Shining Through: The Transformation of Veteran Eric McCormack from Soldier to Award-Winning Glass Artist
We were able to sit down with Eric McCormack, whose glasswork masterpiece “Portals” earned him the prestigious 3rd Place in Applied Art at the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival. He brought in his artwork to share with his fellow Veterans, as well as words of encouragement.
Born into a lineage of warriors, he is the proud scion of a military family, with service records etched into every generation, tracing back to the revolution and the first colonists. His father and sister were valiant sailors in the Navy, and he followed suit, serving in the US Army’s elite 5th Special Forces Group during the 1990s. As a paratrooper, he was deployed to the Near Middle East multiple times, standing shoulder to shoulder with the finest soldiers the Army could muster. These were the proudest years of his life.
However, the battlefield took its toll on his health, leading to a disability. Seeking solace and a fresh start, he moved to Southern Illinois nearly two decades ago, where he found and married his soulmate, Maure’en. They found their haven in her ancestral fifth-generation family farm.
In 2014, driving the quiet backstreets of Benton, a chance encounter with a sign reading ‘Glass Haunt’ sparked a journey of artistic discovery for him. A creative soul, he had been seeking the right medium to express his artistry.
“I must admit that I came to working in stained glass by chance, but it was a perfect fit,” shares Eric.
The universe conspired, and he found himself under the tutelage of Ruth and BJ Green, who would become his mentors and friends.
His first creation was a simple design using the lead caming technique. The process of learning by doing ignited a passion within him. The allure of working with light itself captivated his soul in a way no other artistic medium had.
Perhaps it was destiny, as his late mother would tell him that his first word was ‘light’.
In 2020, his health took a severe hit, bringing him to the brink of death. But with Maure’en’s unwavering support and the dedicated care team at VA, he made a miraculous recovery. During this period, he embraced the healing power of meditation and tai chi through VA Whole Health classes.
Struggling with the mental and physical scars of his illness, he joined a drumming class at the Marion VA Health Care System in March last year (2023) to relearn socializing. This experience not only helped him reconnect with people but also brought a significant change in his life, gifting him a cherished friendship.
“The greatest challenge I faced was getting started. There was so much interference from my illness and so much to do it always kept getting pushed back. I realize now the importance of having some creative endeavor in life. It brings things into focus and a balance is restored.”
Eric and his wife Maure’en, embarked on a collaborative project for the National Veteran Art Show. Inspired by an art nouveau faerie, they crafted a design on their computer. Over several months, he meticulously cut the glass, wrapped the edges in foil, and soldered each piece into place using the copper foil technique. The finished windows found a home in their dwelling, a testament to their shared artistic journey.
“I would encourage any veteran to look to what form of personal artistic expression gives them joy. The VA Whole Health program offers a number of free programs to help with this.”
On Winning the Award:
“I am still in a partial state of disbelief that it is real. To be recognized for this is a great honor and a big boost to my self worth. For many years my time in the service felt like the highest point of my life and my disability cut me down in my prime. I never thought that anything I did could ever be worth anything after that. Now I have incontrovertible proof that I still have more to contribute to our community and nation.”
Today, he is training to become a cybersecurity analyst through the Hiring Our Heroes program, a journey he is thoroughly enjoying. In addition, he serves as a local volunteer representative for StackUp.org, a veteran’s organization that leverages gaming and geek culture for community outreach and social support.
Being part of this thriving online community for veterans gives him a sense of camaraderie, reminiscent of his days in the Army. It feels good to be part of a team again, helping others, and making a difference.
Now that he has accepted this achievement, he’s ready to move on to the next project.
“I am looking forward to setting up my stained glass equipment again and making the windows for our home as a starter. Where it will go from there I am unsure. I have given thought to building a business around making windows, but I know it will undoubtedly be a part of my future.”
Congratulations Eric, and thank you for your service!
Watch his video interview, here.