Exhibiting Artist

A fiber artist whose specialty is handwoven wool and mohair home accessories and wearables, Tomi is widely recognized as an accomplished weaver and teacher. She has marketed her work nationally through galleries and craft fairs. Wachovia Bank, RJ Reynolds, and Bowman Gray School of Medicine among others have collected her wall pieces. Her pillows have been shown in House Beautiful and Home magazines. Tomi holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art Management from Salem College and has been honored with a PCI Sherpa Award.

Tomi Melson passed away April 2, 2026. She was an Exhibiting Member since 1973,  Executive Director from 1999-2005, and received a Life Membership in 2022.

Tomi’s Obituary:

Tommie Yvonne Melson was born in Sun Valley, California on December 19, 1948. She was daughter to parents Perry and Randy Melson, and for many years beloved stepdaughter to Larry Joseph. She leaves behind husband, Sam Sanger; brother, Dan Melson of Palmdale, CA; sister, Julie Gantt of Kingston, WA; a cousin, Micki Gilheany of Visalia, CA; and sister-in-law, Meredythe Sanger of Winston-Salem, NC; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Tomi attended the NC School of the Arts in modern dance and later became a professional hand weaver. It was during that period she owned and operated Loth Lorian, a handmade wearables store. She was deeply involved in the arts and crafts community in Winston Salem and subsequently became a member of Piedmont Craftsmen, a guild of makers of fine craft.

After working for many years as a hand weaver, Tomi found a new path as an arts administrator. She returned to school and earned a degree in Arts Management from Salem College. Major milestones include Director of the High Point Arts Council’s Theatre Art Galleries; Assistant Director of the Sawtooth School for Visual Art; Executive Director of Piedmont Craftsmen, which later honored her with a life membership. She finished her working career as Director of Development and Community Relations for Second Harvest Food Bank of NW North Carolina.

Throughout and after her working years, she did consulting work for arts and non-profit organizations; grant and board work; art show jurying; and mentoring makers and lovers of fine craft.

Tomi was a tireless advocate for the arts, and for the causes and people she cared about. She was a life-long collector of fine craft and art, dogs and cats (particularly orange ones); and of a wide, diverse, and intricately woven circle of life-long friends who will always remember her loyalty, tenacity, her infectious smile, and generosity of heart and spirit.