Join us as DMG School Project proudly presents, Hot Gatherings, Cool Conversations, our visiting glass artists lecture and events series.
Prior to the lecture, Alexis Silk will give a glass blowing demo at the Duncan McClellan Gallery at noon.
At 1:45pm we’ll travel over to the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg, Florida for a “ Meet and Greet” brunch and a complimentary mimosa with the artist. As a special thank you for attending the lecture, The Museum is offering a 15% discount on the cost of the brunch. Use code “HotShop” when making phone reservations with the MFA or at the brunch itself. (This code cannot be used in conjunction with other promotions such as museum memberships.)
At 3pm, Alexis Silk and Deanna Clayton will lecture about their work and inspiration! The lecture is free with MFA admission.
About the Artists
Alexis Silk is a student of human form. She combines her knowledge of anatomy with her passion for fire to create female and male figures in cast metal and blown or solid glass. Her glass figures are sculpted free-hand while the glass is hot, without the use of molds. Many works incorporate steel frames or bases fabricated by the artist; some include found industrial hooks. While making intrinsically beautiful objects, the artist also targets issues of human nature, society, and the interrelationship of humans, nature and industry. Her work particularly explores objectification, body stereotypes, perceptual boxes, and sexuality as strength. Alexis received her BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2005. Since then she has continued to study under glass masters such as Pino Signoretto, Richard Royal and Boyd Sugiki. Since 2006 she has been working full time as an artist. Her work is exhibited in galleries and fine art shows across the country.
Internationally known glass artist, Deanna Clayton, has been working with glass for over twenty years and was introduced to glass right after her high school graduation. She attended the University of Illinois where she received her Bachelors’ Degree in Art History. While still attending the University she started her own glass studio with her husband Keith Clayton. She now lives and works in beautiful Door County, Wisconsin with her husband and three children. Clayton’s work fuses the aesthetics of ancient and contemporary techniques using glass techniques that are some of the first casting techniques to be used in history. Her forms are contemporary concepts. Combined they create an object for a contemporary setting with the essence of an archeological find from another era. The use of granulated glass mixed with binders allows her to work with glass as though she were painting a canvas. She uses layer upon layer of color to achieve depth and contrast. The addition of electroplated copper to the edges of the work provides structural integrity as well as a beautiful detail accentuating the intricacy of the cast glass.
