When parishioners started planning First Presbyterian's 150-year celebration, architect Jon Clair floated an idea that was too good to pass up: a float that replicates key aspects of the church, which could be used in the Lake Bluff Fourth of July Parade and Lake Forest Days. The fruits of Mr. Clair's labors are shown in the photos below.
The float took about 150 hours to build and was a group effort led by Mr. Clair with significant support from fellow church member Jeff Hinch and several others. It includes replicas of the church's steeple and six of its famous Tiffany windows, as well as a 35-pound stainless steel cross that was designed by church member Lockhart Burnett, whose family background is in the building of railroad cars. The float is roomy enough to hold the church's youth-group band, cleverly named Eggs Benediction, which will provide live music at the parades.
Mr. Clair is an architect with his own firm, Jonathan Clair & Associates in Lake Forest. He also is a painter specializing in oil on canvas. "Those are the two hats that I wear," he said. "And now, apparently, I've got a third hat as a float builder."
To recreate the stained-glass windows, Mr. Clair took pictures of six windows with a digital camera and had the photos printed on clear sticky film, which then were mounted on Plexiglass. All elements of the float are designed for re-use in Bible camps and Sunday school classes or as signage for the annual First Pres Rummage Sale. The float is a prelude to the church's sesquicentennial celebration ceremony, which will take place July 24 in Lake Forest.
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