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Twin Town High (vol. 8) |
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Foci Glass Art
Wednesday 12 July @ 13:13:11 |
 What lurks in the husks of buildings of considerable size in the whereabouts of North East Minneapolis? Artists, of course! Artists are like cockroaches in that they show up everywhere; willingly inhabiting the otherwise discarded and overlooked structures of our nation's loft-addicted cities. But unlike the world's most indestructible bugs, those who perpetrate creative utility are often welcomed with good favor rather than a shoe sole.
One such building is an old General Mills factory, and while Cheerios and Lucky Charms have long-since evacuated the warehouse, what has risen in its place is the Minnesota incarnation of Foci Glass Studio, an artists' habitat created by Michael and Scott Boyd that originated in Sylvania, Ohio, seven years ago. Their space at 2010 E. Hennepin operates as a working studio and gallery for Michael and Scott, as well as other local glass artists.
Foci Glass (pronounced FO-sigh) goes beyond the role of an open gallery and studio and steps into the arena of education and entertainment. Offering classes to inspired glass-arts wannabees and those with experience, anybody can sign up for a taste of furnaces that fire at a jet-engine decibel-level and reach severe temperatures, trying (or losing) their hand at sculpting molten glass. Besides classes, Foci also offers demonstrations for private groups.
Rich, vibrant color and organic patterns are characteristics of glass art, and Michael Boyd creates these with expertise. Luring sleek, visually pleasing shapes from the furnaces, Boyd transforms hunks of potential into shimmering appeal, forming vases and sculptures with varying degrees of functionality. His vases embody a primordial brilliance that results from an intense stress of basic materials and raw elements.
Unafraid of wearing his political heart on his well-insulated sleeve, there are also sculptures that offer commentary on contemporary political figures, and some that are more abstract and experimental.
Watching Michael manipulate a twig-sized piece of molten glass cooling quickly just a few steps from the furnace, I sensed that there is no governing body to dictate the tools or means for sculpting glass. With scissors in one hand, and a glowing mass on the end of a heavy metal rod in the other, Michael started clipping and stretching, twisting and working the glass over itself in a stunning display. What began as a colorless lobster claw evolved into a unique piece.
Foci Glass raises awareness about glass as an art-form in Minnesota, and is an important step in changing a culture that typically defines glass art as either work by Dale Chihuly or fancy “tobacco” pipes. Michael Boyd is one of many devoted artists who pervade
working-class territory with humble ideals, taking the pretension out of art and replacing it with inspiring results.
FOCI glass is located at 2010 E. Hennepin Ave in Minneapolis. Please visit http://www.fociglass.com or call #612-229-FOCI (3624) for more information including class and exhibition schedule, and studio rentals.
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