Jenny Mastin is a ceramic sculptor and owner of Jenluma Clayworks Studio in Morganton, North Carolina. A long time resident of Burke County, she was born and raised in the northeastern coastal region of the state. Mastin earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Art Education from East Carolina University with studio concentrations in Crafts Design, Sculpture and Painting and her Master’s degree in Art Education from Appalachian State University. She has more than 30 year’s experience working as a professional artist and art educator of children and adults. Mastin holds an associate artist membership with Artspace Gallery in Raleigh and is represented by RedSky Gallery of Charlotte, North Carolina; and The District Gallery of Knoxville, Tennessee. Mastin’s work has been listed in several publications including 500 Figures in Clay Volume II. She is also a juried member of the Southern Highland Crafts Guild.
Denise Riddle has been a self-taught visual artist for over thirty years. Denise specializes in watercolor, oils, and acrylic paint. As a portrait and consignment artist as well as a national advertising designer for a major furniture manufacturer collaborating with internationally known designers, she honed in on her own personal style. Expanding her creative initiatives, she added ceramics to her repertoire, blending art with clay and clay with art. Growing up in rural North Carolina, Denise worked with her family in the hard red clay raising fields of tobacco and vegetables. The feel of the clay and the influences of her childhood never left. In addition to painting, she now concentrates on creating terra cotta sculptures. Adding glazes, stains, waxes and metal, she strives to achieve the specific organic feel and colors of her youth.
Ian Robins grew up in Surry England where he later worked as a fine woodworker for 45 years. Ian began working with wood at the age of 6 uses tools passed down to him by his grandfather. As a child he created soap box cars from old mahogany shelves removed from his father’s store. At the age of 15, he graduated from school early and went on to complete an apprenticeship program in fine woodworking earning the official title, “Craftsman.” Robins was a furniture maker for Stewart Interiors, building traditional English oak and walnut furniture. He was a restoration specialist working on ancient timber frame homes and completed a large commission, rehabilitating the Chichester Cathedral’s antique furniture. Robins moved to the United States 5 years ago. He prefers recycled or sustainable materials including old barn wood or wormy chestnut. Robins enjoys building one-of-a-kind furniture, genuine reproductions and commissions. He works with theatre groups throughout WNC designing stage props.
Courtney Long received her B.F.A from West Virginia University and M.F.A from Syracuse University, New York. She has continued educational experiences from Jingdezhen Porcelain Institute and Xianyang Institute of Technology, China, Penland School of Crafts, Penland, North Carolina, Santa Fe Clay, Santa Fe, New Mexico, Anderson Ranch in Trelawney, Jamaica, and Art School of the Aegean, Samos, Greece. Courtney is the recipient of several grants including a North Carolina Blue Ridge Heritage Grant. She is the founder of the Joara Pottery festival, the Drexel Artist Incubator, and in 2009, was awarded a faculty fellowship with NC State University’s Institute of Emerging Issues. Courtney exhibits her work nationally and her batter bowl design was highlighted in Pottery Making Illustrated Magazine.
Andrew Stephenson received his B.F.A from East Carolina University. He completed a residency at the Odyssey Center for Ceramic Arts in Asheville, North Carolina and two year apprenticeship with Matt Jones Leicester North Carolina. During the apprenticeship Andrew learned forms and turning techniques that have been passed down from potter to potter since the days of Bernard Leach and Michael Cardew. Andrew is a full time studio potter in rural Rutherford County and built his own 300 cubic foot wood kiln. He sells his work in galleries throughout the southeast and teaches workshops at John C Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC.
Adam Mackay received his A.A.S. from Western Piedmont Community College and a B.F.A from Appalachian State University located in Boone, North Carolina. Adam completed a pottery internship with well-known potter, Michael Kilne. Today, Adam is a studio potter living and working in Morganton, North Carolina. His production pottery line consists of midrange, utilitarian tableware and accessories.
Meagan Roberts is instructor of Sustainable Agriculture and Horticulture Technology at Western Piedmont Community College. While her teaching responsibilities are diverse, a large part of her focus is sustainable livestock production and animal science as well as managing the livestock on the WPCC farm. She earned her B.A. in Biology and Environmental Studies at Denison University, where she studied wetland plant communities and molecular plant systematics. In 2006, she moved to Raleigh and earned her M.S. in Horticulture Science while researching the ecology and reproductive biology of native invasive plants in blueberry. Following her time at NCSU, Meagan worked as a cheese maker and milker at an artisanal goat dairy. Her agricultural expertise focuses on small fruit and vegetable production as well as sustainable livestock production. Currently, she lives on a farm in western North Carolina with her husband and daughter.
Mark Poteat is Western Piedmont Community College’s Department Head of Visual and Performing Arts and lead Fine Arts Instructor. He received his A.A. Degree from Western Piedmont Community College, B.F.A. from East Carolina University and M.F.A. from East Tennessee State University. Poteat is best known for his paintings that pay homage to factory workers who have been the economic backbone of this country, through interpretation of pictorial space and structure of “Factories”.
Danette Steelman Bridges is Western Piedmont Community College’s Coordinator and lead instructor for the College’s Interpreter Education Program. She received her B.A and M.A. in Deaf Education from Lenoir-Rhyne College. Danette has been a professional interpreter for 36 years experience in many settings including VRS, Educational, Medical, Legal, Mental Health, Corporate, Performing Arts, Religious, Conference, and Platform. She has taught classes for over 28 years. She was awarded the College’s highest faculty honor, the Excellence in Teaching Award 2011. She was named NCRID Interpreter of the Year in 2007. Danette is an active community member volunteering with several organizations including NCRID Foothills Chapter and the NC Interpreter/Transliterator Licensing Board (NCITLB) and NC School for the Deaf Foundation Board.