Green Energy Park artist wins scholarship
A glass artist at the Jackson County Green Energy Park in Dillsboro and recent Western Carolina University graduate, Cole Johnson was recently awarded a two-year scholarship beginning in January at The JamFactory, a prestigious, international art school near Adelaide, South Australia. While there, he will have the opportunity to work with master glass artists from around the globe.
Johnson came to WCU as a criminal justice major. But after taking a short class at the GEP, he was hooked on a new passion — the ancient art of glass blowing. He applied for a position as an intern at the GEP, where area students can trade time spent cleaning and maintaining equipment for studio hours. Within a three-year span, Johnson put in literally thousands of hours taking classes, sharing ideas, apprenticing for other artists, studying the techniques of various glass masters, watching glass videos, and spending hour after hour in front of a 2300-degree furnace, all in an effort to perfect his skills. And it has paid off for the young artist, with scholarships to train at Penland School of Crafts, Haystack Mountain School of Craft in Maine, Urban Glass in New York City, and now The JamFactory in Australia.
“Cole is a shining example of a dedicated hard-working artist,” said Timm Muth, director of the GEP. “On many occasions, I’ve seen him work his UPS job from 3 a.m. till 10 a.m., them come directly to the GEP to blow glass for five or six hours, before finally going home. He’s passionate about his art, and he’s put in the time necessary to become successful. He will be sorely missed, but this is a tremendous opportunity for Cole, and it reflects well on the ability of the GEP to help people create a career for themselves.”
