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ESSENTIAL GUIDE ARTISTS
The Artists of Dixon, Rinconada, and Embudo Welcome You



Do you love art? If you do, you'll love meeting artists too. We are a group of Embudo Valley artists whose work is included in the Essential Guide 2007-2008 issue. We invite you to our studios and galleries, so take this self-guided tour any time of year. Some artists keep regular hours and some ask that you call to make an appointment. A telephone number is listed for each studio.* For general information, call Rift Gallery at (505) 579-9179 or stop by in person here at the gallery, or at Good Thunder Batik, Rare Earth Studio, or Vivac Winery (all on the main highway).



While it might look like there's nothing much going on here in our small, sleepy town, visitors travelling between Santa Fe and Taos (sometimes unwittingly, sometimes intentionally) step into this whirlwind of activity we call home. There are many artists busily working away in their studios, nestled in amongst apple orchards and farmers' fields.



There are several nearby eateries and a handful of cozy B&B's in town, so if you're a real adventurer, consider a weekend stay! There are plenty of places to hike and fish, and any of the artists mentioned here will be happy to offer more information. Stop in at the Dixon Cooperative Market for a soda and a snack and a little gossip, and pick up a copy of the New York Times on Sunday mornings. While you're out and about, tune in to the local radio station KLDK 96.5FM to hear a little homegrown news and some fine music programs. Just make sure you have a full tank of gas. (The nearest station is Conoco about 7 miles south of Dixon on Highway 68.)

So let's get started!



If you're headed up from Santa Fe, the first place to visit will be Black Mesa Winery, located on the east side of the road, just before you enter the canyon.
505 852-6372
Visit the Black Mesa Winery website

Stretch your legs and continue north with the Rio Grande on your left, and just north of the Dixon turn-off about 2 miles, you'll encounter Rinconada, the up-and-coming arts community that's home to Sopyn's fruit stand. Just past Sopyn's is the studio gallery of batik artist, Gary Fey. Cheerful, brightly colored batiks match Fey's personality well. He's almost always open, so plan to stop in and see his latest work.
505 579-9696
Visit the GOOD THUNDER website

Next, just up the road, you'll find Rare Earth Studio on the east side of the road, on top of the hill next to the Northern New Mexico Health Clinic. Rare Earth Studio Gallery features the work of Sheena Cameron and Joseph Ciaglia. Sheena makes "Messenger Horses," raku and stoneware sculpture, and contemporary jewelry. Ciaglia's specialty is breathtaking panoramic landscape photography. Rare Earth is a working studio/gallery, and usually open long hours.
Call to arrange your visit: 505 579-4500
Visit the Rare Earth website


Just north of the Health Clinic is Rift Gallery. Look for the giant millstone suspended in mid-air. Artist / owner Mark Saxe is a sculptor and partner Betsy Williams is a ceramist. They show their own work here, as well as contemporary art by regional and Japanese artists. Saxe works with basalt, marble, and limestone to form abstract sculptures, and Williams makes original ceramics for use, contemplation, and display. An intensive 7-day stonecarving workshop is held every August at the adjacent Southwest Stoneworks, attracting students from all over the world who are interested in studying with highly accomplished guest carvers and sculptors.
Open Wednesday through Sunday, and by prior appointment: 505 579-9179
Back to our gallery home page


Now, let's get back to the Dixon turn-off, State Highway 75. Look for Vivac Winery on the corner, and be sure to stop in and taste their fabulous wines and pick out a box worth of delicious, and deliciously cute, handmade chocolates!

Head on into Dixon and take a right on CR0066 (just before the Dixon Fire Station). Travel in along the arroyo for about 1/3 of a mile. Keep to the right, and after a small incline turn right into the vineyard-lined driveway leading to MiyA Pottery's charming adobe studio. Miya Endo and her husband Andrew Sanders offer a unique collection of classic domestic functional pottery, specializing in stoneware teapots and dinnerware, and fine Asian-inspired decorative raku. You might get lucky and catch Andrew and Miya at work on the potter's wheel, or even have a chance to witness the magic of raku! Call for schedules.
By appointment: 505 579-4671
Visit MiyA Pottery's website
miyapottery@aol.com

Back on the main road through Dixon, head west into town, and you can't miss the stone building that houses Metier (about 1.5 miles from the turn-off on the main highway), where you'll find weavings, basketry, and work by local artists.
Metier's hours are Tuesday through Sunday from 10 to 5.
Closed during the months of January and February.
For information: 505 579-4111


While you're in town, if you're in the mood for a little more wine tasting, stop in at La Chiripada Winery, just a little farther up the road, on the north side. You'll see the purple sign, and they are open every day. For more information: 505 579-4437


If you're in town during the first full weekend of November, you'd be crazy to miss the Dixon Studio Tour. The tour is a great fall tradition, and is held every year during the first full weekend in November. In 2007, the tour will be November 3 and 4. These and many more artists open their studios to the public during this big event.
For information, please visit the DIXON STUDIO TOUR WEBSITE.

*If you're already here in town, you'll get a powerful cell phone signal in Rinconada, just north of Dixon, and a decent signal right at the turn-off. You can pull over just past the bridge, in the little dirt parking area, and schedule your itinerary. Once you get into Dixon, you'll lose your signal.