NEWS - Education & Colleges

Nov 9, 2011 - Savannah Technical College will host its inaugural Historic Preservation Visiting Artisan Series featuring H. Thomas Kupper and Dan Beal of the world-renowned Lincoln Cathedral in Lincolnshire, England.

Kupper and Beal, an internationally-acclaimed stained glass artisan and a stained glass painting expert, respectively, will be visiting the week of Nov. 14 - 19.  Free lectures for the public are included in their visit to Savannah.

 “We’re honored to welcome Thomas Kupper and Dan Beal to Savannah and to Savannah Technical College,” said College President Dr. Kathy Love last week, in making the announcement. “Being able to bring craftsmen of this caliber to the campus to work with our Historic Preservation students enhances the quality of instruction we offer.” While visiting, Kupper and Beal will spend four days on campus working with students on a window design project.

The visit will also feature events that are open to the public, including a lecture on Friday, November 18 at 7 p.m. on preservation and restoration of stained glass to be held at the St. John’s Episcopal Church, Crammer Hall 3rd floor. This event is free and seating will be limited to the first 100 in attendance.

They will also lead a Saturday afternoon stained-glass workshop, Nov. 19. At the workshop, participants will learn the basics of stained glass and create a piece of stained glass art to take home. Proceeds from this workshop will be used to support additional Visiting Artisan Series events. The workshop is already sold out.

The visit is being coordinated by Stephen Hartley, department head and instructor of Historic Preservation. “Our community is especially supportive of preservation activities and I’m certain that this visit will be very well received,” said Hartley. For two years, the College has hosted Preservation Week each May, during which local experts offer workshops and sessions on preservation-related topics. With the College’s transition to a semester calendar this year, May’s Preservation Week activities will give way to the Visiting Artisan Series that will bring three world-class craftsmen to campus for a week in October, February and April. The visit is sponsored by Sanctuary Place Inn, St. John’s Episcopal Church and Savannah Technical College.

The Visiting Artisan Series is the first effort of its kind at any of Georgia’s Technical Colleges. Savannah Tech has the only hands-on preservation program in the state and has about 50 students currently enrolled. The program has gained international recognition and has contributed to a number of community-based preservation projects in the surrounding communities. The program is the cornerstone of new instructional programs in Green Building Technology which began earlier this year and focuses on a comprehensive view of systems and efficiencies in construction.

 For information about Historic Preservation at Savannah Technical College, contact Stephen Hartley, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or at 912.443.5864.