COMMUNITY OF HOPE
Community of Hope, a glass painting commissioned by the new University Health Women's and Children's Hospital-San Antonio,
visually communicates that this hospital is a community united and anchored to hope—here, hope is found, hope is fostered, and hope is shared.
in bloom
The new University Health Women's and Children's Hospital-San Antonio commissioned Terri to create a glass painting as a signature piece for their main lobby—and the design theme for this new hospital was "In Bloom."
This is what she does—she creates glass paintings for spaces designed to bring healing and hope. And she got to tell their story with something she loves—flowers.
looking for inspiration
The journey to create this piece began during construction when she traveled to San Antonio to seek inspiration from her client. She spent time with their administrators, physicians, nurses, and visitors to understand their desires and to find inspiration.
This glass painting would be theirs—and the inspiration had to come from them.
finding a community of hope
Terri was deeply moved by a woman standing in the shadows; the woman hesitantly walked up to Terri and quietly shared her thoughts—she helped Terri to see with her heart. A frail woman Terri will never see again, shared her memories of Fiesta, and her heart inspired this glass painting Terri created, titled Community of Hope.
from A Battle of flowers to fiesta
In 1891, a group of citizens honored the memory of the heroes of the Alamo and the Battle of San Jacinto. Led by horse-drawn carriages decorated with fresh flowers, they bombarded each other with fresh flowers in the Battle of Flowers, and the Fiesta tradition was born. Oh, if only today, battles could be fought with blossoms.
Today, Fiesta is a festival—a joyful celebration of San Antonio, the community, and its rich and diverse cultures.
the story of this community
Community is a treasured feeling amongst people—people connected by shared experiences, beliefs, and dreams.
Throughout history, a crown of flowers has been symbolic of hope, peace, and love; with the base of a crown is a circle—a symbol of unity and wholeness. Today, ladies of all ages wear crowns of flowers to celebrate Fiesta and their community.
Look closely at the design of this glass painting; the circle is not closed—because a community of hope remains open.
revealing their story
The story of this community and University Health Women's and Children's Hospital is shared with a crown of flowers featuring native flowers that symbolize the heart of this new hospital. One by one, flowers were added to the crown to reveal the story of this hospital, their community, and hope—beginning with the Texas Bluebonnet.
.jpeg/:/cr=t:0%25,l:0%25,w:100%25,h:100%25/rs=w:1240,cg:true)
sharing their story
George B. Hernandez Jr., JD, President and Chief Executive Officer, welcomes the community of San Antonio at the opening.
Community of Hope is their story, inspired by one of their own and created with glass—it is their story to share with their community.
In the silence of the wind
THIS ONE WOULD BE DIFFERENT
Terri has created glass paintings of our American flag for the conference room of a commercial developer in Cincinnati, a retirement gift for the CEO of 5/3 Bank, ArtPrize in Grand Rapids, and a staircase for a spectacular home in southern Ohio—and each one has its own story.
NO WORDS ARE SPOKEN
When Terri met with a collector, who commissioned an American flag for the lobby of his new corporate headquarters, she knew this one would be different—this one would be special.
It was an honor for her to collaborate with him and create a glass painting that will share his story with others - even if it is in silence and no words are spoken.
It was in the silence.
In the silence of the wind.
It was in the silence.
After spending time with her collector, Terri was deeply touched. He is a three-time Iraqi War combat veteran and his battalion was the first to enter Baghdad. She listened to his stories and learned more about him—his experiences and his commitment to our country, to his family, to his company, and to his associates (most of whom are ama
After spending time with her collector, Terri was deeply touched. He is a three-time Iraqi War combat veteran and his battalion was the first to enter Baghdad. She listened to his stories and learned more about him—his experiences and his commitment to our country, to his family, to his company, and to his associates (most of whom are amazing veterans). She was beginning to understand why he commissioned an American flag. He shared so much and yet, she also felt that much was being kept in silence.
Inspiration | design
In the silence of the wind.
It was in the silence.
Every glass painting Terri creates begins with inspiration - in a commission piece the inspiration comes directly from the collector. After giving more thought to his experiences, his heart, and his dreams something was haunting her. It was the silence. This led Terri to write about what he must have been thinking, feeling, and dreaming w
Every glass painting Terri creates begins with inspiration - in a commission piece the inspiration comes directly from the collector. After giving more thought to his experiences, his heart, and his dreams something was haunting her. It was the silence. This led Terri to write about what he must have been thinking, feeling, and dreaming while serving our country in Iraq – what many of our veterans must have been feeling while in the midst of combat. What she wrote became the inspiration for his glass painting titled, “In the Silence of the Wind”—
his inspiration and Terri's words.
In the silence of the wind.
In the silence of the wind.
In the silence of the wind.
In the silence of the wind
I fly freely with a soft rhythmic movement.
Through a silent gaze, I became sea swells
in the midst of a barren and desolate desert.
In the silence, I led many into the desert -
and in sorrow, I followed many home.
Although I am worn, I am stained,
I am dusted with the desert sand,
silently I carry with me the d
In the silence of the wind
I fly freely with a soft rhythmic movement.
Through a silent gaze, I became sea swells
in the midst of a barren and desolate desert.
In the silence, I led many into the desert -
and in sorrow, I followed many home.
Although I am worn, I am stained,
I am dusted with the desert sand,
silently I carry with me the dreams of many—
an abundance of hope for a better life and a better tomorrow. In the silence of the wind I whisper—
I am a voice for people of hope. - Terri Albanese
in complete devotion
When a client commissioned a glass painting of sunflowers for her beautiful dining room, it wasn’t to match the colors or the décor of their stunning home built by Ulysses S. Grant III in 1918—it was to remember their wedding day. Seas of sunflowers graced their ceremonies and celebrations.
a message of abundant joy
A sunflower is more than a symbol of devotion and adoration—it brings with it a message of abundant joy, life, light, and love. These magnificent flowers have a beautiful story to share.
in complete devotion
The soft light of dawn finds the sunflower gazing towards the east—
and in adoration, patiently waiting for the sun to rise.
In complete devotion, looking to the light,
it reaches for the sky where the clouds are passing;
the sun slowly crosses the afternoon sky,
and the sunflower gently turns and follows the sun until it sets in the west.
As the wind whispers,
the sunflower gracefully reaches for the stars
and patiently waits to greet another dawn,
to bring with it a message of abundant joy, life, light, and love—
the fruits of a beautiful marriage. -Terri
As sunflowers reach for the sun, they teach us to look above—
to let life inspire us, and to create something we can share with others.
This is now their story to share.
Lifted Up in Triumph - Nationwide CHildren's Hospital
Nationwide Children’s Hospital commissioned Lifted Up in Triumph, a glass painting for their new, state-of-the-art Conference and Simulation Center.
Terri was deeply moved when she learned the hospital chose butterflies as their corporate symbol— because butterflies symbolize "the triumph after the struggle". This powerful message became her inspiration for creating Lifted Up in Triumph.
After learning more about their senior project manager's design philosophy and inspiration, Terri developed a concept that would support this philosophy—it included a flower indigenous to the area, one that attracts butterflies, and one that represents the heart of Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
This is the triumph
“I chose to tell this story with bright, playful white coneflowers, against a clear, midafternoon sky with dreamy clouds. Coneflowers are indigenous to our area, they attract all types of butterflies, and most importantly, they represent the heart of the hospital—white coneflowers symbolize healing and strength.
The story begins with the white coneflower on the left of the glass painting. Its petals are wilting—symbolizing the struggle the patients and families face when a child is ill.
As your eye moves to the right, you'll see the petals beginning to lift up on each of the flowers—symbolizing the healing that takes place with great care and with time.
The triumph is found in the coneflower at the top right—with petals fully lifted. This coneflower symbolizes the strength found through healing—this is the triumph. This is Nationwide Children's Hospital.” —Terri
Harvest at dusk
Harvest at Dusk is a glass art painting commissioned for the Boardroom of the Ohio Corn Growers Association. Terri worked with the client to create this commission art piece—a glass painting that celebrates the harvest, which is the excited anticipation of every farmer and their reward.
Just after sunrise
Just after sunrise
Just after sunrise
Just after sunrise
Just after sunrise
Just After Sunrise is a commission art piece that was created for the employee entrance and lounge at the corporate office of a national insurance company. The client wanted to have a glass art painting created for this space that would both inspire and motivate their employees—
to create a sense of excitement.
this inspired this
this inspired this
this inspired this
this inspired this
this inspired this
"While running in the silence of the early morning, I was stopped by the wonder of a 40' Magnolia tree— these magnificent flowers, that I had never seen before, were floating on top of her branches. A symbol of beauty, joy, endurance, and perseverance, yellow Magnolia flowers bloom boldly and are evidence that life is beautiful. Live it boldly!" —Terri
JUST AFTER SUNRISE
RED WINTER
Red Winter is a glass art painting commissioned for the Ohio Small Grains Program Boardroom at their corporate office. While working with the client on the concept for this commission art, Terri created a piece to symbolize the impact the farmers who grow Red Winter Wheat have on our economy,
our food supply and our communities
FIRST GLEAM OF DAWN
This commission art piece was created for a private residence. Terri collaborated with the collector to create a piece that celebrates their Jewish heritage.
This glass painting celebrates the Feast of the Harvest.
HOPE OF BELONGING
A top Fortune 500 company commissioned a glass painting as a gift to their CFO—a gift of gratitude.
He asked her to create an iris.
Symbolic of his new journey—each iris in this glass painting symbolizes where we are within a journey. The iris bud symbolizes the beginning; the iris on the left is beginning to bloom and symbolizes when we begin to realize this is where we belong; and the iris in full bloom symbolizes maturity, when we know we've arrived.
giving light
Terri worked with Senior Designers with Spellman Brady & Company, St. Louis, Missouri on this commission art glass painting for their client—the Springfield Medical Center.
This glass art painting was created
as an unspoken means to bring hope to those who walk through the Chapel doors.
A Slice of Heaven
She wanted to commission a glass painting and she wanted to capture the beauty of the view from her lake house in Wisconsin. The lake is her slice of heaven—however, there is so much more to this lake.
“She gave me videos and photographs of the lake and she shared with me her vision—I knew there was more to this lake. The beauty goes beyond the lake—it expands four generations of family memories. As she shared her lifetime of memories on this lake I found what I was looking for - I found the heart of this lake.
Once I found the heart of the lake, I wanted to capture what I was feeling before I began her glass painting. I began writing the piece below, and this became my inspiration.” —Terri
She stops and takes it in.
In the silence of the morning beside the still lake, she stops and takes it in—as the lake reflects the presence of the past.
Shared from generation to generation, she now watches four become five.
In the warmth of the afternoon sun, she stops and takes it in—as she joyfully remembers what was and excitedly imagines what is to come.
As the day gives way to dusk she stops and takes it in—it is her place to share.
With family, it is a place to dream and to celebrate, to laugh and to cry, to hurt and to heal, to say goodbye, and to start anew.
It is a place to renew her soul, refresh her heart, and share her love.
The night breeze welcomes the stars, and she stops and takes it in—at the lake that binds them all.
—Terri Albanese
The story behind the title
Terri’s client titled this glass painting—A Slice of Heaven. It came from a note her mother wrote her in her guest book. The most beautiful part is she didn’t find this message until after her mother passed away. Her mother’s memory continues in this piece.