Art Opening
WHEN: May 1, 2026 6-8pm
WHERE: Sixth Avenue United Church
3250 E 6th Ave, Denver, CO 80206
WHO: Stained Glass Artist, Bill Lutomski
Bill Lutomski Personal Bio:
When I was young, my father was a mailman and had access to a lot of magazines where the address tag had fallen off. If no one claimed them, he would bring them home, and I would devour them. So I got to spend time in all kinds of travel, art, and nature magazines that were also printed in many different languages. I believe those magazines were a huge influence in starting my art journey!
During this time, I won an art contest in grade school that was turned into a bumper sticker, and I became an artist from that day forward and took every art class available in school. From jewelry to charcoal to life drawing to collage.
Later, I got an after school job at a clothing factory that made uniforms for restaurants. The company also made custom clothing for men and women's clothing where we used many colorful and textured fabrics. This opened my eyes to many different fabric stylings. Then, after high school, I worked for a lawn & tree service which launched my interest in sculpture when I trimmed and pruned trees and shrubs.
By the grace of God, I was directed to a small glass studio named Wildwood Stained Glass on South Broadway in Englewood, CO and met the owner named Jackie Lloyd Wright. The great granddaughter of Frank Lloyd Wright. We hit it off immediately, and I asked her for a job and she hired me and put me to work the next day. We made 100s of windows each year. It was here that I learned to design and fabricate stained glass windows, repair windows, repair glass lampshades, and more. My work with Wildwood can still be seen all over Metro Denver in churches, historical buildings, and private homes.
A few of my favorite windows to brag about are the French doors in the home and studio of Frank Lloyd Wright in Oak Park Illinois, windows in the Phipps Mansion, as well as some at the Denver Botanical Gardens, and the Federal Courthouse in Denver.
Artist Statement:
The Creation Series was inspired by my love of combining nature and art glass and was influenced by sermons I've heard over the years. It has always amazed me how much I notice these scriptures from the book of Genesis in everyday conversations, music, and just observing everything that happens daily. In creating this series, I used art glass, lead, brass, copper foil, custom bevels, fusible frit glass that is melted in a kiln, glass paint, etching, and just about every technique done to art glass. The result is an appearance similar to a scientist's specimen board, inviting the viewer to examine the work of God's hands on each day of the creation story.
Press Release
DATE: May 25, 2023
CONTACT: John Maikowski
Transforming Creatives to Receive $15,000 Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts
MORRISON, CO —Transforming Creatives has been approved for a $15,000 Grants for Arts Projects award from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to support the development of Transforming Creatives Studios. This project will provide personal and professional development resources for artists in rural and/or underserved communities in Colorado. Transforming Creatives’ project is among 1,130 projects across the country, totaling more than $31 million, that were selected during this second round of Grants for Arts Projects fiscal year 2023 funding.
“The National Endowment for the Arts is pleased to support a wide range of projects, including Transforming Creatives Studios, demonstrating the many ways the arts enrich our lives and contribute to healthy and thriving communities,” said NEA Chair Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD. “These organizations play an important role in advancing the creative vitality of our nation and helping to ensure that all people can benefit from arts, culture, and design.”
“We are beyond grateful to have our work in Colorado’s Arts & Culture sector supported by the National Endowment for the Arts,” said Transforming Creatives Executive Director, John Maikowski. “Their recognition of our investment in the lives of creatives and the ripple effect of that investment in the creative economy and society as a whole is so appreciated. As we continue our work of caring for creative souls, partnering with the NEA will provide critical resources to deepen the impact of that work.”
“Since 2010, Transforming Creatives has served artists of all disciplines & abilities through an array of personal & professional development resources. Until now, those resources were only available to those who lived and worked in urban Denver. The new Transforming Creatives Studios will provide those resources including workshops, wellness & art therapy, community development activities, financial & strategic training, and more to rural and/or underserved communities in Colorado as well as engage in the creation of new resources in partnership with local artists and supporting organizations. This local presence will provide under-resourced artists with the tools they need to amplify their cultural voice and better realize their full creative potential.”
About Transforming Creatives:
Transforming Creatives is a nonprofit organization empowering human flourishing through intentional community, soul care and wellness education. We believe creative souls have a unique ability to bring the power of truth, goodness and beauty into our world. So we create environments centered in art, nature, and spiritual practice that help transform the creative soul. Learn more at transformingcreatives.org.
For more information on other projects included in the NEA grant announcement, visit arts.gov/news.
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