Awards
Joseph Barnes
The Joseph Barnes Award was established in 2008 to honor Joseph Barnes himself for his many years of service to the field of stained glass. Joe himself received this inaugural award from the American Glass Guild, honoring his lifetime dedication to the stained glass industry. Joe’s career has spanned over 60 years, of which almost 40 are with Bendheim.
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“Joe’s love of people and deeply rooted work ethic have made him a great asset to Bendheim and the stained glass industry,” said Robert Jayson, President of Bendheim. “Joe is known to be the first man in to work and one of the last to leave; one of the few who can always be relied upon to do the job, no matter what the task. I cannot imagine how many thousands of people he has helped with color selection, substitutions, shipping questions or just “how-to” advice. From assisting visitors to our warehouse to answering a telephone call, Joe has always been there to help.”
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Before joining Benheim, Joe worked for Leo J. Popper and Sons in New York City. He was beloved by many for his extensive knowledge of glass and for his enthusiasm in customer service. He was quoted as saying, ““I love working with glass. It has charm, beauty and so many design possibilities, there is so much you can do with it. The other great part of this job is working with people. I enjoy talking to them and helping them choose their glass.”
The AGG Joseph Barnes Award was established by the American Glass Guild in 2008 and is a service award presented to individuals who serve the glass community with a kindness toward others and an enthusiasm for the glass industry.
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Nick Parrendo could not imagine receiving this lifetime achievement award in 2009 and then having it named after him. His passion and talent for the art of stained glass spanned 66 plus years from apprentice, craftsman, designer, artist and eventually owner, all with the Hunt Stained Glass Studios, Inc. in Pittsburgh, PA.
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His was more than a career, it was the embodiment of how he lived his faith-filled life allowing him to spread God’s message through various art forms. With humility and joy and a tireless work ethic, Nick created thousands of commissions gracing houses of worship, commercial establishments and residences in the tri-state area and throughout the United States. More than the numerous works of art, the legacy he devoted himself to was offering his gift of creativity to the glory of God with the hope that one would be inspired and touched by God’s loving presence through the art medium.
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Nick, through his easy going, gentle, genuine nature, generously shared his knowledge, fostering, inspiring and radiating excitement for the art of stained glass while selflessly caring for a host of future generations of artists, craftspeople and everyone who had the honor of knowing him.
Nick Parrendo
The Board of Directors of the AGG seeks nominations from its members for the 2025 awards in the following categories:
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Members should send their nominations to info@americanglassguild.org, with “AGG Award Nomination” in the subject line. Please include several paragraphs about the person you are nominating and why you feel they deserve to be honored. Award will be presented at the American Glass Guild Conference.
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The AGG Joseph Barnes Award was established by the American Glass Guild in 2008 and is a service award presented to individuals who serve the glass community with a kindness toward others and an enthusiasm for the glass industry. Artists, conservators, craftspeople, art historians, etc., are eligible.
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The AGG Nicholas Parrendo Lifetime Achievement Award was established in 2013 and acknowledges distinguished accomplishment and service over the whole of a career by those in the stained-glass field. Recipients inspire us with their vision, achievement, standards and leadership. Artists, conservators, craftspeople, art historians, etc., are eligible.
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The AGG Inspiration Award was established in 2014 and is awarded to individuals or groups finding creative ways of promoting stained glass within their communities or to the general public. It honors individuals or groups that have made a difference in their own life and have inspired others along the way.
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The AGG Excellence in Conservation Award was established in 2009 and is awarded to individuals who strive for high standards in the field of conservation. It is an opportunity to highlight some of the incredible and innovative stained conservation successes, as well as recognize and thank stained glass artists for their hard work and dedication to saving past work.
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Past Award Recipients
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2018 – Robert Jayson SA Bendhiem AGG Nicholas Parrendo Lifetime Achievement Award-
2018 – Sam Halstead AGG Inspiration Award- Movie:Lighting the Way: The German Pioneers of Contemporary Stained Glass https://youtu.be/E0A1NWEpIbg
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2017 – Dennis & Janet Dailey DHD Metals Joseph Barnes Award – Dailey and his wife Janice of DHD Metals have worked with many restoration artists to reproduce the unusual dies necessary to restore the work of innovators such as John La Farge and Louis Comfort Tiffany, always with a smile and positive attitude. Their dedication and love of stained glass drives their participation in the effort to create and restore it.
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2017 – Mary Clerkin Higgins AGG Nicholas Parrendo Lifetime Achievement Award – After 10 years at a Greenland in Manhattan, Mary opened her own studio in Brooklyn in 1986. She continues to work on a full range of projects all over the country and all over the world. One of the five founders of the American Glass Guild, Higgins was its president for two terms, program chair for three conferences, and is also founder and has served as organizer for five years of the juried show American Glass Now.
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Barbara Krueger – 2016 Joseph Barnes Award – Krueger poured much of her abundant energy into building the AGG community over its first 10 years. Many know her as a mainstay of the AGG Bulletin Board, where she frequently posts articles of interest for discussion. Krueger has been an integral part of, and now Director of, the Michigan Stained Glass Census
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Charles Z. Lawrence – 2015 Nicholas Parrendo Lifetime Achievement Award – Lawrence is widely respected for his achievement in architectural stained glass design, including installations at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, DC.
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Peter McGrain – 2014 Joseph Barnes Award – McGrain has spent much of his career inspiring others through his enthusiastic teaching of the craft. His method of combining stained glass painting and fusing, as well as his unique style of illustration, is known and appreciated by many in the field.
Narcissus Qualiata – 2014 Nicholas Parrendo Lifetime Achievement Award – Quagliata is internationally recognized for his design work in stained glass, and more his recently fused glass panels, and major architectural installations. He was Keynote Speaker at the 2014 AGG Conference in Bryn Athyn, PA.
The Stained Glass Project: Windows That Open Doors – 2014 Inspiration Award – The Stained Glass Project is a not-for-profit outreach program serving disadvantaged high school youth in Philadelphia, PA (www.facebook.com/TheStainedGlassProject). Its after-school program serves teens by providing a family-like environment and mentoring while teaching basic stained glass crafting. Windows made by the teens are then donated and installed at needy schools and other locales around the country and across the globe.
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Jack Cushen – 2013 Nicholas Parrendo Lifetime Achievement Award –
Crosby Willet – 2013 Nicholas Parrendo Lifetime Achievement Award –
Sylvia Nicolas – 2012 Joseph Barnes Award – Nicolas is a fourth generation master stained glass artist. Her father, Joep Nicolas, known as “the father of modern stained glass”, was also an accomplished painter, as is his daughter. Nicolas studied extensively in Europe, and in the U.S. with painter Rufino Tamayo and sculptor Ossip Zadkine. Her works range from stage sets and 24-foot high stained glass windows for churches to terra cotta sculptures that can be held in one hand. All bear the unmistakable stamp of excellence. Nicolas, also an accomplished costume designer and mosaicist, considers herself a keen observer of human nature. Her works delve into the passions, psychology and humor of the human condition, touching people with their universal appeal.
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Dan Fenton – 2011 Joseph Barnes Award – Over his forty years in glass, Fenton touched thousands of students, artists, colleagues and collectors with his deep generosity, intelligence, artistry, creativity and free spirit. It is for these myriad reasons that the American Glass Guild recognized Fenton for the Joseph Barnes Award. Dan embodied the same work ethic, love of his fellow man and dedication to the craft that we have all come to love in Joe Barnes.
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Rowan LeCompte – 2010 Joseph Barnes Award – LeCompte was recognized as AGG Senior Advisor, and for his many contributions to the art of stained glass. Rowan is best known for his extensive work at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. for which he made his first window at the age of 16.
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Melville Greenland – 2009 – Achievement Award for Excellence in Conservation – Greenland’s integrity and high standards in craftsmanship and conservation set the bar very high. He trained many well-known conservators and completed over 170 major commissions during his career.
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Nicholas Parrendo – 2009 Joseph Barnes Award – Parrendo, beloved AGG Senior Advisor, was recognized for his artistry in glass and his many years educating and encouraging other stained-glass artists.
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Joseph Barnes – 2008 Joseph Barnes Award – Barnes was the first recipient of an AGG Award, recognized for his many years of service to the field. He served as the unofficial “Chairman of the Board” of the Stained Glass Division at S.A. Bendheim, Co. in Passaic, NJ and earlier at Leo J. Popper and Sons in New York City.