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 | Michael Boyd Michael started Foci Glass with his brother Scott in 2000. Initially operating as an independent artist, Michael has since sculpted Foci into the Twin Cities only public access glassblowing facility. Michael saw his first glassblowing demonstration at age 10 and was transfixed. He began his study in glass at age fourteen at the Toledo Museum of Art. He has since studied with Martin Blank, Dante Marioni, Richard Marquis, Fred Tschida, Ruth King, and Swedish master glassblower Jan Erik Ritzman. He has been employed by Studio Paran of Madison, Wisconsin, as well as by Twin Cities glass artists Dick Huss, Robinson Scott, and Patrick Cassanova. Michael is a 2007 recipient of an Artist Initiative Grant awarded by the Minnesota State Arts Board. His current work uses simple and uncomplicated forms, which act as a canvas for the interplay between color and design. He also incorporates sculptural elements into his vases that often suggest geologic formations. His intent is to move the traditional vase form towards becoming a piece of sculpture. "For me, glass is an art form of limitless possibility yet infinite barriers." |
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 | Andrew Thompson Studio Manager For over a decade Andrew Thompson has been an active member of the Twin Cities art glass community. Andrew focuses his skill and talent on perfecting Italian cane vessels, and glass hand drums. Andrew has also pioneered a "coil build" color technique.
"I have known since I was a teenager that working with my hands was an inevitability. I was introduced to glass at the age of 18 and it quickly moved from being an interest to being my career. I believe that my 10 years of experience and my passion for the art is evident in my work." |
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 | Todd Cameron
Todd Cameron studied ceramic and metal sculpture as well as printmaking and digital art at the University of Minnesota where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 2003.
Todd has worked with numerous Twin Cities glass artists including Tom Maras, Robinson Scott, and Michael Boyd. He is currently a studio assistant at Foci, and shows his work at numerous art shows yearly and in galleries throughout the U.S.
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 | David Royce David started blowing glass at Island Glass with Tom Rine and Tom Maras when he was 15 years old. He apprenticed there for 2 years before going on to college at Anoka Ramsey Community College for 2 semesters while he was in high school and then went to the University of River Falls to start his undergraduate degree in glass with Jim Engebretson. Later that year David studied abroad in Taiwan and decided to change his major and his school. He graduated from the University of Minnesota with a major in Child Psychology and a minor in Asian Languages and Literatures with an emphasis in Chinese. He began working at Foci Glass in the summer of 2005. With over 6 years of experience, he now co-teaches the
Beginning Glassblowing class, in addition to doing one on one training and mentoring. |
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 | Jalai Laiel Jalai began her study of glassblowing in 1999 at the Pratt Fine Art Center in Seattle, Washington. Among her instructors were Beth Fishman, Kait Rhodes, Leslie Spiecher, and Karen Buhler. Jalai was a 2002 recipient of the Yokoyama Fellowship at the Pratt Fine Art Center. In 2000 she was a recipient of a Michael Kennedy Glass Scholarship also at Pratt. Jalai has taught at The Sonoran Art Foundation in Tucson, Arizona. She has also been an instructor of Beginning and Introduction to Glassblowing at Foci Glass for two years. Jalai's work can be seen locally in the Foci Gallery. | |
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 | Steve Claypatch "I started blowing glass in 2005 at Foci Glass in Minneapolis. I never thought I would ever do anything artistic except bending conduit as an electrician. Now I have found a new passion. Not simply because it is satisfying an artistic need, but I am satisfying a personal emotion. There is a certain peacefulness when you are working with 2300 degree glass. Each piece I make is an extension of my intuitive skill. I place an intention within my pieces prior to starting, and let the flow of the glass form to the shape. I have been honored to practice this art under the direction of Foci Glass owner, Michael Boyd. The coop atmosphere of Foci Glass encourages the public to visit and also participate through the offering of glassblowing lessons." Steve co-teaches the Beginning Glassblowing courses and is also available for the mentoring program. | |
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 | Sofia Lorraine Sofia first came to Foci Glass as a Beginning Glassblowing student in the Fall of 2007. After taking the class she rented studio time on and off, and finally accepting her need for more direction began a mentorship with Michael Boyd. When Michael learned that her degree was Art Management, he asked her to come work for Foci. She has been working in the office since September of 2008 and is slowly but surely figuring out the inner workings of the glass world.
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