EnergyXchange - A Renewable Energy Center
A Renewable Energy Center
66 EnergyXchange Drive, Burnsville, NC 28714 T: 828-675-5541
Craft Studios
Current Artist Residents of EnergyXchange
Artist Statement
My works of art come from my interest in texture and color theory, I use both of these factors to create patterns in my decorative glass that not only reveal layers within the glass, but create a surface texture that is unique to my work. To achieve these results I first create different colored cups and stuff them inside one another, once I have finished the color process I create the form, then it is cooled in a kiln. After the piece has cooled I cover the surface with a sand blast resist material and create my designs. Once I have finished the designs I take it to a sand blasting booth where I blast away material to reveal the layers of color and create a texture on the piece. Once the blasting is finished I place the piece in an acid bath to bring back the translucency of the glass.
Artist Biography
Ben Johnson grew up in Indiana where he was first introduced to glass at the Indianapolis Art Center. Johnson went on to Kent State University in Ohio where he received his BFA with a focus in glass. His education with glass continued at such places as the Corning Museum of Glass in New York, Pilchuck Glass School in Washington, and the Scuola del Vetro Abate Zanetti in Murano, Italy. Johnson has taught glass blowing classes at the Indianapolis Art Center in Indianapolis, IN and Diablo Glass and Metal in Boston, MA. He has also been a teacher's assistant at the Penland School of Crafts in North Carolina, Haystack Mountain School of Crafts in Maine, and Ox-Bow School of Crafts in Michigan. Johnson has exhibited at the Indianapolis Art Center, Indiana State Museum, Fort Wayne Museum of Art, Kent State University School of Art Gallery, Cleveland Museum of Art, Wayne Art Center, and The Society for Contemporary Craft. In 2006 he received a Windgate Fellowship Grant Award from the Center for Craft Creativity and Design in Hendersonville, NC. In 2009 Johnson was a finalist for both the Niche Award from Niche Magazine and the LEAP Award from the Society for Contemporary Craft. Currently Johnson is an artist in residence at the EnergyXChange a renewable energy center in Burnsville, NC.
