, Brothers (The Prodigal Son), 2020, glass, lead,
photographic decal, steel, stone. Commissioned by the Biennale
of Sydney with generous support from the Australia Council for
the Arts, and Create NSW, and generous assistance from The
Medich Foundation. Courtesy the artist and Sullivan+Strumpf.
Fabricated at Canberra Glassworks.
7 | CANBERRA GLASSWORKS LEARNING RESOURCE 2020

canberraglassworks.com
11 Wentworth Ave, Kingston ACT 2604
T 02 6260 7005
E contactus@canberraglassworks.com
opening hours
Wed to Sun 10am to 4pm