Medieval Stained Glass, Architecture Subjects of Feb. 27 Science Caf Program

Dr. Phyllis G Jestice, chair and professor of history at the University of Southern Mississippi, will lead a discussion on medieval stained glass and the Nova Science video “Building the Great Cathedrals” Monday, Feb. 27 at 6 p.m. in the art gallery at Cook Library as part of the spring Science Café series. Admission is free.

Dee Tatum, a local stained glass artist and owner of Seraphim Studios, a custom stained glass classes and supplies studio, will also be on hand to facilitate any questions about working with stained glass.

Gothic engineers built thin, super-tall walls, made not of stone but mostly of glass. Somehow, these walls of windows support towering ceilings of stone. How did medieval builders pull off such a dramatic transformation? In medieval architecture, stained glass had a unique structural and symbolic importance. As the Romanesque massiveness of the wall was eliminated, the use of glass was expanded. Symbolically, it was regarded as a manifestation of divine light.

Held in the art gallery next to the Starbucks coffee shop at Cook Library, The Science Café series offers those with minimal or no background in science the chance to meet and discuss scientific issues in layman's terms in a relaxed social setting. A member of the Southern Miss faculty shares his or her expertise at each session with a presentation and short NOVA video. Admission is free and open to the public.

For more information, contact Tracy Englert at 601.266.6396 or e-mail tracy.englertFREEMississippi. Additional information can be found at the PBS Nova website. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/ancient/science-stained-glass.html or http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/ancient/building-gothic-cathedrals.html