| New M.F.A. glass graduate Johnathon Schmuck has followed his dreams across the nation and Europe; now he's off to the "land down under," thanks to a rare win of a Fulbright Scholarship to study glass at theAustralian National University at Canberra.
A California native, Schmuck's life already resembles a brilliant mosaic of travel and work, including tofu novice in a tofu factory, bicycling through Europe and moving to New Mexico where he started a hot glass studio with a friend.
While at RIT's School for American Crafts, Schmuck worked as a graduate assistant and as student representative for the Board of Directors of the Glass Art Society, which involved communicating with glass students around the world. His level of commitment to both his art and the business/management side of his education helped him win the Fulbright as well as recent slots in a Corning Glass workshop and a work-study session at the Pilchuck Glass School. You can find him traveling the U.S. east coast before heading to Canberra to take up the Fulbright, as one of only 16 grant recipients chosen from 93 applicants.
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Fulbright winner and M.F.A. glass graduate Johnathon Schmuck with one of his latest works |
| Though a number of RIT faculty have won Fulbrights over the years, Schmuck is believed to be the first RIT student to win the esteemed scholarship, designed for post-bachelor degree study abroad.
Schmuck had to submit a slide portfolio of his work as well as essays and a description of coursework he would pursue. "I knew he had the talent and the drive to follow through on the Fulbright application," says Michael Taylor, glass artist and RIT professor.
"For me, getting the Fulbright is a real validation of what I'm doing," explains Schmuck. "I see it as a stepping stone towards realizing my dreams--to continue to work in glass, to make things with it and earn a living, to be successful with it." He hopes to make his mark in crafting one-of-a-kind pieces versus regular productionware, he adds.
"I'm working in Australia towards understanding the visual language of negative space and making unique, decorative glass vessels."
More students should apply for the Fulbright awards, adds Christine Hammer, Fulbright coordinator at RIT who helped Schmuck through the lengthy process. She has gathered a group of former Fulbright faculty at RIT to help students strengthen their applications, due Oct. 23. Contact her via e-mail at CLHAPO@RIT.EDU or call her at -2958.
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