Camille Corn, one of Tryon Arts and Crafts School’s esteemed artisans and instructors, has been named the school’s Artist of the Month. Her beautiful fused-glass artwork is being featured during the month of August in the gallery of Tryon’s Arts and Crafts School at 373 Harmon Field Road. Hours are from Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The first time Camille recalls experiencing an emotional reaction to her own artwork was in kindergarten, where she was exposed to working with tempera painting and clay, and what she remembers most is that special spark that she didn’t get when doing anything else. From there, she took every art class available and declared art as her major when attending USC Spartanburg. 

As she grew older and took on life’s responsibilities, she drifted somewhat away from her creative side, becoming a marketing communications specialist for QS/1, a pharmacy and home medical equipment software company in Spartanburg where she has worked for 20 years.

However, Camille says, “I am at a point in my life now where I am able to call back the wonderment I felt from creating in my childhood. I see beauty in everyday things and allow those things to inspire me, using the fused glass that has become my chosen medium. I work from my feelings and allow them to guide me. Art is a part of me as much as my skin, my bones and my breath.”

She is also owner of her own fused-glass studio, Paradox Art Works Studio.

In addition to exhibiting her fused-glass artistry and doing workshops at TACS, Camille has made over 1,000 “Puddle Pendants” for Art-o-mats (former cigarette machines repurposed to carry artwork) all over the country, including at the Smithsonian Museum. She also exhibits her work and does workshops at The Art Lounge in Spartanburg.

– article submitted by Cathy Fischer