Glass Crosses for St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church NYC
In the iconic New York City skyline, St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church sits tucked within the National Shrine at Ground Zero. We were honored by the opportunity to take part in the adornment of a monument with a gravity which goes beyond Chicago or New York, but further the national identity of Americans. Using our innovative glass casting techniques we were able to install hand cast and polished glass crosses into the Pentelic marble doors of the church.
Our team at ChiLab was entrusted with the profound task of casting the glass crosses for St. Nicholas. This project required not only technical precision but also a deep understanding of the spiritual significance these crosses would hold.
Process and Technique
Material Selection: We chose a high-quality, optically clear leaded glass that would capture and reflect light, symbolizing hope and divine presence.
Mold Creation: Custom molds were designed and crafted to ensure each cross was identical and met the exacting standards of the church's architectural vision.
Casting Technique: Utilizing our expertise in glass casting, we employed a method that minimized bubbles and imperfections, resulting in crosses of exceptional clarity and beauty.
Annealing Process: Each cross underwent a carefully controlled cooling process to ensure its structural integrity and longevity.
Uniting Tradition with Contemporaneity
420 hand casted and polished glass crosses mounted into 6 marble doors in the chapel. Using contemporary mold making and casting techniques, we were able to produce 420 identical crosses. A collaboration with contemporary casting techniques and an ancient stone, these pedestals utilize Pentelic marble from the same quarry which supplied stone for the Acropolis in Athens(5th Century BC). Now, the Pentelli Quarry is exclusively used for mining stone used for Acropolis rebuild, with an exception made for the Greek Orthodox Church at Ground Zero- allowing for the entire church to be adorned with the historically precious stone.
Industrial Vigilance
Beyond the quantity of the crosses- each cross received a level of care conducive to small batch production. Permitting each cross to be humanized through its conception. The development of these crosses transforms an industrial process to something almost meditative with its repetition. The nature of glass being simultaneously durable yet delicate perfectly sums the context and community around this installation.