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  • Stephen Briscoe explains details of his stained glass are at the Texas Art Museum on Tuesday in Port Arthur. Morgan Jones

    Stephan Briscoe

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February 7, 2012

Artist uses stained glass to tell black history

Brandon Janes The Port Arthur News

PORT ARTHUR — The ten-foot-tall stained glass buffalo soldier hanging in the Texas Artists’ Museum this month could be Port Arthur artist Stephan Briscoe’s magnum opus.

The towering, intricate figure is not only a powerful example of his talent but it also tells the history of African America, a large part of Briscoe’s persona.

“In the books they seem huge, like giants. Heroes of the West,” said Briscoe, describing the buffalo soldiers. His art reflects their hugeness.

Briscoe is a tall African American man who has spent most of his career the Port Arthur Valero refinery.

But, when not at work, the artist is researching his subjects and producing new work, a job that often puts him working on scaffolding 40 feet in the air. He has honed his talent since 1979.

“I have figured out a way to get the glass medium and make it come to life. I use glass to simulate rifle butts and boots with textures and color,” said Briscoe.

“Anything you can do with canvas you can do with stained glass,” he added.

Briscoe has between 20,000 and 30,000 square feet of stained glass hanging in churches, schools and residences all over the world.

Admirers may have seen his work at the Faith Tabernacle Church in Port Arthur or at the New Hope Baptist Church, where he got his first commission.

Although most of his work can be found in Southeast Texas or Louisiana, over the last five years he has found commissions in Accra, Ghana.

Briscoe traveled to West Africa for the first time in 2007 with a group of missionary friends.

Carrying an expensive package of stained glass materials, he began teaching a group of young Ghanaians how to work in the medium.

The students took to the work naturally, according to Briscoe.

“I just gave them a little bit of tutelage and they are putting out great pieces. I mean, I didn’t teach them how to cut curves,” said Briscoe, pointing to a photograph of the students and their work.

“I knew if I put the materials in their hands they would come up with their own ideas,” said Briscoe.

The young Africans created a name of the group: Custom Stained Glass and Etching—West Africa Branch.

He said that the young men are naturally artists because they have imagination.

“Artists are not contractors,” said Briscoe. “Artists have hearts. They set trends for the country and for their time.”

A special reception for Briscoe and other artists currently on exhibit will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Texas Artists’ Museum, located at 3501 Cultural Center Drive in Port Arthur.

Briscoe’s art will be on display all month.

bjanes@panews.com

 

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