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P O W E L L, W y o. - When John Brooks, an art student at Northwest College in Powell, returns home to Douglas this summer, he'll be leaving behind an important artwork. The 2005 Douglas High School graduate won't be taking with him a stoneware piece that earned him a Northwest College Board of Trustees Purchase Award at the opening reception for the college's 2007 Juried Student Art Show.
Almost 70 artworks were juried into the show, and of those only four artists were selected to receive Purchase Awards. A Shino stoneware bowl crafted by Brooks, along with the other three award-winning works, now become part of the college's permanent art collection and will be displayed on campus.
This isn't the first time Brooks has been recognized for his artistic talent. He was a blue ribbon winner three consecutive years at the Wyoming State Art Symposium in Casper. The young Douglas artist said he was just trying to find his way when he threw the bowl in an art class. He credits "lots of practice" for his success - the winning bowl was one of 50 he threw in one week.
Brooks will transfer next fall to the University of South Dakota to continue his education to become a secondary education art teacher. His parents are Lisa and Robin Brooks of Douglas.
Northwest College, located in Powell, Wyo., 70 miles from Yellowstone National Park, is a two-year residential college offering transfer and technical programs of study that blend traditional arts and sciences with emerging technologies.