Gelman Stained Glass Museum

The Accidental Collector

GELMAN’S COLLECTION FINALLY HOME

By Dr. Kimberly Selber Photography by Cliff Ranson

On Dec. 1, the Gelman Stained Glass Window Museum in San Juan, Texas officially opened. Over 30 years in the making, the museum is home to the most extensive stained glass church windows collection in the U.S. The journey, however, seemed to unfold as a sacred mission – one step at a time— for collector Dr. Lawrence Gelman.

Surprisingly, Gelman had not set out to be a collector. “I purchased a small window for my home more than 30 years ago,” he said. That was supposed to be the end of it. But not long after his first purchase, he received a call from an auction house, informing him that a rare Louis Comfort Tiffany window had come on the block. Curious, Gelman traveled from the Rio Grande Valley to Los Angeles to view the window. The magnificent piece was in a dusty warehouse. “It was all a little sketchy,” Gelman recalled with a grin. However, the brilliance of the piece was unquestionable. The color of the glass, the folding to create the drapery of robes, the figures, were all breathtaking.

“This was a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Gelman said, adding that when he purchased the Tiffany window, he

was afraid to tell his wife how much he had paid for it. She was not a big fan at first. “She said, ‘What are you going to do with that huge window?’” he recalled with a chuckle. That window is now in his personal collection.

So why did Gelman, an anesthesiologist originally from Chicago who has lived in the Rio Grande Valley for more than 35 years, set out to create the largest stained glass church window collection in the U.S.? Quite frankly, he didn’t. The collection found him.

After he purchased the Tiffany window, the phone started ringing. A church was being decommissioned, and would he be interested in purchasing the windows? A church was struggling financially, and would he be interested in purchasing the windows so the parish could continue its ministry? This process continued for the next 30 years as Gelman’s collection grew to more than 140 windows.

Gelman saw this as an opportunity to honor the artwork but, more importantly, to preserve the sacredness of the pieces. “Captains of industry sponsored these windows, but with declining church membership and funding drying up, many needed to sell their assets to continue to feed the hungry and clothe the needy,” Gelman said. “Imagine, thousands of people have prayed before these windows thousands of times. These are not just glass and lead. These windows were created to glorify God and the Word. They are sacred artifacts.”

And while the churches were hesitant to sell their windows, knowing they were going to be preserved and restored and, in turn, kept “alive,” was a consolation.

THE STARS ALIGNED, AND EVERYTHING CAME TOGETHER.

As Gelman’s collection grew, he knew it was time to find a home for it. His wife of over 40 years, Maria Esperanza, was a reluctant supporter.

“Everything was in storage,” she said. “No one was able to view the pieces; enjoy them.”

For a short time, a selection of the collection was displayed at IMAS in McAllen. The exhibition, curated by Maria Elena Macias, drew visitors from all over.

“It was the first time I was able to appreciate them; it was amazing. This was when the seeds were sown that we needed to create a permanent home for the collection,” said Mrs. Gelman, who explained some backstory to the caper.

“We were actually under contract to purchase another piece of property for the museum. Rosa Valencia, a local realtor, called us and said, ‘No, you must build it here, on my property.’ We didn’t even know her property was for sale. I feel like we are fulfilling the dreams of others. Rosa and her brother-in-law always wanted this land, which is across the street from the Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle, to be used for something that was fitting for our Lady,” said Mrs. Gelman, a devout Catholic. “People think my husband built this museum for me, but no. I can’t even get him to remodel my kitchen! No, this museum, this is a much bigger mission.”

For his part, Dr. Gelman could not be happier with the way things have unfolded.

“I always wanted to create, to create something special. Unique. Something of value that serves the greater good,” he reflected. “This project, it was beyond just me. Everything came together in an unbelievable way. Everything aligned.”

Even the details seemed to be ordained, in a sense.

“The location, the craftsman, and the artisans were all people who were found only through serendipitous opportunity; it was truly incredible, miraculous, even,” Gelman recalled, still amazed at how everything came together. “Each of the people who worked on this project recognized the importance, the exactitude that was needed, and they honored that in every way.”

The spiritual ambiance envelopes visitors when they enter the museum. The museum truly feels like a sacred space. The inspiration for the cathedral-like building is a traditional Latin cross, but the look was inspired by the 13th century Gothic royal chapel of Sainte-Chapelle in Paris—refracting light, whispered prayers, and an overwhelming sense of spiritual peace.

“This collection is the best of the greatest stained glass makers of the time,” Gelman said. “There may be other pieces that rival this work, but not this many in one place.”

And that place, is the Rio Grande Valley.

GELMAN STAINED GLASS MUSEUM (956) 601-0838

www.gelmanmuseum.org

411 Virgen de San Juan Boulevard San Juan, Texas, 78589