A group of art students and a professor took a trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico to visit various artists and studios this fall break.
Students got to visit with Frank Morbillo and Bill Weaver, who are both masters at metal casting and fabrication, as well as tour Shidony Foundry. The trip also included an excursion on Canyon Road where over 60 galleries are located.
Morbillo and Weaver are both represented at Craighead-Green Gallery in Dallas, as well as other galleries in Santa Fe and several other locations.
Geoff Broderick, associate professor of the department of art and design, offered his advanced sculpture class the opportunity to tour some studios and a chance to interact with professional sculptors.
“Santa Fe is where I lived and worked before coming to ACU,” Broderick said.
Broderick used to work at Shidony Foundry, where artists from all over the country came and got their bronze sculptures cast.
“We visited the foundry where I was employed,” Broderick said. “We then toured and visited the eight acre of large outdoor sculptures outside of the foundry.”
Kaitlyn Brown, senior art major from Garland, said that it was a great way to make connections.
“It’s an artsy city, and it’ll be a good way to network,” Brown said.
Students were allowed into the studio to talk with the artists and were given great advice.
“In one gallery, the director introduced the students to a couple of art buyers,” Broderick said. “They describe what impacted them when observing various types of art work”
Brown also said that she was surprised to see so many people willing to go, especially because it was during fall break.
Santa Fe is the third-largest art market in the U.S., giving students the chance to visualize life in art after college.
“This trip allowed the students to observe potential career work settings,” Broderick said.
Though this is not a requirement for the class, Broderick said that he is willing to do it again.
“The trip was a success, and I would consider doing it again with advanced students.”
