Bernard Otto Gruenke (February 17, 1913 – March 31, 2012) was an American

stained glass Stained glass refers to coloured glass as a material or art and architectural works created from it. Although it is traditionally made in flat panels and used as windows, the creations of modern stained glass artists also include three-dimensio ...

artist who produced one of the first faceted (Dalle de Verre) glass windows in the United States in 1949. He was born in

Sheboygan Sheboygan may refer to: Places in Wisconsin * Sheboygan, Wisconsin, city * Sheboygan (town), Wisconsin, town * Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, county * Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin, city * Sheboygan Falls (town), Wisconsin, town * Sheboygan River ...

, Wisconsin.

Early life

At sixteen, Gruenke was encouraged in the pursuit of art by Marie Kohler, a member of the bath fixtures company. She provided him with a scholarship to the

Corcoran College of Art and Design The Corcoran School of the Arts and Design (known as the Corcoran School or CSAD) is the professional art school of the George Washington University, in Washington, D.C.Peggy McGloneUniversity names first director of Corcoran School of the Arts an ...

in Washington, D.C."Bernard Otto Gruenke" ''Milwaukee Journal Sentinel'', April 1, 2012. Retrieved January 27, 2012. He left for Corcoran in 1934, working as a sign painter by day and studying portrait painting at night. He also studied under Caesar Riccardi, a former student of the well-respected artist

Robert Henri Robert Henri (; June 24, 1865 – July 12, 1929) was an American painter and teacher. As a young man, he studied in Paris, where he identified strongly with the Impressionists, and determined to lead an even more dramatic revolt against A ...

. Gruenke joined

Conrad Schmitt Studios Conrad Schmitt Studios is an architectural arts studio located in New Berlin, Wisconsin. It provides ecclesiastical art, stained glass artistry, art glass, decorative painting, mosaics, murals and sculptural arts. The studio specializes in ...

in 1936 after returning to Wisconsin, where he worked with

Conrad Schmitt Conrad Schmitt (April 20, 1867 – December 28, 1940) was twelve years old when his family's church in Fussville, Wisconsin was decorated for the first time, in 1879. Watching skilled artists transform the space with paints and stencils, he real ...

, the founder. In the late 1940s, Gruenke became a partner in the studio and in 1951, he purchased the company. Gruenke and Conrad Schmitt Studios furnished murals, stained glass, and decorating for churches, theatres and public buildings throughout the United States.

Travel and innovation

In 1949, Gruenke made his first trip to Europe and became inspired by the more progressive materials and designs in the art glass field- in particular, some of the early

Dalle de verre ''Dalle de verre'', from French: "glass slab", is a glass art technique that uses pieces of coloured glass set in a matrix of concrete and epoxy resin or other supporting material. Technique The technique was developed by Jean Gaudin in Paris i ...

, or "slab glass", from France. He began experimenting with internal reinforcement of the faceted glass, casting with cement. Over the years he introduced the new glass form to many areas around the U.S.

Notable projects

Gruenke was also known for his work in interior decoration. He designed or redecorated the interiors of cathedrals and churches throughout the country. * White House Visitor Center in Washington, DC *

Hawaii Theatre The Hawaii Theatre is a theatre in downtown Honolulu, Hawaii, United States. Built in 1922, it is located at 1130 Bethel Street, between Hotel and Pauahi Streets, on the edge of Chinatown. It is listed on the State and National Register of Histor ...

Honolulu Honolulu ( ; ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii, located in the Pacific Ocean. It is the county seat of the Consolidated city-county, consolidated City and County of Honol ...

, Hawaii *

The Egyptian Theatre Egyptian-style theatres are based on the traditional and historic design elements of Ancient Egypt. The first Egyptian Theatre to be constructed in the US – which inspired many of the identically-named theatres that followed it – was Graum ...

Boise, Idaho Boise ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities in Idaho, most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, there were 235,685 people residing in the city. Loca ...

New Regal Theater The Avalon Regal Theater (originally the Avalon Theater, and later the New Regal Theater) is a music hall located at 1641 East 79th Street, bordered by the Avalon Park and South Shore neighborhoods on the south side of Chicago, Illinois, Unite ...

in Chicago, Illinois *

John H. Bass Mansion The Bass Mansion, also known as Brookside, is an administrative building and historic structure at the University of Saint Francis located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The hand-carved, sandstone mansion was the private residence of industrialist Joh ...

Fort Wayne, Indiana Fort Wayne is a city in Allen County, Indiana, United States, and its county seat. Located in northeastern Indiana, the city is west of the Ohio border and south of the Michigan border. The city's population was 263,886 at the 2020 census ...

* Basilica of the Sacred Heart,

Notre Dame University The University of Notre Dame du Lac (known simply as Notre Dame; ; ND) is a private Catholic research university in Notre Dame, Indiana, United States. Founded in 1842 by members of the Congregation of Holy Cross, a Catholic religious order o ...

South Bend, Indiana South Bend is a city in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, and its county seat. It lies along the St. Joseph River (Lake Michigan), St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. It is the List of cities in ...

* Wang Center for the Performing Arts in

Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

, Massachusetts *

Union Station A union station, union terminal, joint station, or joint-use station is a railway station at which the tracks and facilities are shared by two or more separate railway company, railway companies, allowing passengers to connect conveniently bet ...

St. Louis, Missouri St. Louis ( , sometimes referred to as St. Louis City, Saint Louis or STL) is an Independent city (United States), independent city in the U.S. state of Missouri. It lies near the confluence of the Mississippi River, Mississippi and the Miss ...

* Cathedral of St. Helena in

Helena, Montana Helena (; ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Montana and the county seat, seat of Lewis and Clark County, Montana, Lewis and Clark County. Helena was founded as a gold camp during the Montana gold ...

Plaza Hotel The Plaza Hotel (also known as The Plaza) is a luxury hotel and condominium apartment building in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. It is located on the western side of Grand Army Plaza, after which it is named, just west of Fifth Avenue, ...

in New York City * Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in

Memphis, Tennessee Memphis is a city in Shelby County, Tennessee, United States, and its county seat. Situated along the Mississippi River, it had a population of 633,104 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of municipalities in Tenne ...

Holy Hill National Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians Sacred describes something that is dedicated or set apart for the service or worship of a deity; is considered worthy of spiritual respect or devotion; or inspires awe or reverence among believers. The property is often ascribed to objects (a ...

Hubertus, Wisconsin Hubertus is an unincorporated community in the village of Richfield, Washington County, Wisconsin, United States. The community was named after the former St. Hubert Catholic parish, now joined with St. Gabriel Parish. Holy Hill National Shrin ...

Basilica of St. Josaphat The Basilica of St. Josaphat is a Catholic minor basilica in the Lincoln Village neighborhood of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. It was built in 1901 in the Polish cathedral style by Milwaukee's Polish immigrant community. The basilica ...

Milwaukee, Wisconsin Milwaukee is the List of cities in Wisconsin, most populous city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Located on the western shore of Lake Michigan, it is the List of United States cities by population, 31st-most populous city in the United States ...

Federal Building A federal building is a building housing local offices of various government departments and agencies in countries with a federal system, especially when the central government is referred to as the "federal government A federation (als ...

in Milwaukee, Wisconsin * The

Pabst Theater The Pabst Theater is an indoor performance and concert venue and landmark of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. Colloquially known as "the Pabst", the theater hosts about 100 events per year. Built in 1895, it is the fourth-oldest continuously ...

in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Honors

Gruenke was recognized by the Stained Glass Association of America (SGAA), being named a Fellow of the organization in 1972. In 1996, he was given the SGAA's Lifetime Achievement Award. In 1980, Gruenke was awarded an honorary doctorate by

Mount Mary College Mount Mary University is a private Catholic women's university in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. The university was founded in 1913 by the School Sisters of Notre Dame Wauwatosa, Wisconsin Wauwatosa ( ; colloquially Tosa) is a city in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 48,387 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Wauwatosa is a suburb located immediately west of Milwaukee and is part of the Milwa ...

.''Stained Glass'' magazine, Fall 2003 *

National Trust for Historic Preservation The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a privately funded, nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., that works in the field of historic preservation in the United States. The member-supported organization was founded in 1949 ...

Award (2) * League of Historic American Theatres Award * Public Buildings Heritage Award * Arizona Governor's Award for Historic Preservation *

Utah State Historical Society The Utah State Historical Society, founded in 1897, encourages the research, study, and publication of Utah history. From its modest beginnings, the Utah Historical Society has grown to several hundred members, developed a research collection ...

Award * Historic Savannah Foundation's Trustees Award for Excellence * Maui Historical Society Annual Preservation Award *

Milwaukee County Historical Society The Milwaukee County Historical Society, also known as MCHS, is a local historical society in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. Founded in 1935, the organization was formed to preserve, collect, recognize, and make available materials related to Milwauk ...

Preservation Award * Wisconsin Society of Architects Contractors Award * Architecture Minnesota Historic Preservation Award * State of New Mexico Historic Preservation Award * American Institute of Architects Minnesota Honor Award * American Institute of Architects Wisconsin Honor Award

References

External links

Gruenke a True Artist
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gruenke, Bernard O. 1913 births 2012 deaths American stained glass artists and manufacturers Artists from Wisconsin People from Sheboygan, Wisconsin Corcoran School of the Arts and Design alumni