By Mattie Hurt

Staff Writer

   For eight decades, Sawtooth has been the creative heartbeat of the Triad! Sawtooth School for Visual Arts has worked hard for 80 years to provide Winston-Salem with art classes, workshops, and exhibitions that can help build new connections with new people. Sawtooth has worked to teach new skills such as how to build a chair, all the way to simply making a ceramic mug to have your daily cup of joe!

    Sawtooth was first founded in 1945 with the intent of providing the community with education on how to use your hands-on art skills. Sawtooth started as a small business that worked hard to get to where it is today, and a few years later, the trailblazers decided to establish a few other institutions. 

    “Early founders like Mary Reynolds Babcock, Elizabeth Gray, Copey and Gordon Hanes, and May Mountcastle went on to help establish other cornerstone cultural institutions in our community,” Lauren Davis, executive director at Sawtooth School of Visual Arts, said. “These institutions include the Arts Council of Winston-Salem & Forsyth County, UNCSA, Reynolda House, and much more.” 

    Sawtooth gets its name from the creative architecture of the building. The building was built in a very artistic style that many had never seen before. It had a jagged like roof on the top hence the “saw” and “tooth” part in Sawtooth.In the initial years of introducing Sawtooth, the company quickly realized that it was too expensive to keep up with. Due to the high maintenance of an old building, they decided to resort to renting. Renting helped put their focus on maximizing the most money out of their classes, while providing the equipment and wonderful instructors to build happiness and joy in the people taking them.

    “Owning a building comes with high costs and responsibilities, and as a smaller arts organization, it hasn’t been feasible,” Davis said. “That said, as we continue to grow and expand our footprint, including a massive outdoor kiln on NMCA WS (formerly SECCA) campus and 2 studios at the Intergenerational Center for Arts and Wellness, owning our own space is a long term goal. Sawtooth has focused its resources on high-quality programming rather than on facility management.” 

    With that being said, Sawtooth has had great success in building friendships and community through their classes. Many people feel nervous attending classes for the first time because most have never worked with the materials given, but they soon come to realize that they are not alone. They make bonds with others in the class and sympathize with the new activity. 

    “The sense of community at Sawtooth is truly one of my favorite things: the way people come together to learn, make, and connect is inspiring,” Davis said. “It’s not just about taking a class; it’s about building confidence, creativity, and relationships. We love helping people discover that creativity is already there, even if they don’t know it yet.”

    Sawtooth doesn’t end at providing education on art classes to the community; they also help provide different financial support to those eligible. To future seniors looking for more scholarships and funding, definitely take a look at the information on their website.

    “We offer scholarships and tuition assistance to reduce financial barriers,” Davis said. “Sawtooth offers an Art&Wellness program, which provides supportive art experiences for individuals impacted by illness.”

    Next time you find yourself in a bit of a rut and need something to lift your spirits, click on Sawtooth’s website and sign up for a class. Don’t be nervous! They are there to welcome everyone with messy hands and love.

    “Sawtooth is a place to try something new, meet people, and be creative in a welcoming, supportive environment,” Davis said. “You don’t need prior experience, just curiosity.”