[Letter from Peter Stewart to Philip Johnson, January 16, 1976] Page: 3 of 6
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THE STUDIO BARN
OXFORD ROAD
CLIFTON HAVPDEN ABINGDON OXON
OX14 3EW
Tel. Clifton Hampden 749011th January, 1976
Mr. Peter Stewart
President, Thanks-Giving Square
3141 One Main Place
Dallas, Texas 75250
Dear Peter,
I apologize for not writing sooner in reply to your letter of December 16,
but we've all had flu and that set things back a bit. You ask about the light-
ing. This is a very uncertain business and always requires experiment on
the spot. There are, however, certain principles that practically always
apply:
1. My kind of glass is nearly always destroyed or dulled by diffused
or concealed lighting. It loses its sparkle.
2. Conversely, it gains if one sees through it to a bright point of
light and I would offer a suggestion that on the wall opposite the center of
the panel - that is the Dove - at a point which I have marked on the enclosed
cut-out plan in red, some form of what we call her'a vertical 'buzz-bar'"
is put up so that several lights can be attached to it and moved up and down
until a point if reached at which, from the point of view of the spectator
coming up the ramp, there is a brilliant light shining through the Dove.
This should maximize the impact on the visitor. (I have shown a dotted line
from the light to the center of the panel).
3. Another way which may not be acceptable to the architect is to
suspend a bright light from the ceiling at a distance of at least six feet
inside the passage. A sort of modern chandelier. I certainly share Philip
Johnson's feelings about crude lighting fitments, but I am sure that if he
designs what is finally to be used there should be no problems.Q~,41
I don't think that spotlights shone onto the glass from any point inside
the passage are likely to produce a good result, but one cannot tell. I think
the buzz-bar will work, or the hanging light if correctly placed. On the out-
side shouldn't be necessary at all.
Perhaps you will let me know what Philip Johnson thinks of this.
Kind regards, and best wishes for the New Year,
Yours,
John
P. S. In this letter I am saying what I think is best
for the glass. But, of course, anything that is done naturally
has to be considered in relation to the architecture.
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Stewart, Peter. [Letter from Peter Stewart to Philip Johnson, January 16, 1976], letter, January 16, 1976; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1196869/m1/3/: accessed July 12, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting The Thanks-Giving Foundation.