AUBURN – The Auburn Art Club will have Nel Bernard of Maine Art Glass as guest speaker at 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 14, at the Auburn Public Library.

Bernard was born and raised in the L/A area, having graduated from Edward Little High School. He was first exposed to stained glass as a craft at Lewiston Craftschool, studying with Thom Labrie and Michel Ellen Luisi. He later assumed the position of instructor at the school.

Bernard opened his own studio, Magnum Opus Studio, and ultimately opened Maine Art Glass Studio, Lisbon Street, Lewiston, which operated from 1982 to 2003. During that time, Bernard continued to learn new techniques at the School of Art in Portland and the Corning Studio in New York.

In 2003, Maine Art Glass Studio purchased and renovated the former Saints Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church in Lisbon Falls, a brick building that is on the National Register of Historic Places.

It also houses the Sanctuary Gallery, which represents more than 50 Maine artists. Bernard and his wife, Denise, joined talents with business partner, Jim Nutting, whose artwork is also showcased.

Maine Art Glass offers custom glass commission services and antique leaded glass restoration services. The studio is a teaching facility, offering weekly classes in stained glass creation, fusing and form shaping glass, fused and wired wrapped jewelry, sandblasting, etching and engraving glass, hot torch working borosilicate rods, painting on glass and clay pottery.

Bernard is a cancer survivor who values life’s everyday experiences and encourages artists to share their vision and display their artwork at the Sanctuary Gallery on a rotating basis.

Program Committee members for the occasion are Sarah Lawrence, Dorothy Murray, Edwina Pontbriand and Grace Keene, chairwoman.