James Meechan
Encyclopedia
James Meechan is a Scottish-Canadian artist best known for his stained glass
work.
, Scotland, during the Great Depression
, Meechan attended Holyrood Secondary School before moving on to the Glasgow School of Art
where he specialised in stained glass. He received commissions for windows from a number of churches in Scotland. In 1953 he emigrated to Canada, settling in Toronto
. He married Kay Hanlon in 1954. Meechan received more window commissions from churches in Canada. To supplement his earnings from stained glass, and to support a growing family, he qualified as a secondary school teacher in the province of Ontario. For a number of years he worked at Central Technical School
, alongside Canadian artist Doris McCarthy
. Meechan played a key role in the students' creation of the colossal ketchup bottle in 1967, built to poke fun at Claes Oldenburg
's giant hamburger which was then on display at the Art Gallery of Ontario
. Most of Meechan's career as a teacher was spent at C. W. Jefferys Collegiate Institute
, where he was the Head of the Art Department from 1970, when the school was established, until 1986. Meechan continued to receive commissions for stained glass windows after that time. The subjects of his windows, understandably, have usually been religious. The subjects of his watercolours, however, have often included the shore of Lake Huron
near Southampton, Ontario
.
James Meechan is a Life Member of the Ontario Society of Artists, having joined in 1966.
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
work.
Biography
Born in GlasgowGlasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Scotland, during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, Meechan attended Holyrood Secondary School before moving on to the Glasgow School of Art
Glasgow School of Art
Glasgow School of Art is one of only two independent art schools in Scotland, situated in the Garnethill area of Glasgow.-History:It was founded in 1845 as the Glasgow Government School of Design. In 1853, it changed its name to The Glasgow School of Art. Initially it was located at 12 Ingram...
where he specialised in stained glass. He received commissions for windows from a number of churches in Scotland. In 1953 he emigrated to Canada, settling in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. He married Kay Hanlon in 1954. Meechan received more window commissions from churches in Canada. To supplement his earnings from stained glass, and to support a growing family, he qualified as a secondary school teacher in the province of Ontario. For a number of years he worked at Central Technical School
Central Technical School
Central Technical School is a composite high school located at 725 Bathurst Street at Harbord Street in Toronto, Canada.C.T.S. offers a wide range of programs, including all core academic courses, as well as concentration and specialization in visual arts and technical studies. C.T.S...
, alongside Canadian artist Doris McCarthy
Doris McCarthy
Doris McCarthy, CM, O.Ont was a Canadian artist specializing in abstracted landscapes.Born in Calgary, Alberta, McCarthy attended the Ontario College of Art from , where she was awarded various scholarships and prizes...
. Meechan played a key role in the students' creation of the colossal ketchup bottle in 1967, built to poke fun at Claes Oldenburg
Claes Oldenburg
Claes Oldenburg is a Swedish sculptor, best known for his public art installations typically featuring very large replicas of everyday objects...
's giant hamburger which was then on display at the Art Gallery of Ontario
Art Gallery of Ontario
Under the direction of its CEO Matthew Teitelbaum, the AGO embarked on a $254 million redevelopment plan by architect Frank Gehry in 2004, called Transformation AGO. The new addition would require demolition of the 1992 Post-Modernist wing by Barton Myers and Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg...
. Most of Meechan's career as a teacher was spent at C. W. Jefferys Collegiate Institute
C. W. Jefferys Collegiate Institute
-External links:* at the Toronto District School Board website...
, where he was the Head of the Art Department from 1970, when the school was established, until 1986. Meechan continued to receive commissions for stained glass windows after that time. The subjects of his windows, understandably, have usually been religious. The subjects of his watercolours, however, have often included the shore of Lake Huron
Lake Huron
Lake Huron is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. Hydrologically, it comprises the larger portion of Lake Michigan-Huron. It is bounded on the east by the Canadian province of Ontario and on the west by the state of Michigan in the United States...
near Southampton, Ontario
Southampton, Ontario
Southampton is a community of approximately 3083 people on the shores of Lake Huron in Bruce County, Ontario, Canada, located at the mouth of the Saugeen River....
.
James Meechan is a Life Member of the Ontario Society of Artists, having joined in 1966.