Jason (Eureka Springs, AR) has been a percussionist for over 30 years and is the owner of New World Drums. He has apprenticed with master drum builder Doug Powell beginning in 2017, and has assisted Doug in several drum-making classes at ESSA.

Matt (Springfield, MO) operates a woodturning business full time, Monaco Bowls (www.monacobowls.com), and has 15 years of turning experience with 5 years of apprenticeship. His training includes assisting world renowned, acclaimed masters of the craft, such as Richard Raffan. Matt has demonstrated at events and shows nationwide and has taught both privately and at the college level.

Lillian (Highlandville, MO) holds a BFA in Metals/jewelry from Missouri State University and is an art instructor for Springfield Art Museum, Springfield Regional Arts Council, and Placeworks. She teaches jewelry/metalsmithing classes through the museum and her work has been exhibited across America and in Japan.

Abraham (Sparta, TN) has been forging functional and art objects since 2006. He holds a BFA in Metals from the Appalachian Center for Craft where he has taught various workshops. He has exhibited his work throughout the country and has been running Pardee Metal LLC, full-time since 2016.

Dan (Republic, MO) has been blessed to learn turning from some of the very best turners in the world of this and past generations, and is anxious to pass on to the new generations of craftsmen and women the skills that he has learned.

Preston (Eureka Springs, AR) has many years of experience in all types of welding, having set up and run his own welding business, as well as a welding shop in Kansas City area for a large manufacturing facility.

Diana (West Fork, AR) earned her degree in Fine Art with and emphasis in photography from the U of A 2009. She has been teaching the photography and Photoshop classes at Northwest Technical Institute in Springdale for the last ten years.

Darla (Holiday Island, AR) is an artist and luthier who began her interest by customizing existing guitars as a hobby, eventually gaining professional training while attending Galloup School of Lutheri. Building cigar box guitars was a way to continue practicing fret work that soon turned into a passion that she now focuses all of her art towards.

Brenda (Durant, OK) is an accomplished pine needle and gourd artist. She creates beautiful art from gourds, pine needles, and other bits of nature. Brenda is the recipient of numerous state and national gourd art awards and exhibits nationally. 

Fran (Eureka Springs, AR) began practicing mosaics in 1990 under the guidance of James Hubbell. She has furthered her studies in Italy and workshops in the U.S. She is inspired by the reflective qualities and design of Byzantine mosaics, translating them into modern materials.