Film: “Let There Be Light”
Saturday, October 29, 1:00-3:00 p.m.
$10 Members, $15 Non-members, includes Museum admission

This is the story of a great artist producing his last great work of art. It is the story of the human struggle to create and the monumental results that are possible when we apply ourselves to that struggle.

Washington National Cathedral is the 6th largest cathedral in the world and took over 80 years to build. Master stained-glass artist Rowan LeCompte created over 40 of the windows in the Cathedral, including the spectacular “Creation” rose window, which Washington Post architecture critic Wolf von Eckhardt called “a glorious hallelujah in colored light . . . surely one of the masterpieces of Christendom.”

In 2006, at age 81, LeCompte received one final commission to create a window for the Cathedral. Due to unforeseen challenges of time, age, bureaucracy, politics and natural disaster, the expected one-year project instead stretched to eight long years, “Let There Be Light” accompanies LeCompte and his collaborators, master craftsman Dieter Goldkuhle and artist/conservator Mary Clerkin Higgins, on this artistic journey.

Told with stunningly beautiful images, this story illuminates the passion, perseverance, love and faith these artists bring to their work. In documenting the struggle to make a great work of art using glass and light, the film aims to inspire and ignite the creative light within us all.

Trailer for Let There Be Light

Quotes

“You borrow one of the greatest forces of nature and you use it to stir the emotions and the human spirit.” (Rowan LeCompte)

“What an amazing film! A meditation on call, faithfulness, mission, mystery . . . and the tragedy of the realities of money and power and politics.” (Patricia A. Daly, OP / Executive Director Tri-State Coalition for Responsible Investment)

“Your film is probably the best I have ever seen about stained glass artistry and those who design, cast and ultimately create the beauty of sacred light in sacred space.” (The Rt. Reverend John Bryson Chane, D.D 8th Bishop of Washington)

Filmmaker Bio

Peter Swanson is a graduate of Rhode Island School of Design, and is a film and video producer, director and editor based in Leicester, MA. He has won multiple awards for his educational and documentary work, including projects for public television, Rotary International, the United Nations, and several museums, among others. Over the last 10 years Peter has travelled the world producing a variety of media projects related to water conservation and sustainability.