March Honeycomb Cafe artist shines light on unique art form
This month, diners at the Honeycomb Cafe on Daniel Island are talking about the unique works of art hanging on the walls. Familiar images from the sea, from the Bible and from everyday life are elegantly reimagined, with fine detail, in panes of sand-carved glass. While sand-blasted glass may, at a glance, appear similar to “frosted” or “etched” designs found on glassware and placards, the art form is more often found in glass door panes as well as tables and countertops, and yields a more textured, three-dimensional appearance. The Daniel Island News learned more about the bright display, and the story behind some of the works, from the artist himself – Summerville resident Lex Melfi.
Q: How did you get into the art form of sand-blasted glass?
A: I’ve been doing it for 20 years. It’s my life! I discovered this art-form when I was working as a glazier in Miami. At a tempering plant to pick up some glass, I saw a piece of art on a truck next to mine and I remember thinking “that is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen! It’s what I want to do for the rest of my life!”
After asking around, a work buddy of mine introduced me to a friend who had a sand-carving business. The friend agreed to teach me on the condition that I not compete with him in the same area and not teach anyone else the technique. After four lessons - and completing my first design on a glass ashtray - I moved back home to Summerville to open my own sand-carving business.
Q: Why is the process so specialized? What does the process of sand-carving glass entail?
A: First, I place a sheet of stencil paper on the back of a piece of glass cut to size.
I then sketch a picture on the stencil. I cut out the details with an Exacto knife and peel away just one detail at a time to be sand-blasted. I then put the stenciled glass in the sand-blasting booth. The sandblasting pelts only the exposed glass, texturizing it at super-high speeds. The process of carving each individual feather on a bird or strand of fur on an animal is very time consuming, but watching the image take shape, and the details emerge with such precision, is worth every minute!
Another reason it’s specialized: sand-carving glass can be dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing. There’s special equipment you need, a booth, an air hose and a ventilator, to protect you from breathing in or getting hit by particles of sand and glass under extremely high-pressure. The sand-blaster is essentially the same kind you’d see at an auto-body shop; I use a finer grain of sand and a lower-pressure with the nozzle.
Q: Your work often depicts marine life and religious figures. How do you choose your subject matter?
A: I started out with things you find in the Lowcountry, like palmetto trees and herons. After sand-carving the South Carolina state logo for the Wild Turkey Federation, a friend recommended I bid on a project commissioned by Grace Episcopal Church downtown on Wentworth. I was initially unsure, as I had never worked on a major project involving images of people before, but after I submitted a miniature version of John the Baptist, I landed the project. The final piece, which includes all four disciples, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, is on display right outside the church. I was also commissioned to do a figure of Mother Mary that’s on display at the Orthodox Greek Church on Race Street near the Citadel. I also had a contract with Guy Harvey awhile back to create sand-carved versions of his iconic fish.
Q: How long does it take to complete a piece on average?
A: It depends on the level of detail. I recently finished a carving of a Boykin Spaniel. You can see every hair on that dog. The piece took me about three months to complete.
Q: How much does an average piece of sand-carved glass cost?
A: It depends on the amount of detail in the piece and the amount of time it takes.
On average, my pieces run about $3,000 - $4,000.
Q: How can our readers contact you for more information or to inquire about commissioning a piece?
Email: lex.melfi@yahoo.com
Phone: (843) 810-4788
Website: lexmelfi.com