Sawtooth School for Visual Art

✨ Student Spotlight: Mal Barnes ✨

Mal's work is proof that you don't need a fancy studio to take great photos, just a little creativity! 📸

For some recent class assignments, Mal photographed flowers and orchids using an iPhone with a macro lens attachment, right in his home.

For a high key and side lighting exercise, he used natural light from a window with blinds to shape the light. For a dark and dramatic photography assignment, black foam board was used as the background, the floor, and even a way to prop up orchid stems, all lit with a simple desk lamp! A few shots were even taken at a little iPad desk using a USB lamp with adjustable settings. 💡

Swipe to see Mal's homemade "studio" setup. Small space, big results! ➡️

Take a look at our Beginning & Intermediate Jewelry Fabrication class with instructor Thea Clark!

This hands-on class is open to anyone 16 or older. It’s a great choice for beginners and for those who want to improve their skills. You’ll learn how to make jewelry by hand using copper, brass, and silver sheet and wire. You’ll get to try techniques like sawing, forging, texturing, soldering, polishing, and more.

Interested in joining? Visit sawtooth.org to see our upcoming classes and workshops, and start your next creative project.

Did you know Sawtooth has called the Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts home since 1982?

While many people assume we own the building, we're actually a longtime tenant of the Arts Council of Winston-Salem & Forsyth County, which owns and operates this vibrant arts campus.

Through the Arts Council's General Operating Support program, Sawtooth receives a $95,097 facility subsidy, applied directly as a reduction in our annual rent. Without that support, our annual rent would exceed $206,000.

That partnership allows more of Sawtooth's operating budget to support scholarships, community outreach, exhibitions, and hands-on visual arts experiences for thousands of people each year.

Thank you, , for your continued partnership and investment in making the visual arts accessible throughout our community.

Good morning, all!

Sawtooth is back open today to the public!

Water fountains will be off-limits as the advisory to boil water remains in effect in our area, so please plan accordingly. Thank you all for your understanding, and we’ll see you soon!

Important update from Sawtooth School!

Due to a water main break downtown, the Milton Rhodes Center has been closed by the Arts Council until water service is restored. Unfortunately, we have not yet been given a timeline for repairs. This means our downtown campus is closed for the rest of today.

📌 Here’s what you need to know:
🔹 All remaining downtown classes and camps today are canceled
🔹 Classes at the Generations Center are continuing as scheduled
🔹 We don’t have a repair timeline yet, but we’ll share updates as soon as we know more

Thank you for your patience and flexibility during this challenging day! We’ll keep you posted as we get more information.

Sharing the below information from the City of Winston-Salem, as this water outage directly affects Sawtooth.

“WSFC Utilities Water Service Alert ⚠️

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utilities customers on the eastern side of Forsyth County may experience low water pressure or temporary interruptions in water service due to a water main break.

The affected 24-inch water main is a critical component of the water distribution system. WSFC Utilities staff is aware of the situation and working diligently to make repairs.”

Sawtooth will share information concerning when running water is or will be restored as soon as it is available.

Our brand new website is launching this Friday! 🎉✨

We’ve been hard at work redesigning sawtooth.org from the ground up, and we can’t wait for you to see it. It’s clean, it’s streamlined, and it makes finding and joining our classes easier than ever.

Check out this page for our Taste of Art: Pair of Mugs workshop as an example! 🏺

This redesign is about more than a fresh look. It’s part of our ongoing commitment to making Sawtooth more accessible and easier to navigate for every student, whether you’re a longtime member or exploring your first class with us. 💛

☃️ Applications for our Sawtooth Spotlight: Juried Exhibition + Holiday Market are NOW OPEN!

➡️ Apply via the link: https://tinyurl.com/yc3cb6f9. (Due Tues., Sept. 1!)

🎉 Last year’s Juried Exhibition, featuring 75 regional artists, was a massive celebration of our creative community. Our one-day Holiday Market was a resounding success, with 1,900 guests and 84 vendors, generating a significant economic impact.

🌟 This year promises to be even better—especially if you join us!

🖼️ Our Juried Exhibition will be on view from November 21, 2026, to January 23, 2027, with a celebratory opening reception November 21 from 5 to 7 pm.

❄️ Our Holiday Market will take place on Saturday, December 5, 2025, from 11 am to 4 pm, with an exclusive shopping hour from 10 am to 11 am.

You can apply for the Juried Exhibition, Holiday Market, or both on our website.
Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, September 1. A $5 application fee applies. Message us with any questions!