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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday March 7, 2007 - 35 Artscene Oakville Beaver · WEDNESDAY, March 7, 2007 By Krissie Rutherford OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF 35 Labour of love brings back fond childhood memories They're no longer turning `round and `round, but there's a good chance Stella White is restoring a piece of her childhood. The local artist is working on 12 giant pieces of stained glass that may have come from a CNE carousel built in the 1920s. If the rumours are true, it's a carousel White knows well. "As a child, I went to the CNE every year with a neighbour and her daughter. I remember the ride ­ we called it the Merry-Go-Round," said White, 52. "It was the first ride and probably the only ride we went on. Then it was straight to the food building," she added, smiling. "I can almost smell the candy floss." White went to the CNE every summer up until she was about 10 years old. She remembers the ride, but not exact details of its appearance. "I can't remember exactly what it looked like, so I'm not sure if these pieces were part of it," she said. "I was probably more focused on the other parts of the ride." White's been contacting the CNE and other organizations to try to find an old picture of the ride, but so far, to no avail. "I'm really intrigued about the pieces ­ I'm just so curious about the background and where they fit in," she said. She was commissioned to restore the stained glass panels by the owner of Foster's Fine Furniture, a local antique shop. He found them in a barn and was told they may have been used on a CNE ride. Each stained glass panel measpieces White designed and created herself. Her passion began after taking a night course in stained glass more than 20 years ago. After she started making pieces for herself, people began commissioning her to do work for them. Other projects just don't compare to this current one, though. "That's just a regular window there that I've been working on restoring, but that's boring," she said, pointing at one in her studio. "This is actually really exciting. It's really interesting to see what's under them when you clean them off. They're just beautiful." The restoration process of these pieces involves cutting out the broken piece and fitting in a similar one in its place using a "putty," White says. "Then I'll colour it with soot from the fireplace because the putty is a lighter colour ­ you have to make it as authentic as possible," she explained. "I run over to my neighbour's house, who still have a working fire place. They always know why I'm there, and say, `Oh, you need more soot,'" she added, smiling. If she can't find the right piece to fit in a gap, White will use a "cheater piece" to replace a broken part, using old lead out of a window "to make it look as though it was always there." "It's just a fascinating project," White added, noting she feels "elation and a sense of accomplishment" after finishing the restoration of each piece. So far, she's worked on four panels, with eight more to go. "It's such a pity that it's in pieces," she said, "but with some hard work, elbow grease and expertise it will soon regain its former glory." PHOTOS BY BARRIE ERSKINE / OAKVILLE BEAVER RESTORING THE PAST: Stella White patiently restores one of a dozen stained glass panels that may have come from a CNE carousel built in the 1920s. Each stained glass panel measures about eight-feet by two-feet and features medieval designs ­ flags, horses, swords, jousting matches and medieval helmets -- like the ones pictured below. ures about eight-feet by two-feet and sitting on the floor of her basement features medieval designs ­ flags, studio. horses, swords, jousting matches, "I come down here and I just wonmedieval helmets and more. der what happened and I wonder who "They're really, really cool," White made them and about the stories said, while shining a light on the behind them." back of one of the pieces to reveal its Even if it's not a piece of her childblue, green, yellow and orange hood, the stained glass artist and art colours. enthusiast still wants to determine "Look at this piece. It looks like the origin. he's ready to smack this guy in the There's evidence of her love of face with his sword. And even the stained glass all over the house ­ the horses have expressions on their front door, a kitchen awning, a piece faces," she said, pointing to a piece hanging in her front window ­ all