From Wheel to Table: Altered Form
Visiting Artist-Ceramics | Available
Form and function go hand-in-hand, and in this hands-on workshop, Jennifer Mecca will share her unique techniques for throwing and altering various forms. She will cover her sprigging and Mishima decorating techniques. An inlay process, which she uses to bring life and depth to her surfaces. If you love surface, come learn how to combine different techniques to find your own voice. Anyone who loves playing with form and surface will challenge the notion that surfaces should be plain for functional wares.
Join us for Sawtooth Luminaries, a long weekend of immersive and intensive workshops in Winston-Salem, NC, from October 2 to 4, 2026.
Sawtooth Luminaries offers an unparalleled long weekend filled with in-depth instruction, communal bonding, and a platform for exchanging ideas and igniting inspiration. Workshops led by innovative leaders in contemporary art and craft deliver an enriching experience for those seeking to take their practice to the next level.
Programming is designed to offer a balanced experience, with structured studio time in Sawtooth’s landmark downtown facilities, communal lunch offerings, and evening events that explore Winston’s reputation as the City of Arts and Innovation
Tuition includes three days of instruction and dedicated studio time, catered lunches, opportunities to socialize with other artists in attendance, and exclusive access to some of the city’s most beloved art institutions. Special rates at The Historic Brookstown Inn, Sawtooth’s preferred lodging partner, are available for enrolled students and guests. (Discount code is provided after registration.)
Registration for Sawtooth Luminaries 2026 opens May 19th! Secure your spot as soon as possible; enrollment will close one month prior to the workshops.
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Curious about tuition assistance and scholarships? You'll find that info here.
- A materials fee for 25lbs of stoneware clay will be added at the time of check out.
Jennifer Mecca
Jennifer Mecca is a utilitarian potter living and working in Gaston County, North Carolina. She creates visually engaging, thoughtfully designed ceramic work intended for everyday use, focusing on forms that bring beauty and delight to daily rituals such as cooking, serving, and sharing meals.
Mecca holds two BFAs in Visual Arts and an MFA in Ceramics. She works full-time from her home studio and teaches part-time at Central Piedmont Community College. Her work has been exhibited in numerous national juried exhibitions and featured in Ceramics Monthly, Clay Times, and Ceramics Arts Daily. In 2018, Ceramics Arts Daily highlighted her work in an artist video. She is a three-time recipient of the North Carolina Artist Grant, the founder of the Charlotte-based pottery collective Thrown Together, and a former member of the Carolina Designer Craftsmen Guild. Her work is used in homes across the United States and is sold through pottery shows and online platforms.
All of Jennifer's pieces are wheel-thrown and altered while wet, allowing each form to develop its own character and individuality. She primarily works with high-fire porcelain, with vividly rich, layered glaze surfaces. Her pots are embellished with handmade stamps, sprigs, and incised drawings inlaid with colored stains and the occasional luster added. The forms she creates are often organic, reflecting her preference for fluid line and the responsive nature of the material. Surface inspiration comes from fabric patterns, historic dishware, paintings, and floral designs.