“It’s the work that built us. Legacy isn’t one perfect masterpiece…it’s a mosaic of small, faithful acts of creativity.” — Carlos Martinez, Bokeh Bushido
The third annual Artisans Revolution in Tile Training (A.R.T.), designed for tile pros with 5+ years of experience, introduced a few changes this year but remained focused on its core: teaching mosaic design, templating, pre-mounting, custom work, and image creation. Over five days, 15 installers sharpened their skills, created a 107-piece koi mosaic, and completed two community projects—while forming a close-knit, supportive group.
Sponsored by NTCA, LATICRETE, Daltile, Tile Tools, Gemini Saw, and Inland Craft, the program moved from Dragonfly Tile and Stone Works Milwaukee to Mt. Juliet, Tenn. Dragonfly’s Lee Callewaert and wife Jane — master instructor and organizer respectively — relocated to the state last year. A new space was needed for eight ring saws, eight wet saws, several shapers and workspace for all.
A.R.T. comes to CTEF
Enter the Ceramic Tile Education Foundation (CTEF) space in nearby Mt. Juliet, where the Foundation moved at the end of 2024. This space is designed for training, coursework and education, as well as Certified Tile Installer testing.
“CTEF’s new facility is truly a special place for learning, and we’re proud to welcome programs that preserve and promote ceramic tile installation in all its forms,” said Brad Denny, CTEF Executive Director. “The A.R.T. team brought tremendous energy and passion into our Mount Juliet facility. Their teachers worked hard to transform the space… and made it come alive for the event. Beyond the artistry, the program teaches real-world techniques that help installers elevate their craft, like pre-mounting mosaics for more efficient installations…That’s what makes hosting the A.R.T. program so rewarding — it celebrates that same pursuit of excellence,” he added.
Other changes included the participation of five women in the 15-student class: Paige Pomerene, P2 Customs in Philadelphia; Ashley Singer of Tile Jawn in Phoenixville, Pa.; Melissa Swan, Tilevita in Indian Harbor Beach, Fla.; Mercedes Austin of Minneapolis’ Mercury Mosaics and Sarah Thelen of S. Thelen Construction in Omaha. More than double the number of women from last year were in the 2025 class, a big increase from the single female participant in 2023.
Enthusiasm for the work
What stayed the same was the stellar content and enthusiasm for the work.
“From the minute I walked into the CTEF building…you could feel the energy radiate through the room,” said NTCA Executive Director Bart Bettiga, who was on site Wednesday and Thursday to witness the program and share information about NTCA complementary memberships each participant received. “Instructors and attendees were interacting and engaging with one another, supporting each other, enjoying each other’s company.” He said attendees “were unanimous in their appreciation of the value of the content, and their confidence in their ability to incorporate what they learned into their respective businesses…NTCA is proud to play a significant role in this program.”
Hilary Frank, Vice President Commercial Sales & Business Development of major sponsor Daltile, stopped by the facility the night after treating the group to a sumptuous dinner. For her, one of the joys of the program is seeing the company products — which Daltile donates to the program — transformed by each artisan into unique pieces of art.
Sharon La Riviere, Manager Digital Marketing at LATICRETE International, with Chelsea Hoag, Social Media Specialist and Technical Sales Rep Jack Mullins were on site the entire time, also treating the class to dinner. Ron Nash, President and COO of LATICRETE North America an A.R.T. regular, who missed the event due to a previously-scheduled vacation with his family, called during the Monday morning classroom session from the midst of Oktoberfest in Germany with a message of encouragement and the declaration, “Little tile can save large tile.”
Learning from the masters
Leaders Lee and Jane Callewaert, along with master craftsman Joshua Nordstrom of Tierra Tile in Homer, Alaska, kicked off the event with a classroom session covering the history of the Tile Artisan Movement, the value of viewing projects artistically, and the precision craftsmanship that turns any job into art—mosaic or not. They shared insights on building client relationships, observing personal details to pitch custom work, and marketing through word-of-mouth, social media, 1% for the Arts, and smart pricing.
In the shop, Lee and Nordstrom demonstrated ways to generate designs—using stained glass pattern books, online images, and overlays to fit budgets and communicate complexity. Students learned to template with mylar, tracing paper, or vinyl, and got hands-on experience with saws and shapers. The session wrapped with techniques in premounting and grouting—skills valuable for both mosaics and traditional tile work.
“The amount of practical and technical information shared during this training was outstanding,” said Matt Welner, NTCA Training Department Manager and Technical Trainer, who stopped by on his way to conduct an NTCA training in Indiana. “I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with so many qualified and passionate craftspeople. The energy, professionalism, and pride in workmanship on display were inspiring. Keep up the great work, A.R.T. — it’s making a real impact in our trade.”
Community projects
As attendees finished their projects, they collaborated on a surprise mosaic gift for Gianna Vallefuoco of NTCA Five-Star Vallefuoco Contractors. Gianna led daily mindfulness meditations for the group. The piece was presented to her with heartfelt thanks on the final day.
The group also continued a new tradition—the “Rogue Mosaic.” Inspired by the 2023 class, who repaired a damaged Milwaukee sidewalk with mosaic art, this year’s group created and installed a vibrant Nashville-themed piece, led by Ashley Singer and Paige Pomerene.
Throughout the week, assistant trainers Maria Meyer, Seth Ready, Chris Resti, and Jeff Occhipinti provided expert support, equipment upkeep, and steady encouragement.
Transformation and enthusiasm
It’s not hyperbole to call A.R.T. a life-changing event for the participant. Shawn Barkdull of Snake River Contracting in Aurora, Colo., said, “Experiences like ART…recharge that little spark inside all of us that we sometimes feel detached from. Some may call it the muse. Some may call it the spirit, but creativity expressed as a group is something mystical in nature, and Josh/Lee and the WHOLE crew do a brilliant job of bringing THAT spark to an Inferno.”
Cameron Fulgenzi of Fulgenzi Renovations in Madison, Ala., was encouraged to take the class by fellow Certified Tile Installer friends in his area from last year’s class. He appreciated the time away and freedom to create and learn. “It’s almost like going back to school,” he said, in awe of the knowledge so generously shared. He also was excited about receiving an NTCA membership.
Mercedes Austin heads Mercury Mosaics, a handmade tile maker in Minneapolis. Her goal was to deepen her understanding of the equipment in her shop, admitting that the training allowed her to get “over my fear of working that much on a wet saw to shape a tile that is the size of my thumbnail – I never thought you could do that! I also wanted to learn how to have much longer life for ring saw blades.”
Her respect for installers is immense. “I really respect installers and their technical abilities,” she added. “All the work we’re going to put into [a] project, I want more and more of an in-depth relationship with the installers who are going to take our art and go install it.”
Tommy Flores from Tommy Floors LLC in Pasco, Wash., is excited about bringing mosaics to his area, an enthusiasm which began when he took Angie Re’s class last year that had a focus on hand-nipped mosaic making. The A.R.T. training differed with the precision and detail of the cuts, and knowing what is possible, he said. “There’s a lot more grooves and curves to it…You learn a lot. It just brings your focus back to the details. That’s where the difference is between a true craftsman and somebody who is just trying to get paid.”
Melissa Swan is the owner of high-end remodeling company Tilevita LLC in Indian Harbor Beach, Fla. “This job is my life’s work…so I take it seriously. This is a big part of who I am and the mark I am leaving on the planet.” She said the class pulled her out of a cycle of burnout, saying that there is a “benefit of plucking yourself out of your life to come here to focus.” She felt pampered by the team, and inspired by other installers. The time constraint on the koi project was also valuable, since “there is a time constraint on everything in real life, if you want to make a dollar.”
Swan has a specific goal for learning these mosaic skills. She falls in love with every dog, cat or pet she meets on her clients’ jobs. Unfortunately in the past year, several of those pets have passed. “So every time that happened, I pictured being able to do something for them…making a small mosaic of their pet and I was like, ‘I have no idea how to do that.’ I always had that vision and where I want to go with it. I want to start with that.”
Jordan Butturini owns Blackstone Tile Company in Janesville, Wis. He said the work of Josh and Lee have always amazed and intrigued him. The “whole process of taking [an idea] from sketch to creating it into these mosaic pieces — that was a cool process to see…how they did that,” he said. His plan is to add mosaics to his work and “take everything up a level.”
Lesley Goddin has been writing and journaling since her first diary at age 11. Her journey has taken her through a career in publishing and publicity, landing her the editor position of TileLetter and its special publications in 2006. Her goal is to educate, inspire, recognize and encourage those in the tile industry -- especially the tile and stone contractor.
