ARTIST ERIC MORT BRINGS THE ART OF GLASS TO LOCAL STUDENTS

The art of Cottonwood Art Festival made its way from the festival grounds into the classroom this week as participating artist Eric Mort visited a Richardson ISD classroom of sixth-grade students to share the creativity, craftsmanship and science behind his work.

Mort, a working glass artist who exhibits his glass orb creations at Cottonwood Art Festival, spent time with students discussing his artistic process and offering a closer look at a medium they may not encounter every day.

Eric’s visit was part of Cottonwood Art Festival’s Visiting Artist Program, an outreach initiative created in partnership with Richardson ISD to extend the festival experience beyond Cottonwood Park and into local classrooms. The program connects students directly with professional working artists, allowing them to explore different artistic mediums, learn about the creative process and discover how a passion for art can become a career.

“6th graders had the opportunity today to visit with and explore the world of glass orb artworks by Eric Mort. He explained the science and hard work behind his wonderful cosmic creations! Eric is a working artists that shows his pieces at the Richardson Cottonwood Art Festival. We are so grateful to have had this artist take time out of his busy schedule to teach us about this unique art form.” — Mrs. Margaret Maki-Rowland, Art Teacher at Mohawk Elementary School

We appreciate Eric for sharing his time and talent with Richardson-area students and helping introduce another generation to the possibilities of artistic expression.

Experiences like these are at the heart of the Visiting Artist Program, creating meaningful connections between professional artists and the next generation of young creatives while extending Cottonwood Art Festival’s impact throughout the Richardson community.