So here's the deal with the Maker's Mark project. I'm making a large window that is dedicated to the co-founder of the brand, Margie Samuels. She played a huge role in shaping the family business, especially some of the aspects that you might be familiar with - the name, the label, and the red wax that seals each bottle - and she was a visionary who fostered (if not invented) the bourbon tourism that fuels that region of Kentucky and preserves an important and historic American industry.
Part of my 1/3 scale sketch and some glass choices
The building that will house my project will tell a bit of her history, and my design is packed with symbolism that relates to her. Margie was an avid collector of pewter (this inspired the name "Maker's Mark", which refers to the stamp with which an artisan would brand their pewter), so I will feature a Magpie in several places. These are amazing birds... they are super intelligent, and reportedly collect shiny objects to decorate their nests. To create a vintage feel, and to further the themes of home, collecting, and artistry, pieces of Depression glass will be incorporated into the stained glass, creating texture and sparkle!
Some of the Depression glass atop one of the watercolor sketches that I've been working on
Picking up some red glass for Maker's Mark at Youghiogheny Glass
I'll also include a huge cross section of tree rings to suggest the family history, as well as the importance of oak to Bourbon. I'll also refer to wheat and corn to represent the importance of land and agriculture to Maker's. One of my favorite parts of my visit to Star Hill Farm was a tour of the grounds, in which Rob Samuels stressed the importance of PLACE to the brand. Their bourbon is a product of the limestone that filters the water in the pond that provides all of their water. They employ a naturalist, and they've catalogued every species of tree on the grounds. Their recognition of the supreme importance of the local environment allows me the opportunity to keep exploring the subjects that I love... pollinators, bees, honeycombs, butterflies, flowers. It'll all be draped with luscious red swathes evocative of the dripping red wax that makes the brand instantly recognizable.
I'm so glad to be able to share this with you right now, since March is Women's History Month. Appropriately, Maker's Mark just released a new bottle featuring an image of Margie painted by Aaron Kizer. $25 from each bottle will be donated to the Bellarmine University Rubel School of Business to fund scholarships for its “Women of Color Entrepreneurs – Leadership Certificate”. more info on Margie and the Maker's Mark bottle release