Central Artist Allison Grisaffe Bourke at Next CCF Coffee Hour

By Mia Freneaux

    Central resident artist Allison Grisaffe Bourke has an amazing talent that she credits the Lord for giving her.  Allison takes delicate sheets of tissue paper and creates works of art normally associated with the timelessness of cathedrals.  Using only an exacto blade and a sketch, she painstakingly cuts and positions tiny pieces of colored tissue inside black construction paper "leaded" openings to compose what ultimately perfectly mimics a stained glass window. 
    Citing her mother and her sister as her inspirations, Allison's only formal instruction came from one high school art class.  She draws from her faith for subject matter.  She has created a piece for the 6 foot in diameter sanctuary window of Magnolia United Methodist Church depicting lilies for Easter, then replaced it with a work integrating the dove of the Holy Spirit, a cross, crown, and rings of the Trinity for Pentecost.  The congregation was amazed.  Visitors couldn't believe the window was not truly stained glass.
    Each of her works takes up to 60 hours to complete.  Her husband Glenn helps by carefully installing the pieces.  Allison says the light shining through her creations reminds her of the Light of God shining in her life.  Viewing her works, that is clearly evident. 
    Allison will be sharing about her work at the August Central Cultural Foundation Coffee Hour at Central Perk on 8/28 at 7:00.  This event is FREE.  She will also be doing a demonstration piece.