The Peace Window

The Second Presbyterian Church of Chicago houses numerous stained glass windows from the Arts and Crafts movement of 1880-1920. This short documentary follows the painstaking restoration process of one of those works of art; Louis Comfort Tiffany's "Peace Window." Filmed over the course of a year, the documentary focuses on a master conservator of stained-glass, Tom Venturella, as he and his partner, Jim Murphy, bring the window back to its original 1903 form.

  • Mark Loucks
    Director
  • Mark Loucks
    Editor
  • Marisa Ruiz Loucks
    Producer
  • Mark Loucks
    Producer
  • Sean Ryan
    Director of Photography
  • Mark Loucks
    Cinematographer
  • Alex Scully
    Cinematographer
  • Jonathan Anderson
    Sound Design
  • David Bartin
    Motion Graphics
  • Tom Venturella
    Key Cast
    "Himself"
  • Jim Murphy
    Key Cast
    "Himself"
  • Linda Miller
    Key Cast
    "Herself"
  • Bonnie McDonald
    Key Cast
    "Herself"
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    22 minutes 54 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    October 10, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    12,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:19
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Premiere Screening
    New York
    United States
    October 10, 2019
    World Premiere
Director Biography - Mark Loucks

MARK LOUCKS is a documentary filmmaker who brings stories to life through striking visuals. As a professional, he has collaborated with Spotify, CBS, American Express, Rolling Stone, Vevo, MTV, and The Paramount Network, among others.

In 2014, he and his wife, Marisa, founded Looksee Films, a tight-knit group of creatives who make independent short docs. The Peace Window is their fifth such effort.

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Director Statement

There’s nothing more intriguing to me than a subject in which I know nothing about. It’s an opportunity to learn through the lens and in turn, hopefully pass on my new knowledge to an equally eager audience.

I knew nothing about stained glass when I began making this documentary but I left with a new appreciation of an era of art and architecture that I’m surrounded by every day living in New York City. That appreciation came from being around the film’s main subjects, Tom and Jim.

Watching people who have a deep passion for what they do is infectious and I couldn’t help get caught up in it every time I was with them as they worked through this massive puzzle that they were expertly putting back together.

The Peace Window is a celebration of a work of art that was almost lost to time. But it’s also a celebration of the people who care deeply about passing on our heritage to future generations. I hope that this film will spark interest in a brand new audience and continue to fuel that passion for conservation.