Dedicated to the glory of God in memory of Roger Famous Ross, Bonnie Gertler Ross, and Russell “Rusty” Edward Ross on October 24th, 2004.
The Artist - Jon Erickson
Jon C. Erickson was born on January 3, 1966 in the great state of Rhode Island. Raised in a family that nurtured his artistic development, he was enrolled in various youth programs and figure drawing classes at the Rhode Island School of Design. Jon’s grandparents instilled many wonderful things including painting and sculpture, as well as an appreciation for music. In 1984, Jon left Rhode Island to attend the then small and largely unknown Savannah College of Art and Design where he earned his BFA in illustration and a minor in art history. Upon graduation in 1988, Jon went back to Rhode Island and worked in the screen-printing industry, first as a printer, then as an artist. Jon returned to Savannah in 1990 and began working for Aurora Stained Glass. Through Aurora, Jon has been exposed to some of the brightest talents in stained glass of the twentieth century and has had the opportunity to learn many skills as a painter from one of the last of the classically trained glass painters and great friend, Dick Millard.
Jon says that, “One of the truths in life taught by Dick and others that I have had the good fortune of gleaning a small amount from is that true learning begins when one admits the vastness of their ignorance.”
View from front of the building facing Ferguson Avenue.
Artist's Statement
Historically a stained glass window was a tool for teaching or visual narration. Although the Montgomery piece is contemporary and primarily abstract, I feel this should still be the case. Dominating the work are the three crosses: the cross on the right represents Christ, the left crosses represents the two thieves crucified on Calvary with our Lord. The purple in the center of the large cross represents the royalty and sacred nature of Christ. A small amount of purple is present at the heart of the cross on the left to represent the thief who asks of Christ, “Remember me when you enter upon your reign” (Luke 23:42) to which Christ replies, “I assure you, this day you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). To me this is a symbol of hope for us all. Within the arms of the large cross are twelve small shapes representing the twelve disciples, five on one side and seven on the other. Four are of a more saturated hue representing apostles...the brightest representing John, Jesus’ most beloved apostle. The disciple of the darkest hue represents Judas. The five red / yellow elements represent the blood Christ shed for us. A white dove rises from the arm of the large cross - symbolizing Christ’s spirit and love winging towards the heavens. The dove on the left is in descent following the third across the composition as if spreading the message of the Gospel to us all. The background is mostly calming colors to symbolize peace that Christianity brings to the believer.
Jon C. Erickson
October 2004
On October 24th, 2004 a new stained glass piece was dedicated to the glory of God in memory of Roger Ross’s parents, Roger Famous Ross, Bonnie Gertler Ross, and his brother, Russell “Rusty” Edward Ross.
A Dedication Litany
For the rising of the sun, as constant as your mercy upon us, We praise you, O God, throughout the earth! For the gift of light and color, We praise you, O God, from the imagination of our hearts. For the rough surfaces and those made smooth, the broken pieces and jagged edges of our lives which reflect and refract your light to the world around us, We praise you, O God, with our lives! For the one True Light which shines in the darkness, the light which the darkness has never overcome, We praise you, O God, for your mighty deeds! For our ancestors in the faith, who testified to the light with their words and their deeds, who spoke your truth and gave us the inheritance of our faith, We praise you, O God, with heart and voice! For the hands and the faith of the artist, who with great imagination and expertise, dreamed and crafted our stained glass window into being. We praise you, O God, in your sanctuary! For those who offered financial gifts in memory of loved ones, that we might let your light, in all its splendor, shine forth within your sanctuary, We praise you, O God, with joy and thanksgiving! For the light of Jesus Christ which is reflected in your spoken word, in the waters of our baptism, in the cup of your mercy and in the strength of the Christian Community, We praise you, O God, in the fellowship of your church! Amen.
