Jason McDonald, a 2021 recipient of the Center for Craft’s Windgate-Lamar Fellowship, spent six weeks in Western North Carolina this winter as the 2024 BIPOC Artist in Residence at the North Carolina Glass Center. During an afternoon away from the studio, Center for Craft staff caught up with Jason over lunch and learned about some of what he has been up to since his Fellowship. Jason has seen a lot of success since receiving his award from the Center, and we are happy to be able to share a sneak peek at some of the exciting things he’s been working on!

Jason was a contestant on season 2 of “Blown Away” on Netflix, where he competed as one of 10 artists from around the world. Check out his interview on KALW News about his experience, where he also reflects on the lack of racial diversity in glassblowing. Last year, he teamed up with the singer Solange Knowles and the multidisciplinary creative group Saint Heron to create a line of glassware that, according to Solange, was “designed with Black thought and created by Black hands.” The project was featured in a recent article in the New York Times.

Jason has taught widely over the last few years, offering workshops at Pilchuck School of Glass, Pratt Fine Arts, Penland School of Craft, and the Corning Museum of Glass, to name a few. Working and traveling as a teacher has helped him to hone his work, and he has learned a lot through the process of teaching while sharing his craft widely with others.

Jason has spent much of his artistic career so far championing the importance of diversity in glassblowing. He recently contributed to the Tacoma Art Museums’ Two-Way Mirror, an exhibition of contemporary Black artists who have used glass to create work that deconstructs social, cultural, gender, and racial identity concerns. Jason shared that participating in this exhibition helped him reflect on the feelings of isolation he often experiences when he’s the only Black artist in the glass studio.

During our conversation, Jason also reflected on the impact of the Windgate-Lamar Fellowship on his work and career trajectory. He highlighted how the $15,000 grant award was extremely helpful and allowed him opportunities that wouldn’t otherwise have been possible, yet highlighted how the fellowship’s impact on his confidence outweighed its monetary value. 

After his experience as a Windgate-Lamar Fellow and the amazing opportunities he’s had since then, Jason has generously mentored other glassblowers of color. With immense gratitude for the people who supported him early in his career, Jason is committed to paying it forward by helping to nurture the next generation of glass artists of color.

Jason’s work, commitment, and career success demonstrate the power of investing in emerging artists through impactful programs like the Windgate-Lamar Fellowship. Thanks so much to Jason for taking the time to catch up with us!

Check out his work on his website and on his Instagram.