If you’re in the mood to see something delicious, delectable and colorful, check out the Duncan McClellan Gallery. Not only do they have gorgeous glass pieces from artists all over the world, they also have a workshop where you can watch the creation process.
If you’re in the market to buy something, bring your platinum card. I can’t think when the last time was I saw a lemon wedge for $4,200.
And although I’d love a new, eye-catching piece for my home’s entryway, I found the price tags for these two just a tad beyond my means. They’re $12,500 and $14,500. Oddly, as I leaned in to see the prices, I found myself gripping the handbag slung over my shoulder tightly against my side. Go figure.
One room was closed off from the rest and appeared to be some sort of special gallery. I opened the door and asked the hostess why these pieces were in a separate, air-conditioned room. She said they were the ones that took the most time to dust and so they kept them out of the open spaces in the main gallery where they were exposed to humidity and wind.
Wouldn’t you hate to be the one who had to pick up uber-expensive glass on a regular basis and dust all the nooks and crannies? In my hands, it would be a disaster in the making.
This unique gallery also has a large outdoor space with lots of little tucked-away garden areas where you can plan small group retreats. Or you could stick with the event area under the covered patio.
For me, however, the main draw was the studio where you could watch the whole creation process. This particular day, the resident artist was creating a vase that would hold the imprint of the native flora and fauna from the area. Having watched snippets of videos where something is stuck in an oven and, voila, a finished product, I had no idea how intricate and time-consuming the process was. It requires several firings where the glass “bubble” is slowly increased to a size that will turn out (in this case) a vase, then it’s put into the bucket with the greenery, and shaped to be sure the bottom is flat before putting it into the annealing oven, where it can slowly cool down.
It was hot enough in the studio that I headed back out to the garden area after the demonstration ended. Lo and behold, I discovered a live treasure that might’ve been affordable (I didn’t ask).
This is a beautiful and interesting studio and you could easily make a day of it if you threw in lunch or dinner.
- 2342 Emerson Avenue South, St. Petersburg, Florida
- 855-436-4527
- http://www.dmglass.com
- Open Monday-Saturday 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
I could be wrong, but I don’t think the gallery is wheelchair accessible. Although there are lots of ramps, they all end up at steps. Please call and ask before crossing it off your list.
Lisa Browder 
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