Larry E. Lenschmidt

Arts

After three years serving in the U. S. Air Force, Larry Lenschmidt had a 23-year career with the State of California and arrived in Manteca in 1983. This renowned stained glass artist has become as enthusiastic about his community as he is about his art. He has been most generous with his time, artistic contributions, and his assistance in fund-raising activities for nearly every charitable organization in San Joaquin County. He is, or has been, a member of a number of groups in the community and in the area. A partial list includes the San Joaquin Crisis Center, Stained Glass Association of America, Manteca Historical Society, Manteca Artists Guild, Mayor's Committee on the Arts, Manteca Downtown Merchants Association, and Noon Rotary Club.

Educated in the Bay Area, including the University of California where he majored in Art and Business, Larry has won at art shows at the local, county, and national levels. This award-winning stained glass artist was an instructor in Advanced Stained Glass Design at Modesto Junior College and also taught at Sierra High School.

In 1991, he designed and made six stained glass windows for the United Lutheran Church in Manteca. This is the only set of three-dimensional stained glass windows in the world.

At his local design center, he continues to give instruction in the art of stained glass to hundreds of individuals who have gone on to become stained glass business owners in their own right.