Summerville artist creates glass art with sand
"Gamecock" by Lex Melfi
Sand and glass artist Lex Melfi is disciplined. Every morning, he gets in his studio no later than 8 a.m. and works until 5 p.m., sometimes working on the weekends and pulling 80-hour weeks if there is a deadline to be met.
Creating sand-carved glass requires patience. Melfi first draws the image, transfers it and then begins the process of carving. One mistake with the sandblaster, and he has to begin the process completely over.
Melfi has worn many hats in his lifetime, but in 1996, while living in Miami, he saw his first piece of sand-carved glass.
When he saw it, he said to himself, "That's what I am going to do for the rest of my life."
That night, he found an artist and asked him if he would be willing to teach him. Melfi received four lessons, and since that day, has dedicated the past 14 years to the art of carving glass with sand.
Melfi says he has worked hard all his life and the efforts are starting to pay off.
He is working with Guy Harvey, a marine wildlife conservationist and artist, who has worked with CNN and NBC to produce underwater footage of marine life.
He also has partnered with Scout Boats to display his artwork at boat shows.
Melfi creates frames that house LED lights so that the glass carvings are illuminated.
"I get the most pleasure from seeing the expression on a person's face when they see a piece I've made for them," Melfi said.
Next Event: Art reception: 5-8 p.m. Feb. 17 and 4 p.m. Feb. 20 at Four Green Fields, 117-A Short Central Ave. Summerville. $30, call 261-7680 for more information.
Website: www.lexmelfi.com.
Contact Info: Sue Cushman, marketing representative, at 714-5290.
Birthplace: Born and raised in Summerville.
Residence: Downtown Summerville.
Family: Father, Buddy; mother, Deloris; stepmother, Hilde; sisters: Veronica, Annette, Theresa, Cecelia; brothers: Jimmy, Mike, Chris and Marc.
Career: Sand carved glass artist.
Goals: To be incorporated into the Guy Harvey Website, advertised on Guy Harvey's Facebook page and work with Wyland, the marine life artist, by advertising products on his site.
Influences: My mother and father.
Price Range: $2,500-$170,000
Where artwork is featured locally: Four Green Fields Gallery & Gifts, 117-A Central Ave., Summerville; Grace Episcopal Church, 98 Wentworth St., downtown Charleston.
