Sculpting in Spa Culture

By Kyle Roderick

As with fine art, all great spas nurture our physical, emotional, and spiritual realms.  As it happens, however, most spas are devoid of original fine art and culturally enriched programming. Rancho La Puerta, in Tecate, Mexico, blooms in vivid contrast to the cultural aridity of most spas. Here, guests can study with world-renowned sculptor Victor Hugo Castañeda, who visits the Ranch twice a year for two weeks at a time. Found in major museum collections around the world, Castañeda's powerfully sensual and dignified bronzes are permanently displayed at Rancho La Puerta.

In his classes, Castañeda works on a sculpture that is based on the live female model who poses before him and the students. Castañeda uses plastilene clay, which is clay powder mixed with oil and wax instead of water. Everyone is able to work by observing the model and by watching Castañeda sculpt. Because he does not speak English, guests literally learn with their own eyes, hands, and imaginations. Four classes are offered a week and each one lasts two hours. “The creative possibilities are huge,” says Rancho La Puerta artist-in-residence Jennifer Brandt. “Guests may continue working on their sculpture outside of class time, at whatever time they please.”

Most guests usually complete a small sculpture. It is not fired, so the work is left at the Ranch. “Our sculpture workshops present a learning opportunity for our guests to deepen artistic imaginations and gifts,” says Deborah Szekeley, who founded Rancho La Puerta and has been collecting the work of Castañeda and other artists for decades. “When people access their creative imaginations, they gain self-knowledge and experience renewal,” she says. “Studying with a master such as Victor Hugo Castañeda is also gratifying for anyone who wants to enhance their knowledge,” says Victoria Larrea, who coordinates special programs at the Ranch.

Brandt, who leads a weekly art tour around the Ranch property, notes that Castañeda's sculptures of women are “physical meditations on the feminine principle; expressions of nurturing, creative, powerful womanhood.” Small, limited edition and beautiful bronzes by Castañeda are also for sale in the Ranch's Mercado gift shop.

For those who want to work with clay and wax to create a bust and receive spoken art instruction in English, there is also the option of taking a special workshop with Marianne Groh, who comes to the Ranch twice a year, one week at a time. Groh, another accomplished artist whose works are found in important collections, offers classes five days a week for two hours daily. Guests first learn how to make the eyes, nose, ears, and mouths separately. Then Groh leads them in creating the bust. To check scheduling for sculpture workshops, visit www.rancholapuerta.com.

November/December 2006