Let us introduce ourselves…

Sara & Naomi

owners

Sara and Naomi started Studio T/M in January of 2016 as their personal studio space. Over the years the studio grew, and they began taking on studio assistants and teaching classes. In the summer of 2020, Sara left her full-time teaching position at Gainesville High School to run the studio full-time. In July of 2023 the new home of Studio T/M opened just a mile and half from the original 1,000 sq. ft. studio. You can see Sara’s work at saratruman.com or follow her on Instagram @sbtruman

CR

Admin

CR Dean is a transplanted California sunflower pursuing her doctorate in English literature at the University of Florida, who took a ceramics class to de-stress but fell in love with the craft… and now spends all her time (spare or not) at the studio. She supports the managerial work of the studio, and aides with classes and events.

Check out her work and her service dog on her Instagram @thepettibear

Claire

Studio Manager | Materials specialist Instructor

Claire Lenahan is an artist who works in a variety of mediums, currently focusing on interactive installations of pottery. Her work subtly disorients the viewer by queering western domestic conventional objects through failure, the performance of our daily actions, queer phenomenology, and social engagement. She received her MFA in Studio Art (Ceramics) at the University of Florida.

Claire teaches our Saturday classes both Introduction to Wheel Throwing and Intermediate/Independent Study Wheel. Claire is also our studio manager overseeing the day to day operations of the studio! You can see more of her work on her website https://www.clairelenahanart.com.

Find more of their work here!

Meg

Lead Instructor

Meghan is our Lead Instructor, and teaches several wheel throwing and hand building classes a week! Meghan is from Jacksonville, Florida, and received her BFA in Ceramics from the University of Florida in 2007. She makes beautiful pots and incredible figure sculpture, and you can often find her enthusiastically sharing her deep knowledge for clay with anyone in the studio!

You can also join Meghan on Friday Night’s as your Sip N’ Spin host! She is available for booking your private event, and team building extravaganza as well!

You can find more of her work in our shop at the studio!

Jenn

Instructor

Jennifer Hartz is a ceramic artist from Cleveland, Ohio. Jenn took her first wheel throwing classes during the mid-1990s through the Cleveland Institute of Art Continuing Education Program. Jenn continued developing her innovative approach to ceramics as a member of the Brick Ceramic + Design Studio in Cleveland’s Waterloo Arts District. Jenn has had a long career teaching elementary and middle school science with a creative flare. While working at Hawken School she was exposed to Maker Education and learned to use many of the machines in the school maker space, including her favorite, the laser cutter. Jenn is interested in creating tools to use in the making of wheel thrown and hand built pieces. Her favorite tools to use in her own work include the laser-cut rolling pins she develops from hand drawn images.

Check out her work @jennhartzceramics

Jack

Instructor, kiln room technician

Jack Manfredi is a Gainesville, Florida local who found his passion for clay in Sara’s class at Gainesville High School! He started volunteering at the studio when he was 15, and became Sara’s apprentice and the studio’s first employee at 19! His enthusiasm for functional pots and the ins and outs of clay are limitless. In 2021 Jack and Sara were awarded the Studio Potter Apprenticeship Grant, which supported Jack financially for a year as Sara’s apprentice. Jack is the youngest recipient to ever receive the grant. He completed a second year apprenticeship before continuing as her assistant,

Check out his work @jacks_pots

Sophia

Instructor and Studio assistant

Sophia Zavarse is one of our newest staff members, and is also another Gainesville local! Sophia began taking classes at Studio T/M and it was no time at all before she joined our team. Sophia makes beautiful functional pottery, and teaches both our Introduction to Wheel courses as well as our Spanish Immersion in Throwing course. Sophia also teaches our Family one day events and Sip n’ Spin as well. You can find Sophia on the weekends when it’s cooler out with a beautiful table of her wares at our local makers markets.

You can find more of her work @cricketclayworks

Abbey Foster

instructor

Abbey is a Gainesville native with a degree in Marketing from Mississippi State University. Abbey currently owns her own Tennis Lessons company, and makes beautiful modern dinnerware. Abbey teaches Monday evening Introduction to Wheel Throwing and is your Sip N’ Spin host on Saturday Evenings!

Dustin

Events & Party Instructor

Dustin Romans is a transplant from Kansas City, Missouri who found his way into our studio looking for community. After a year of classes Dustin joined our membership, and quickly became our members liaison! He became a staff member that fall and is your events and market specialist, as well as runs the Sunday morning Introduction to Wheel classes! You can see more of Dustin’s love for pots over on his Instagram and visit him on Saturday nights as your Sip n’ Spin instructor!

You can find more of his work @dustypotsceramics

Daun

Studio Assistant

Daun

Beck

Kids camp instructor