Our Team

Education

Our teachers are ready to help you turn raw ideas into beautiful things.

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Operations

Meet the people who lay the foundation for creativity to flow.

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Board

The cheerleaders, supporters, and guides who make making art essential.

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Greg Belfor (he, him, his)

After leaving the high-tech world, Greg found his new passion in clay. He has taken classes and workshops from 8 excellent instructors. He is totally intrigued and enthralled by the mix of what he can (mostly) control in form and what he cannot control in the firing and glazing process. Currently, he is an adult instructor and teaching assistant.

Website: Greg Belfor Ceramics
Instagram: @gregbelfor.ceramics

Becky Bragg (she, her, hers)

Becky began her adventure with clay in her early teens on a kick wheel at the Pittsburgh Arts Center. Since then, her creative adventures have taken her to explore ceramics, fiber arts, painting, paper, and dance, but playing with clay remains one of her favorites. A teacher by trade, Becky has taught a variety of subjects (English, Spanish, science, dance, ceramics) to people of all ages – (preschool to senior citizen) focusing on a hands-on, experiential approach to help students explore a subject with creativity and joy. “I love helping students find their own rhythm and approach in imagining the possibilities of their own creativity.”

Marley Carrington-Maurer (she, her, hers)

Marley started taking classes at Groundworks Art Lab in 2019 wanting to get back to working with her hands.  Diving into both wheel throwing and hand-building techniques, she enjoys combining the two focuses to create unique sculpture forward pieces. She is passionate about creating a fun, relaxed learning environment where creativity and community thrive. Her teaching style highlights the boundless possibilities of clay, inspiring students to explore their personal artistic voices while enjoying the meditative and tactile joy of working with clay. 

Anna Caruso (she, her, hers)

Anna Caruso started taking Classes with Groundworks Art Lab back in 2018 and became enamored with the sculptural and handbuilding process. She specializes in Raku firings and reduction firing techniques. She loves to create introspective pieces that are for pondering and sometimes for function. She loves teaching specialty classes, as it shows students new ways to view and create ceramics that are beyond kitchen utility. 

Meredith Clinkinbeard (she, her, hers)

Meredith’s first experience in clay was in 2010 when she took her first class at the Pottery Lab. Her main focus is functional pottery. She loves making pieces that people can use every day. She became a teaching assistant and then an instructor. Her favorite part of teaching is the opportunity to witness students’ “aha” moments.

Instagram: @meremudpottery

Jamie Commando (she, her, hers)

With a background in welding and woodworking, Jamie picked up pottery after graduating college in 2020. She loves how ceramics provides a constant learning experience and that there is always something new to explore within the craft. She focuses on wheel thrown pieces and enjoys experimenting with surface decoration and glazes. She is currently an instructor and studio assistant and enjoys cultivating a creative community within her classes. 

Chad Corbin (he, him, his)

Chad jokes that he is a recovering engineer who came for the clay, and stayed for the community.  As an instructor, he is motivated by those moments when students "get it", and enjoys sharing the endless possibilities clay affords. As a potter, he is constantly humbled and inspired by the lessons clay has to teach us about imperfection, impermanence and non-attachment. You'll often find Chad tucked in the corner on the kickwheel exploring eastern forms and methods.

Website: www.mudmeditations.com
Instagram: @mudmeditations

Carleigh Crockett (she, her, hers)

Carleigh has enjoyed working with clay since she was a child, but decided to take a wheel throwing class in the summer of 2022 and has been obsessed ever since. She is drawn to the way the wheel forces her to stay in the present moment and loves the limitless opportunities for creative expression. She lives for seeing students' skills take off after hearing a technique explained in a way that clicks for them! She loves atmospheric firing, making tiny things, and a good glaze drip. 

Amelia Dickerson (she, her, hers)

Amelia grew up constantly wanting to learn and build things, usually making messes that she promised to clean up... along the way. However, she never dreamed she'd find a community of artists she could belong to until stumbling across Groundworks in 2022, thanks to a random Google search. She has since found endless encouragement to explore and figure out the technical details of what she wants to create, while being supported and taught by artists in all mediums. She loves teaching in adaptive clay and Partner Program classes, because she gets to show up with a ball of clay and be open to seeing where it takes her and the students on that particular day.

Amanda Duffy (she, her, hers)

Amanda’s journey with clay began as a New Year’s resolution in 2022—to take a pottery class. One class turned into many, and she’s been a fixture in the studio ever since. Starting as a student, she moved into a TA role, and now teaches both youth and adult classes. Amanda loves to create functional wheel-thrown pieces that often feature hand built details. She finds joy in watching her youth students bring their imaginations to life through clay, and loves seeing adults dive into something new, get a little messy, and experience the magic of mastering centering.

Adrianna Fickett (she, her, hers)

After graduating and becoming a certified welder from Lincoln College of Technology in Denver, Colorado, in 2015, Adrianna launched her welding career, gaining expertise in construction, structural welding, high-pressure vessel welding, custom fabrication, and welded art. With a versatile skill set, she brings a wealth of hands-on experience to her role as a welding instructor.  Adrianna is passionate about teaching the craft of welding, especially empowering women in the industry. She enjoys guiding students through both the practical and artistic sides of welding, helping them build confidence and skill while nurturing creativity. Adrianna’s approach to instruction blends real-world experience with a deep commitment to fostering an inclusive, supportive learning environment.

Grace Flaherty (she, her, hers)

Grace started at Groundworks Art Lab in the handbuilding room on the Hill at 6 years old. She couldn't get enough. Before long she was on the wheel and had been taking classes for years. Grace is enamored by the process of mud turning to something you can use every day. She is now a studio assistant and instructor. Seeing students really advance in one class is one of Grace’s favorite things about teaching.

Annabelle Farris (she, her, hers)

Annabelle has been creating with clay since childhood and has been in love with the medium ever since. Clay is a contradictory thing. The nature of clay is both permanent and fragile; it holds these two truths and balances on the line of eternal and ephemeral. Annabelle’s work explores the dichotomy between displacement and belonging. She uses clay to capture how space is perceived and possessed and is interested in how it changes based on identity. Annabelle earned her BFA in ceramics from the University of Colorado Boulder, where she was a King Award recipient. She has taught art since 2018 at various programs across Colorado and started with Groundworks Art Lab in May of 2024. She loves seeing how students connect with clay and create their own worlds.

Julia German (she, her, hers)

Julia German began sculpting with wood 25 years ago when she was an arborist in Boulder, Colorado. Her life took quite a detour, but now that she is retired from the full time practice of law, she is grateful to have come back to focusing on making sculptural work using wood, bone and steel. She loves the interaction and generosity of the materials and learning from the materials and the wonderful people in class and in the larger artistic community. More of her work is at www.burlycarving.com.

Tim Gordon (he, him, his)

Tim worked as a carpenter, cabinetmaker and furnituremaker from New England to New Mexico during a circuitous academic path that led to a Ph.D. in Engineering and Public Policy.  As an engineer, Tim builds tools to study small airborne particles, not unlike those he generates as a woodworker.  Tim's therapy is being immersed in the flow of building beautiful things and unlocking the floral scent of a freshly cut cherry plank.  Sharing this with students?  Gravy.

Colleen Grande (she, her, hers)

Colleen is a ceramic instructor who has always had a passion for the arts, and has immersed herself completely in clay since taking her first class at Groundworks. She started by taking classes in 2022, became a teaching assistant in 2023, and then became an instructor in 2025. She believes in the importance of constantly learning, trying new techniques, and collaborating with artists of all levels at the studios. 

Instagram: @ceramics.by.colleen

Chris Grandinetti (he, him, his)

Chris has been a part-time potter and ceramicist for 25 years in the Boulder/Denver area. He has worked with Groundworks Art Lab and the Potters’ Guild as a clay maker, glaze tech, and pottery instructor. As a functional potter, he emphasizes how to be efficient and focuses on the relationship between the studio and the kitchen in all his classes.

Tatai Guillery (she, her, hers)

Tatai is a ceramic studio assistant and instructor. Her pottery journey began in this same studio when she was 14. Since then, her love for pottery has only grown into a passion for teaching others. Tatai believes that although she is titled a ceramics instructor, she will always be a student of the art form, as there is infinite knowledge and curiosity in the world of ceramics.

Mowgli Gunn (they/them)

Mowgli is an artist, engineer, and fabricator whose practice lives at the intersection of large-scale sculpture, performance, and community engagement. When not in the studio, Mowgli studies structural engineering at CU Boulder, with a focus on optimization and design for engineered art. With over 10 years of design and fabrication experience, they specialize in metalwork and structural design for public art. Mowgli is the founder of Mowgli’s Concepts, a design consultancy that helps artists bring ambitious, interactive installations to life. At Groundworks, Mowgli teaches Intro to Welding Projects, where they empower students to explore creative expression through steel. Their classes emphasize safety, playful exploration of material, and give students the tools to think independently and critically through their own projects.

Sara Hailey (she, her, hers)

Sara is a Boulder native who started taking classes at the Pottery Lab when she was 5 years old! She has been drawn to teaching for as long as she can remember - swim lessons and horseback riding in high school turned into a career at BVSD and SVVVSD working with students with special needs. She took classes at the Lab on and off over the years and was delighted to be asked to become a teaching assistant. Now, Sara teaches adults, kids, family, and virtual programs at Groundworks Art Lab and especially enjoys teaching our Partner Program classes. Sara prides herself on making learning fun and stress-free and loves sharing skills that enrich the lives of her students.

Weston Hailey (he, him, his)

Weston is an artist and educator specializing in relief and intaglio printmaking. He also enjoys book arts, typography, and illustration. He studied Studio Art and Linguistics at Portland State University and was accepted to the PNCA Print Media MFA in 2014. Weston currently works in the Boulder Valley School District tutoring core classes and teaching therapy based art lessons for at-risk high schoolers. He has been a commercial screen printer, fine art framer, and woodwork tinkerer. Seeing students get into a “flow state” making art brings him great joy.

Betsy Hicks (she, her, hers)

Betsy Hicks is a sculptor and mosaic artist who enjoys the process of creating artwork.  She worked at IBM for 35 years as a Mechanical Engineer.  For the past 8 years, Betsy has created public artwork that are currently displayed at the Wilson Community Garden in Lafayette, Community Cycles in Boulder, Tara School for the Performing Arts in Boulder and at the Administration of Community Living in Boulder. 

Website: mosaicsbybetsy.com

Molly Hoverstock (she, her, hers)

Molly has a degree in Studio Arts, with a focus on handbuilt clay and printmaking.  It was always hard for her to decide on her favorite art media, so it was a natural choice for her to become a middle school art teacher and work in Boulder Valley School District for 28 years!  Molly finds inspiration in the creative directions students take their ideas, likes to help people find “aha moments” as they solve visual and technical problems, and loves getting her hands into art materials. 

Margaret Josey-Parker (she, her, hers)

Since graduating with an MFA from the University of Oregon, I have taught ceramics at many places in Colorado and other western states. I believe art is a visual language of personal symbols and my work is a rough sketch or diary of my life. The collection of individual events and the emotional ebb and flow of everyday life eventually stream into a coherent current through my work.

Website: margaretjoseyparkerart.com
Instagram: @margaret_joseyparker

Teagan King (she, her, hers)

Teagan grew up spending time in her family friend's pottery studio which emphasized warmth, creativity, and playfulness. She continued to experiment with clay through undergraduate classes at Whitman College and then at the Potters Guild of Baltimore. She is thankful to have joined Groundworks Art Lab immediately upon moving to Colorado, loves the community that the pottery studio offers, and hopes to warmly welcome students into the world of pottery as they explore the multitude of possibilities that clay offers. As an instructor, Teagan is thrilled to be able to share with students her passion for creatively experimenting as well as her interest in the technical aspects of pottery!

Website: https://teking35.wixsite.com/art-portfolio/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teagan.ceramics/

Heather Kahn-Pyatt (she, her, hers)

Heather studied painting as an undergraduate, receiving her BFA from Boston University School for the Arts, and completed her MFA from the University of Oregon’s School of Art + Design. She has spent many years designing textiles and architectural graphics, as well as teaching design and color theory, all of which have informed and inspired her studio projects.

“Printmaking seems to lend itself to my blend of painterly, yet graphic sensibilities. It provides just the right amount of structure so I can balance impromptu and planned choices. I like the tactile and physical process of carving, mixing and inking plates–each being so unique and satisfying. Time and technique become woven into the print’s identity.”

Akane Kleinkopf (she, her, hers)

Akane started printmaking in 2017 at Whitman College with a focus on screenprinting and block printing, although she enjoyed experimenting with monotypes, lithographs, and intaglio etchings as well. She likes to use bold colors and incorporate themes of identity, belonging, and comfort in prints and print-based books and installations. 

Jinna Lincoln (she, her, hers)

Jinna trained as a visual artist, earning an MFA from CU Boulder. She took her first class at the Pottery Lab in 2008, when her youngest child started all-day kindergarten. Since discovering hand-building, she has continued to enjoy making functional constructions with clay.

Renate Mairie (she, her, hers)

Renate Mairie is a native Boulder resident with strong ties to the artistic community. She holds a BA in Art History & Printmaking from CU Boulder, and an MA in Psychology from Regis University. Ms. Mairie has been an arts educator for 10 years, as well as an artist with over three decades of work in photography, painting, printmaking and textiles.  She is deeply inspired by her students and loves to nurture talent at all levels.  Renate has served on the Board of Groundworks Art Lab for 8 years and was instrumental in their printmaking program studio development. Her art resonates with celestial themes and the foundations of what brings humanity together.

James Makely (he, him, his)

James is an exceedingly skilled and energetic metalsmith with thirty years of experience. He is an Instructor and serves on the Board of Directors for Rocky Mountain Smiths. He too has been a member of the Artist Blacksmith Association of North America for twenty two years. James specializes in the design and construction of complex curvature structures and organic forms, both realistic and abstract. He has a considerable amount of knowledge in unique metal surfaces and finishes. He brings the highest level of detail into his artisanship.

Kathryn Martinez (she, her, hers)

Kathryn has been teaching beginning pottery classes since 2014 and, prior to that, she was a teaching assistant for 9 years. She loves the enthusiasm and eagerness of beginning students and finds it very rewarding to see their skills and knowledge about the clay process grow. Her own work is primarily functional yet she is always searching for a way to embellish the ordinary and bring beauty into everyday life.

Ella Mernyk (they/she)

With a background in studio art and environmental science, Ella (she/they) picked up pottery after graduating in 2019. Specializing in hand building, Mernyk likes to create complicated, design-forward, functional pieces. With students, they love to emphasize the beauty behind working with imperfections, and how limitless the art of hand building can be. 

Instagram: @ecm_ceramics

John Minkler (he, him, his)

John began making pottery at age 17. After graduating from the University of Colorado with a B.F.A. in Ceramics and a B.A. in Art History, John worked part time as a production potter to hone his throwing skills. Twenty years later, he continues producing for the same potters and has his built his own body of work, including a unique line of stoneware pottery. All of his work begins on the potter’s wheel, but many shapes are cut and altered to create a variety of forms.

Website: minklerpottery.com
Instagram: @minklerpottery

Sunny Monaco (she, her, hers)

Sunny Monaco is a studio artist working and living in Boulder, Colorado. She graduated with a BFA in ceramics from University of Colorado in Boulder and completed her MA in Early Childhood psychology and Education at CU in Denver, Colorado. She has been teaching since 2005 and 11 years ago she began teaching children and adult art classes at the Center for the Arts in Evergreen. She also teaches art classes in schools in Evergreen, Longmont, Clear Creek, Golden and Boulder. She first was exposed to the pottery lab in college and began teaching classes there in January 2023. She shows and sells her work throughout Colorado. She manipulates the clay via hand building and throwing to capture outdoor images turning them into garden totems, birdbaths, birdhouses, floral platters and wall décor. Utilizing her inspirations to create an outdoor and indoor beauty. Sunny has a passion for spending time outdoors, traveling, cooking, snowshoeing, paddling, biking, hiking, gardening and the arts.

Instagram: @stella.riga.58

Dennis Mulherin (he, him)

Dennis found a love for woodworking at a young age when rows of desks meant settling your gaze upon the back of the student’s head in front of you. It was and remains an activity where quality of time is found in the departure from what the world assigns. From an elective class no longer offered in most schools, his journey progressed through years of study at one of the countries’ most respected schools of craft, to a career which had him learn and produce for designers across the northeast, before he and a friend set out to build a business making their own furniture designs in Colorado.  In most recent years, Dennis has grown another ring, pun intended, to his furniture life at Groundworks Art lab, where he has found community and acceptance, and wishes to extend his branches to all who venture into his classroom.

Jax Perna (they, he, she)

Jax discovered their passion for printmaking during their days at SUNY Purchase College in Westchester, New York. Here is where they honed their focus in on the various printmaking processes such as screen-printing, woodblock printing, and intaglio etching. The content of their work comes from photographs that are recreated into hand-drawn images using various printmaking processes and other 2D-based mediums to convey the emotions of the photograph's memory, usually surrounding themes of family, love, and nostalgia. After transitioning to Colorado, Jax found artistic community through Groundworks Art Lab. They currently work with the community by traveling to various locations in the Boulder County area to provide printmaking lessons to various communities and organizations.

Instagram: @printwithjax

Melissa Pickering (she, her, hers)

Melissa Pickering studied fine art in high school and college, and began printmaking in 2008. She has her undergrad in Literature from CU Boulder and an MA in Business Leadership from Naropa University. She was an artist-in-residence at The Boulder Creative Collective with the 2019-2020 cohort, and has studied with teachers in Colorado, NYC, and Santa Fe. Melissa focuses primarily in abstract nature, inner exploration, and social justice messages using various printmaking techniques, such as monotype, collagraph, drypoint, and chine collé. 

Website: www.talismanplace.com/ 
Instagram: @talismanplace

Jessica Price (she, her, hers)

Jessica took her first class at the Boulder Pottery Lab in 1994 and has continued throughout the years as a student, teaching assistant, and now an instructor. Her work is a fusion of form and function and she particularly likes creating wheel thrown tableware while exploring different surface decoration techniques such as texture and sgraffito. She loves teaching and watching her students evolve with their technical skills and creativity. Pottery feeds her "right brain” and provides balance and harmony in her life.

Luna Reid (she, her, hers)

Luna started at Groundworks Art Lab as a child and has loved the community ever since. After moving out of state and taking a hiatus from clay, she is thrilled to be back with Groundworks and around clay. She is now an instructor and studio assistant who loves watching students grow!

Al Segal (he, him, his)

During a career in Software Engineering, Al started doing pottery at Groundworks Art Lab in a beginner’s wheel class in 2003. Since that first class, he has learned from the talented and supportive instructors and staff here, and became a teaching assistant in 2011 and then an instructor in 2016.  He loves helping newcomers learn pottery skills and techniques.  His own work focusses on decorating the surfaces of wheel-thrown forms.

Samantha Shaw (she, her, hers)

Samantha grew up in the mountains of WV and from a young age loved using her hands for making things. She received her BFA in ceramics and New Genres from Sierra Nevada College in Lake Tahoe, NV and has been making pottery since 2002. While at Sierra Nevada college she became involved in woodfired ceramics at Great Basin Pottery near Doyle Ca and fell in love with the process. Once moving to CO in 2011 she was seeking the community and process that woodfiring provides and became involved in the Anagama firings at the Pottery Lab. She has been involved with Groundworks Art Lab ever since volunteering, assisting and teaching.

Jayden Simisky (he, him, his)

Jayden Simisky is a lifelong metal worker, born in Boulder, where he still lives today. He discovered welding and the world of metalworking at age 10, and quickly dedicated his life to it. At age 16, he discovered blacksmithing and subsequently knife making. Since then, he has pursued artistic freedom through redefining what makes a knife a knife. Today, he is well known in the high-performance culinary knife industry, as well as the world of artistic blacksmithing. He specializes in unusual knife construction and the making of mosaic Damascus steel. Jayden first gained notoriety in the knife world by winning an episode of History Channel's "Forged in Fire".

Website: www.theslacksmith.com
Instagram: @jaydensimisky

Tina Tan (she, her, hers)

Tina started taking classes at the Pottery Lab back in the 1990s and have consistently been involved with clay since then. I love throwing on the wheel and exploring different forms, glazes, and different types of firing. Mostly, Tina focus on functional ware for everyday use.

Dan Tate (he, him, his)

Dan began his clay journey while teaching with Boulder Valley School creating hand built forms, tiles and fish plaques.  After retirement, he committed himself to learning how to throw on the wheel and now produces a variety of forms: bowls, cups and tumblers with fish.  He enjoys teaching beginning students and is rewarded when they center and create pots and vessels.

Erica Ursich (she, her, hers)

There are two passions that have captivated Erica throughout her life; sculpture, and animals. These two interests evolved side by side, resulting in a dual BASc in Biology and a BFA in Ceramics at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Erica's sculptural subject matter has continued to develop according to her subjects of study, with research on anatomy and physiology fueling her drive for realism. Cats, dogs, frogs, snakes, people, eels, voles, and others have come to life through her handbuilding. Erica has been teaching Partner Programs with Groundworks Art Lab since 2022, and is now offering courses demonstrating techniques for realistic figure sculpting. She loves helping students experience the rewarding process of bringing their subjects to life with their own two hands.

Sam Watkins (he, him, his)

Sam is a generational potter who grew up in a household using bottles, bowls, and pots created by his mom and collected from various artists. This gave him his initial inspiration and vision to start throwing on his own. Traveling and living all over the country for different farming opportunities, Sam has always prioritized practicing pottery. In 2018, Sam moved to Colorado and began studying at the Pottery Lab. He started working as a lab assistant and a teacher in 2021, as well as putting an increased focus on his personal work. Sam’s favorite part of pottery is making pieces that have an equal focus on aesthetic and functionality. Mostly, he wants to make pieces that people will use and love — until it breaks, and then he will make another!

Instagram: @desert.fox.ceramics

Aaron Winston (he, him, his)

Aaron earned a master's degree in printmaking from the University of New Mexico where he also began to practice a Japanese tradition of throwing porcelain. At the end of his studies, Aaron was invited for a short but life changing stay with Living National Treasure, Inoue Manji in Japan. Aaron then moved to San Diego, where he worked both with Martin Kastner of Crucial Detail Design creating unique service pieces in porcelain and also with Kouta Shimazaki at the San Diego Ceramic Connection learning about operating a community studio and the art of ceramics in general. In 2006, he came to Boulder, and started working at the City of Boulder Pottery Lab. In 2015, Aaron became the Director of the Pottery Lab where he continues to teach and practice.

Kari Palazzari (she,her,hers)
Executive Director

Kari brings extensive experience in nonprofit management and leadership consulting to her role as Executive Director. Prior to moving to Colorado in 2006, she earned a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Duke University and a law degree from UNC-Chapel Hill. She served as Board Treasurer of Groundworks Art Lab for nearly two years, helping with the transition from a city-run program to an independent non-profit organization. Earlier in her career, Kari launched both nonprofit and for-profit start-ups and also worked in marketing communications and project management. Kari is primarily responsible for the growth & expansion of the organization, including the capital campaign and construction process. As Executive Director she also manages the nonprofit support functions of the organization - finance, marketing, and fundraising - and reports to the Board of Directors.

Email: kari.p@groundworksartlab.org

Aaron Winston (he, him, his)
Artistic Director

Aaron earned a master's degree in printmaking from the University of New Mexico where he also began to practice a Japanese tradition of throwing porcelain. At the end of his studies, he was invited for a short but life changing stay with Living National Treasure, Inoue Manji, in Japan. Aaron moved to San Diego where he worked with Martin Kastner of Crucial Detail Design creating unique service pieces in porcelain and with Kouta Shimazaki at the San Diego Ceramic Connection, operating a community studio. In 2006, he came to Colorado and started working at the City of Boulder Pottery Lab and in 2015 he became the Director. Aaron oversees programs and partnerships of the organization as well as major facilities decisions. He manages the program staff - instructors and teaching assistants - and is responsible for fulfilling the artistic mission of the organization. Aaron reports to the Board of Directors.

Email: aaron.w@groundworksartlab.org

Colleen McCarthy (she, her, hers)
Operations Director

Colleen graduated from Northern Arizona University with a bachelor's degree in recreation and leisure services. She moved to Boulder in 1989, where she and her husband have raised their two sons. Once her sons started high school, she began taking pottery classes in January 2008. She became a volunteer assistant for the adult and teen classes and started working part-time in the summer of 2011; firing kilns, making glazes and general lab duties. Colleen taught youth classes for 6- and 7-year-olds as well. She now serves as Operations Manager, overseeing all activities at the studio. She also directs the organization's administrative functions, which includes data management, accounting, and scheduling.

Email: colleen.m@groundworksartlab.org

Meredith Clinkinbeard (she, her, hers)
Senior Manager of Administration

Meredith graduated from University of Colorado with a bachelor’s in Environmental Studies with an emphasis in Biogeochemistry. Meredith has spent several years in the financial industry. In 2010, she took her first pottery class at the Pottery Lab. Through the years, she has taken on roles as a teaching assistant and pottery instructor for adult classes and now the role of Senior Manager of Administration. Outside of Groundworks Art Lab, Meredith can be found road biking, running or working in her studio.

Email: meredith.c@groundworksartlab.org

Breona Byrd (she, her, hers)
Development Manager

Breona is a Colorado-based visual artist, originally from Baltimore, Maryland. She studied Art and Communications at Bowie State University and has spent over 13 years developing and leading art programs for youth and adults across Maryland. Passionate about art accessibility, Breona believes the generosity of donors is often the bridge between underserved communities and meaningful creative opportunities. As Development Manager, she is committed to supporting fundraising efforts, securing grant funding, and nurturing strong donor relationships. When she’s not creating art, Breona enjoys kayaking, axe throwing, and attending trivia nights with friends.

Email: breona.b@groundworksartlab.org

John Minkler (he, him, his)
Clay Studio Manager

John began making pottery in high school and was fortunate to have a great teacher and access to an outstanding facility. He earned a BFA in Ceramics and a BA in Art History at the University of Colorado. After college, he began working as a production potter and has never looked back. In 1998 he started his own ceramics business. He now lives in Longmont with his wife Mary Ellen and three kids. John brings his wealth of studio processes to his role at Groundworks Art Lab.

Email: john.m@groundworksartlab.org

Samantha Shaw (she, her, hers)
Clay Studio Manager

Samantha grew up in the mountains of WV and from a young age loved using her hands for making things. She received her BFA in ceramics and New Genres from Sierra Nevada College in Lake Tahoe, NV and has been making pottery since 2002. While at Sierra Nevada college she became involved in woodfired ceramics at Great Basin Pottery near Doyle, CA and fell in love with the process. Once moving to CO in 2011 she was seeking the community and process that woodfiring provides and became involved in the Anagama firings at the Pottery Lab. She has been involved with Groundworks Art Lab ever since volunteering, assisting and teaching.

Email: samantha.s@groundworksartlab.org

Sam Watkins (he, him, his)
Clay Studio Manager

Sam earned his bachelor’s degree in Environmental Biology from Berry College in 2014. While there, he was a studio assistant for the pottery department to hone the skills he learned at a young age. Since then, Sam practiced and worked at three pottery studios before finding Groundworks Art Lab. He took classes for three years before stepping into a part-time teaching role. Now, he is teacher and a studio assistant, focusing primarily on clay recycling, glaze formulation, and kiln processing. In his free time, Sam explores the outdoors with his partner Jennie and their dog Cahya. 

Email:- sam.w@groundworksartlab.org

James Makely (he, him, his)
Metal Studio Manager

James Makely is an Artist, Designer, and Instructor who has dedicated his life to pursue his passion for blacksmithing on a full-time and professional basis. He began his passion for forging metals in his native home of West Virginia. The Appalachian hills and close contact to the abundant, vigorous vegetation play a role in his designs. At the age of twelve he fell in love with the old world traditions of blacksmithing. He explains, "I was enchanted to learn the mystique of the hot fire and wondered where it was going to take me”. For over thirty years James has worked as a blacksmith. Professionally, James’ work can be seen nationally as well as internationally. He has designed and constructed complex architectural forms, custom railings, gates, lighting, sculptures, and memorial monuments. His impeccable artisanship can be seen in every creation and he has always embraced the opportunity to provide clients with a hand-crafted legacy.

Email: james.m@groundworksartlab.org

Jamie Commando (she, her, hers)
Clay Studio Assistant Manager

Jamie graduated with a bachelors in industrial design with an emphasis in furniture design. She worked for various furniture companies and sculptors over the years. Her love for 3D art and design expanded into ceramics in 2020. She learned pottery through taking classes at groundworks for 3 years. She eventually became a teachers assistant and is now a studio assistant and instructor. She spends most of her time making glazes, recycling clay and processing work. Outside of work she enjoys climbing, volleyball, cooking and traveling. 

Email: jamie.c@groundworksartlab.org

Laura Beth Konopinski (she, her)
Glass Studio Technician

Email: laurabeth.k@groundworksartlab.org

Dennis Mulherin (he, him, his)
Wood Studio Technician

In his role as Studio Technician, Dennis brings 10+ years of experience in professional furniture making. After receiving a Bachelors in Humanities From Suffolk University, he turned his aims towards furniture making, attending the North Bennet Street School, which is the country's longest running trade school. He then went on to work for acclaimed designers,Charlie Shackleton at Shackleton - Thomas, and Johnathan Glatt, at O&G Studios where he learned production techniques and developed his skillset of building high end furniture. With the partnership of his friend Mike Sagan, he then went on to Co-Found Lundy Designs, where they paired east coast esthetics with lean production techniques to cater to high end interior architect and design firms, bringing new hand made designs to families across the country.  Since arriving at Groundworks Art Lab, Dennis has progressed from Studio Assistant, to instructor, to now Studio Technician, where he is responsible for maintaining the shop, creating curriculum, and instructing.

Email: dennis.m@groundworksartlab.org

Sara Hailey (she, her, hers)
Partner Programs & Accessibility Manager

Sara is a Boulder native who started taking kids classes at the Boulder Pottery Lab when she was a kindergartner and continued taking classes as time allowed. She graduated from Colorado State University with a degree in Equine Science and has spent many years teaching horsemanship. She worked for BVSD and SVVSD for over 10 years where she taught multiple subjects and ages and spent the last few years working in a life skills program with students with special needs. She is thrilled to be part of the Groundworks Art Lab community and is looking forward to bringing pottery and joy to the people engaged in the SAB Partner Program. When she's not at the studio, you can find her riding the trails around Boulder on her horse, Minnie, or at home in Longmont with her partner and two dogs.

Email: sara.h@groundworksartlab.org

Leo Creighton (he, they)
Administration & Brand Manager

Leo earned a degree in Art History from CU Boulder and worked in high-level administration for a large arts organization where he oversaw the day-to-day operations of the Director’s office and managed both short- and long-term projects. He returned to school to study design and multimedia technology and became editorial designer for an online civil discourse platform where real people share real stories. Leo’s extensive skillset and administrative experience are perfectly suited to help Groundworks Art Lab grow. Outside work, Leo maintains an active interest in contemporary art history (which he assures us is not an oxymoron). He also plays the ukulele and is an avid Lego collector, just ask him.

Email: leo.c@groundworksartlab.org

Anayeli Vazquez-jimenez (she, her, hers)
Program Coordinator

Anayeli Vazquez-Jimenez is a Colorado based visual artist and a Naropa University Honors Graduate. As an artist she expresses her creativity through visual narratives. When she is not exploring different art forms, she is found reading or running. Anayeli believes in the inherent connection to art and the need to create. She has dedicated years of research to the importance of fostering the creative self in each of us in the fields of Art Therapy and Early Childhood Development. She is happy to be a part of the amazing community at Groundworks Art Lab, an organization that shares the belief in “cultivating the artist in each of us”. Anayeli finds working in a creative and artistic environment gives her the most fulfillment in life. 

Anayeli Vázquez-Jiménez es una artista visual radicada en Colorado y graduada con honores de la Universidad de Naropa. Como artista expresa su creatividad a través de narrativas visuales. Cuando no está explorando diferentes formas de arte, se la encuentra leyendo o corriendo. Anayeli cree en la conexión inherente al arte y la necesidad de crear. Ha dedicado años de investigación a la importancia de fomentar el yo creativo en cada uno de nosotros en los campos de la Arteterapia y el Desarrollo Infantil. Está feliz de ser parte de la increíble comunidad de Groundworks Art Lab, una organización que comparte la creencia de "cultivar al artista que hay en cada uno de nosotros". Anayeli considera que trabajar en un entorno creativo y artístico le brinda la mayor satisfacción en la vida.

Email: anayeli.v@groundworksartlab.org

Codey Davis (she, they)
Program Coordinator

Codey has always had a passion for creating and helping people find that creativity within themselves. From teaching art camp in high school to teaching her classes now, she loves seeing the joy in peoples’ faces when they make something they’re proud of and want to show off. In 2018 she graduated with a BFA in Ceramics from RIT in Rochester, NY and made her way to Colorado. She has worked at a few different ceramic studios processing work, reclaiming clay, engaging with the community, and teaching all different styles of making. She's excited to see more of what happens behind the scenes in her role as program coordinator. In her free time, Codey enjoys working in her studio or hanging out with her wife and three dogs: Jedi, Oli, and Nox.

Email: codey.d@groundworksartlab.org

Amelia Dickerson (she, her, hers)
Program Coordinator

Amelia loves to figure out how to create and build in the middle of messes her whole life, although she’s generally not had any formal training in it. One of her best inventions was take a sliding screen door that always popped out of its track and to hang it from some hinges and create a latch from the magnet in a toothbrush. She is thrilled to be in a setting where people appreciate that sort of way of operating. She also enjoys reading and writing, running, and feeding the three animals who occupy her life. One of the best feelings for her is experiencing the joy and wonder of animals on a good walk, cuddled in her lap, or working in the garden.

Email: amelia.d@groundworksartlab.org

Grace Flaherty (she, her, hers)
Program Coordinator

Grace began taking classes at Groundworks when she was six years old and as the studio allowed, she was in as many as three clay classes a week. Her first wheel teacher was our Artistic Director, Aaron Winston. She spent as much time in the studio as possible before beginning work as a TA, youth instructor, and eventually as a studio assistant. Through this work, Grace discovered a passion for operations and 'how the stuff gets done’. Since graduating from CU Boulder with a degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Operations Management and Marketing in 2025, she has taken on program coordinating. Outside of the studio Grace loves to ski, hike, and swim.

Email: grace.f@groundworksartlab.org

Jax Perna (they, he, she)
Volunteer Coordinator and Receptionist

Jax discovered printmaking during their days at SUNY Purchase College in Westchester, New York - here is where they honed their focus on the various printmaking processes such as screen-printing, woodblock printing, and intaglio etching. They worked as the Lead Studio Assistant in their undergraduate print studio for the majority of their schooling, and through this position they honed skills such as studio management, organization, scheduling, and general support for others. After transitioning to Colorado in 2019, the pandemic had a huge impact on Jax’s artistic career. They learned artwork can be made solely to be enjoyed, and eagerly wanted to find a community to share this with. In their quest to find an artistic community, Jax discovered Groundworks Art Lab through their older sister, who was teaching pottery classes at the time. Jax started off volunteering as a Teaching Assistant in the printmaking department, then made their way up to working as an Instructor, and most recently finalized their position as Volunteer Coordinator and Receptionist. When they’re not working in the studio, Jax can be found camping in the mountains, enjoying live music, or relaxing at home with their partner and cat.

Email: jax.p@groundworksartlab.org

Kathy Day (she, her, hers)
Administrative Coordinator

Kathy has a BA in Fashion and Textiles, but went the route of finance for most of her career.  After graduation, she moved to Alaska, and enjoyed the beauty of being outdoors on the rivers and trails on boats and snowmobiles.  Colorado called, and she has lived in this state since the late 1990's.  After being introduced to pottery, she took many classes, began volunteering with Groundworks Art Lab, and after retiring, started working part time for Groundworks.  In her free time, she enjoys hiking, quilting, reading and spending time with friends.  

Email: kathy.d@groundworksartlab.org

Taylyn Carrizal (she, they)
Marketing Associate

Taylyn's background in healthcare has shaped her deep appreciation for hearing people's stories and learning what motivates them in life. Her drive to make a difference leads her to marketing, where she seeks to connect individuals with brands and organizations that can enhance their lives. Taylyn is particularly drawn to social media marketing, recognizing its power for creativity and community-building. Groundworks Art Lab embodies those same qualities, and she is thrilled to contribute to their growth.

Email: taylyn.c@groundworksartlab.org

Aio Sowa (they, them)
Clay Studio Assistant

Aio has lived a lot of lives…and is loving their current one most of all. Professional skier and chef; undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies at CU Boulder with an emphasis on food systems and energy; graduate degree in Environmental Policy at DU with an emphasis in active transportation; entrepreneur; and artist. Their art experience begins at a young age with classes in ceramics, photography, wood shop, and an apprenticeship to a cabinetmaker. The many distractions of life kept them busy for a while after that but they returned wholeheartedly in 2017 when they found artistic inspiration after some major shifts. It began with ink on paper…fluid visualization…and continues to deepen in multiple disciplines with ceramics always at the forefront. Aio is overjoyed to play a small part of this amazing group and looks forward to growing their practice—and their community—at Groundworks Art Lab. When they are not creating art (or helping others do the same), you will find them frolicking in nature with their people, fixing something, or rendering fat for their latest venture.

Email: aio.t@groundworksartlab.org

Carissa Graziosa (she, her, hers)
Clay Studio Assistant

Drawn to clay as a teenager, Carissa discovered early on how the material could mirror and support her inner world. Now studying Art Therapy at Naropa University, her creative practice is deeply intertwined with meditation and mindfulness. Each piece she creates reflects a quiet dialogue between presence, process, and the grounding nature of earth. Witnessing students grow and play with clay has been a deeply fulfilling part of her journey, reinforcing her belief in art as a space for healing, exploration, and connection. She is currently a teaching assistant and studio technician.

Email: carissa.g@groundworksartlab.org

Ella Mernyk (they, she)
Clay Studio Assistant

Email: ella.m@groundworksartlab.org

Luna Reid (she, her, hers)
Clay Studio Assistant

Luna is a Boulder native and grew up taking pottery classes at the lab, with Aaron being her first wheel teacher. After moving away for some time, she is happy to be back at Groundworks and part of the community, again. Through teaching and studio assisting at Groundworks Art Lab, she's enjoyed connecting with people from a variety of backgrounds and having the chance to make a positive impact on the community. Outside of Groundworks Art Lab, she is studying for the LSAT with hopes to attend law school in the fall of 2026, after completing her degree in mass communication and minor in digital media literacy. When she's not at the studio or studying, you can find her at the gym, reading, or cooking--her book rec of the year is The Solitude of Prime Numbers by Paolo Giordani. 

Email: luna.r@groundworksartlab.org

Nora Blair (she, her, hers)
Clay Studio Assistant

Nora was born and raised in Boulder, CO and has been attending pottery classes at Groundworks since she was 8 years old. She has been teaching ceramics to youth students since early high school and is incredibly passionate about providing kids with the same space and creative outlet that she was given as a child through pottery. Her focus in ceramics is large form wheel pieces and hand built figures. Outside of pottery, Nora is a student at University of Colorado Boulder, studying Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and Economics, and loves spending her free time outside in nature.

Email: nora.b@groundworksartlab.org

Justin Gray (he, him, his)
Events and Exhibits Coordinator

Justin has been a Boulder resident for over 20 years. He was born and raised in West Virginia, but is happy to call Colorado home. Art has always been a huge factor and importance in his life and he is so happy to be surrounded by it in a day to day atmosphere.
After working with Graphic Design, Justin fell into the fitness community and he has coached individuals and clients for the past 15 years. He has always kept a space for creativity and he is so happy to have part of the art community to be a part of his profession. Justin enjoys spending time with his nieces, tennis, staying active and is a huge movie buff.

Email: justin.g@groundworksartlab.org