East Coaster of the Day: 2007 Chevrolet Express Schella Glass Studio Van
It may seem strange to see this rather normal van in our East Coaster of the Day spot. This spot is usually reserved for vehicles that are quirky, iconic, innovative or just plain beautiful. Not that the van is ugly.
The 2007 Chevrolet Express belongs to Rick and Kate Schella, long-time friends of your EastCoastTester.com editors.
Without the van, it would be pretty difficult for these exceptional artists to carry out their work in Moncton, New Brunswick.
The Artists
Rick and Kate operate Schella Glass Studio, as they have for the past 46 years! Partners in life and business, the two artists work with kiln-fired traditional painted glass and sandblasted etched glass. They are also experienced in the Tiffany-style copper foil technique.
One of the many church windows rendered into art by Rick and Kate Schella.
Their studio specializes in the design, fabrication and installation of liturgical, architectural, public and residential commissions.
One can see Rick and Kate’s beautiful work throughout New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. You can even find it in Bermuda and the Caribbean.
Commercial commissions, like the Pizza Delight windows you’ll see across the Maritimes, are part of the extensive Schella Glass Studio portfolio.
The Van
The Chevrolet Express van replaced the Chevrolet Van in 1996.
The new multi-purpose van featured full body on frame construction with two gasoline engine options, in six- or eight- cylinder variants.
Other than engine changes and a face-lift to the front end in 2003, the highly adaptable Chevrolet Express (and its GMC cousin, the Savana) hasn’t changed since its debut almost a quarter of a century ago. The 2021 version brings a new 6.6-litre V8 engine, the same one that’s in the new Silverado HD.
If you see the Chevy van around town in Moncton, give Rick a wave. Or better yet, get yourself to church!
Go and admire the work of Schella Glass Studio at the churches listed here.
The piece adorning the Chevy Bowtie on the Schella Glass Studio van, in the shape of Rick and Kate’s beloved fox terrier, is made from dichroic glass.
