A Flock of Fishes

This project was made in two sections. One part in 1984 and the other in 1987. The project won a Saltire Award for Art in Architecture in 1988.

The stained glass panels which make up A Flock of Fishes in the Café Gandolfi, Glasgow, were part designed and made in 1984 the other panels being completed in 1987.
The Cafe Gandolfi is probably Glasgow's best known Cafe.

The window was commissioned by Iain Mackenzie, the owner of the cafe at the time. Having decided that something slightly unexpected would probably be best, the idea of using fish evolved through a couple of throw-away remarks.
The fish chosen are Gatern Gaternus commonly called 'Sweet Lips'. They form a dense pack huddled under a reef.
When I came to design the second half of this window I decided to use the same species again but to have this group in motion.

This panel completed the window but I felt that something would be required to make a full stop to the flow which had been from left to right, so one single fish, an advance guard of a different gang, appears at the far right of the window suggesting that perhaps another group is just round the corner.

The main windows are very large and start at a height of 5 feet above the floor.
The area of stained glass had to be small in relation to the window but designed in such a way as to maximize the effect. Attention therefore had to be paid to the negative spaces that would be created.
I decided to use the upper part of the windows as both skylight and reflected light, from the building opposite, is available in this area.

This has always been one of my favourite windows partly because of the location and partly since I was given such a free hand in designing what I considered appropriate. The cafe has a special atmosphere with an underlying sense of humour. There is a quality in all aspects of the cafe including the furniture by Tim Stead which is highly original and beautifully made.

The panels are supported by a formed steel armature onto which the panels are secured, this in turn is fixed to the main window frame leaving the large plate glass windows untouched.

The window can be seen most days during daylight hours.

For those interested in reading a bit nore about the Cafe Gandolfi and other retaurants in the Glasgow Area, then please visit the site of my friend, Tom Cannavan in my links and look under Scottish Restaurants.

The Café Gandolfi
Albion Street
GLASGOW
Tel: 0141 552 6813

The windows have become widely known due to the various editions of postcards. Three of the above images have been editioned as cards. I have also produced a few etchings based on this theme.