North of Santa Fe [1] in the village of Tesuque, the bronze foundry Shidoni (Bishop’s Lodge Rd., 505/988-8001, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Mon.–Sat.) has been active since 1972. The main attraction is two large gardens full of metalwork sculpture. The gardens are open from sunrise to sunset every day, but if you want to see the foundry in action, show up at noon on a weekday or anytime between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday.
Immediately adjacent, Tesuque Glassworks (Bishop’s Lodge Rd., 505/988-2165, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. daily) has been operating almost as long, since 1975. It functions as a co-op, with a whole range of glass artists using the furnace and materials and displaying their work in the small gallery. To get to Tesuque, head north out of Santa Fe [1] on Washington Avenue, which becomes Bishop’s Lodge Road; Shidoni will be on the left side of the street.
Definitely in the museum-quality category is Peyton Wright (237 E. Palace Ave., 505/989-9888, 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Mon.–Sat.), a large house where one-off shows deal in modern American masters (need a Marsden Hartley for your foyer?) as well as Old World treasures that look as if they’ve been culled from a czar’s forgotten vault.
For quite the opposite feel, lighten up at Chuck Jones Studio Gallery (135 W. Palace Ave., 505/983-5999), where you can see original cels and sketches from early Disney films as well as more recent animated hits such as SpongeBob SquarePants and The Simpsons. Or you can just chill out and watch the good stuff on TV.
Links:
[1] http://www.moon.com/destinations/santa-fe-taos-albuquerque/santa-fe