Judith Schaechter
Encyclopedia
Judith Schaechter is a Philadelphia-based artist known for her work in the medium of stained glass
. Her pieces often exhibit elements of parable
, and her distorted faces and figures, along with her own self-professed atheism
ironically clash with her medium's religious tradition.
. She is currently an Adjunct Professor in the Crafts Department at The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
She illustrated the cover for musician Andy Prieboy
's 1991 album Montezuma Was a Man of Faith
. Her work has been exhibited in the Renwick Gallery
of the Smithsonian Institution
, the Museum of Arts and Design in New York
, the Victoria and Albert Museum
in London
, and the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
. Schaechter's Bigtop Flophouse Bedspins appeared in the 2002 Whitney Biennial
.
, and in a 1992 Pew Fellowships in the Arts
.
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
. Her pieces often exhibit elements of parable
Parable
A parable is a succinct story, in prose or verse, which illustrates one or more instructive principles, or lessons, or a normative principle. It differs from a fable in that fables use animals, plants, inanimate objects, and forces of nature as characters, while parables generally feature human...
, and her distorted faces and figures, along with her own self-professed atheism
Atheism
Atheism is, in a broad sense, the rejection of belief in the existence of deities. In a narrower sense, atheism is specifically the position that there are no deities...
ironically clash with her medium's religious tradition.
Life
Schaechter has served on the faculty of numerous art schools, such as the Rhode Island School of DesignRhode Island School of Design
Rhode Island School of Design is a fine arts and design college located in Providence, Rhode Island. It was founded in 1877. Located at the base of College Hill, the RISD campus is contiguous with the Brown University campus. The two institutions share social, academic, and community resources and...
. She is currently an Adjunct Professor in the Crafts Department at The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
She illustrated the cover for musician Andy Prieboy
Andy Prieboy
Andy Prieboy is a musician, author, and former morgue attendant. He was born in Los Angeles, California and raised in East Chicago, Indiana....
's 1991 album Montezuma Was a Man of Faith
Montezuma Was a Man of Faith
Montezuma Was a Man of Faith is an EP by Andy Prieboy, released in 1991 . The EP cover is an original stained glass piece created by Judith Schaechter. The inner photograph and image on the CD are by Ann Marie Aubin....
. Her work has been exhibited in the Renwick Gallery
Renwick Gallery
The Renwick Gallery is a branch of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, located in Washington, D.C., and focuses on American craft and decorative arts from the 19th century to the 21st century...
of the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
, the Museum of Arts and Design in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, the Victoria and Albert Museum
Victoria and Albert Museum
The Victoria and Albert Museum , set in the Brompton district of The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, England, is the world's largest museum of decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 4.5 million objects...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, comprising the M. H. de Young Memorial Museum in Golden Gate Park and the California Palace of the Legion of Honor in Lincoln Park, is the largest public arts institution in the city of San Francisco and one of the largest art museums in California.-External...
. Schaechter's Bigtop Flophouse Bedspins appeared in the 2002 Whitney Biennial
Whitney Biennial
The Whitney Biennial is a biennale exhibition of contemporary American art, typically by young and lesser known artists, on display at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City, USA. The event began as an annual exhibition in 1932, the first biennial was in 1973...
.
Awards
In 2008 Schaechter was the recipient of an unrestricted $50,000 grant from the arts organization United States ArtistsUnited States Artists
United States Artists is an independent nonprofit and nongovernmental philanthropic organization based in Los Angeles, California and dedicated to supporting the work of living American artists by the granting of cash awards, called USA Fellowships...
, and in a 1992 Pew Fellowships in the Arts
Pew Fellowships in the Arts
The Pew Fellowships in the Arts is an organization established by the Pew Charitable Trusts in 1991 which awards grants to Philadelphia-area artists. The grants provide artists with an economic freedom that presents the opportunity to focus on their individual practices over a considerable period...
.