Dove Window Preservation Documentary
Jul 21, 2022
In 2013, Nzilani Glass Conservation surveyed the windows of the Swedenborgian Church of San Francisco. We discovered that the Dove Window — which had illuminated the sanctuary for 118 years — was falling apart. The church is a “Level Four” National Historic Landmark (the highest available); putting Nzilani in the unique challenge of preserving as much of the original material as possible, while ensuring it was a functional piece of architecture that wouldn't fail again.
Filmmaker Ian Carr of Goldilocks Studios captured this struggle — revealing the hard choices faced by the artists, conservators, and congregants who became involved.
In the 8 years since this film was made, Nzilani has continued to learn about #stainedglasssafetyand how to improve our exposure to lead and other hazardous materials. While the ways we keep ourselves and others safe have changed; what we wouldn't change is our approach to the project or our passion about preserving this unique part of San Francisco history.
In 2022, Goldilocks Studios remastered the film — a fun parallel to the restoration work the film documents.
Watch the original publication here
