Jack and Jane Meredith’s long-standing leadership in the glass community in the Washington, DC, area, and indeed throughout the mid-Atlantic region, was established through Meredith Stained Glass Centers – which for more than 30 years incorporated not only an award-winning commission studio, but the mid-Atlantic’s largest stained glass supply center and teaching facility. Jack managed the wholesale and retail supply portion of the business, and Jane directed the commission studio and the teaching program. At one time they had four locations and 45 employees. In late summer of 2001 they closed the supply portion of their business to focus solely on stained and carved glass art for homes, businesses, and places of worship. They expanded their stained and carved glass art work further to include sculptural pieces, airbrushed coloring of carved art glass, and glass mosaics –incorporating their designs into entryways, screens, furnishings, tabletops, bath windows, kitchen cabinet doors, room dividers, privacy walls, and signage. Jane managed the clients, the design work and the glass selection, while Jack continued to handle the business aspects of their studio, as well as to do the installations and assist with portions of the fabrication process. Leaving Washington was a big step for them. As Jane has said, they could move everything from the studio to their new location except for the client base, so they have essentially rebuilt their business here in Fort Wayne, doing business as Meredith Glass Specialties. In addition to handling a variety of commissions, they stock quantities of many decorative clear textured glasses, as well as clear restoration glass and architectural restoration glass (temperable), for cutting to size and glazing directly into kitchen cabinet doors, entryways, or bath projects. As a glass teacher for over 30 years, Jane has developed the skills and approach to work easily and patiently with client and/or designer to make the process of custom ordering feel smooth and comfortable, even for those who have no experience with glass. Representing a broad range of styles from period reproductions to original works of art, a number of her beautiful glass creations now grace Fort Wayne homes, as well as homes, businesses, and houses of worship throughout the United States and Saudi Arabia.
