Sax Stonecarving - Mark Saxe and Staff Instructors

Mark Saxe

Mark Saxe is the workshop director and owner of Southwest Stoneworks. He has been working with stone for over 30 years. He received his MFA at Instituto Allende in Mexico. He started working with stone as a stonemason's apprentice and since that time has continued a lifelong commitment to exploring the medium. He has worked with English, Irish, and Italian stonecarvers, quarriers, and sculptors, and is currently an adjunct professor in stonecarving at the University of New Mexico. He brings to the workshop his extensive knowledge of stoneworking gathered from his many years operating a full service stoneyard, stonecarving, and fabricating facility. Workshop participants will see how a workshop/studio is set up and see what equipment is necessary and what is superfluous. As Michelangelo said, it is in your studio that you can "think like a god, act like a king, and work like a slave." Through the workshops, Saxe is committed to furthering the traditions of stonecarving and sculpture. His own work is represented in Santa Fe by LewAllen Contemporary, and of course, by Rift Gallery.

Benjamin Lopez

Special GUEST ARTIST
Benjamin is a native northern New Mexico artist who has worked in wood making santos and contemporary sculpture for over 40 years. His influence in the santero tradition in the region has been pivotal in reviving the art form by giving it an exciting relevancy. His work has a wide-sweeping reputation. Ben works in many other mediums as well, and has been a wonderful presence in the past 5 workshops.

Benito Trujillo

Benito is an artist living in Questa, New Mexico. He is a staff assistant during the workshop.

Betsy Williams

Betsy is co-director of the workshops. She lived in Japan for almost five years studying ceramics after having spent five years in New York as a money trader. Now a full-time ceramist, she acts as Rift Gallery director, workshop translator, organizer, chef, trouble shooter, treasurer, and all-around partner.




			Mark Saxe Mark Saxe is the workshop director and owner of Southwest Stoneworks. He has been working with stone for over 30 years. He received his MFA at Instituto Allende in Mexico. He started working with stone as a stonemason's apprentice and since that time has continued a lifelong commitment to exploring the medium. He has worked with English, Irish, and Italian stonecarvers, quarriers, and sculptors, and is currently an adjunct professor in stonecarving at the University of New Mexico. He brings to the workshop his extensive knowledge of stoneworking gathered from his many years operating a full service stoneyard, stonecarving, and fabricating facility. Workshop participants will see how a workshop/studio is set up and see what equipment is necessary and what is superfluous. As Michelangelo said, it is in your studio that you can "think like a god, act like a king, and work like a slave." Through the workshops, Saxe is committed to furthering the traditions of stonecarving and sculpture. His own work is represented in Santa Fe by LewAllen Contemporary, and of course, by Rift Gallery. Benjamin Lopez Special GUEST ARTIST Benjamin is a native northern New Mexico artist who has worked in wood making santos and contemporary sculpture for over 40 years. His influence in the santero tradition in the region has been pivotal in reviving the art form by giving it an exciting relevancy. His work has a wide-sweeping reputation. Ben works in many other mediums as well, and has been a wonderful presence in the past 5 workshops. Benito Trujillo Benito is an artist living in Questa, New Mexico. He is a staff assistant during the workshop. Betsy Williams Betsy is co-director of the workshops. She lived in Japan for almost five years studying ceramics after having spent five years in New York as a money trader. Now a full-time ceramist, she acts as Rift Gallery director, workshop translator, organizer, chef, trouble shooter, treasurer, and all-around partner.