Silver City is known as an art destination because of all of the many creative people living here—painters, photographers, print makers, clay artists and fiber artists to name a few.
Among them are two outstanding wood artists—both named Mark. Mark Cantrell, Woodcreatures, carves whimsical beings from branches and twigs he finds. Mark Breithaupt, Cholla Cholla Gallery, is a master stone sculptor who now designs functional art from local alligator juniper.
Recently they collaborated on an amazing piece of wood sculpture that brings both types of wood art together.
Mark Breithaupt has an interesting background, working in the mid-90s as a skydiving videographer, fueling his creative process. Next, Breithaupt discovered stone carving and this medium sustained his artistic drive for the next 15 years.
His style developed through abstract forms and evolved through steel, stone and wood, mixed media creations that he sold in the local festivals and galleries around Phoenix, Arizona.
Breithaupt came to Silver City in 2019 to transform a dormant building into his studio and gallery, Cholla Cholla. He began exploring native cholla cactus wood and alligator juniper as mediums of expression.
Alligator juniper evolved into functional tables, sculptures and cholla into craft items. Silver City is a new way of life for Breithaupt, who has always lived in large metropolitan areas.
Mark plans to offer his functional juniper and cholla creations in the 2026 fine art festival circuit starting in Carefree, Arizona. Mark offers his work at the Cholla Cholla Gallery and at Home Furniture.
“A personal description of my art career would include many life-changing events that happened along the way: marriage, divorce, spiritual and healing pursuits,” Breithaupt shares in his artist statement. “They have opened me to a greater understanding of myself and humanity. These experiences would not have come if I had not become an artist. Some of these changes have found expression in my art works. Some have been deep soul shifting experiences
that come when one opens the heart wider to receive more creative energy and instead finds something unexpected beginning to unfold. I did not realize when I became an artist, that art was my quest for truth and wholeness, and in it I would find the realization that there is no truth; truth is a living dynamic that unfolds through the living of life; if you want truth, start living your life. It has also included a journey through both heaven and hell. As J. Krishnamurti said: ‘Truth is a pathless land.’”
Mark Cantrell creates whimsical creatures from tree branches which he calls Woodcreatures. Mark grew up in the woods and fields of Ohio under the heavy influence of Maurice Sendeck and Dr. Suess.
He was struck early on by the folk wood carvings of local artists Elijah Pierce and Martin Tischler. He has also felt the influence of the early Santero and Kachina carvers of the southwest.
Cantrell worked many odd jobs over the years including carpentry, field biology and native plant grower. He taught for 25 years, mostly third grade. His wildlife work was with Hawk Watch International in the Southwest. Cantrell and his wife have had a native plant nursery, Lone Mountain Natives, for 20 years. Now he just carves wood.
Most of his materials are collected while walking his dog. However, his firewood pile is also a common source of art supplies. He cuts no live wood but instead finds the living creature that is already hidden in the found wood. Trees and time have already done most of the work.
“The hope is to glorify the experience of the parent plant, and to release the spirit and story that is already there,” Cantrell said. “It is a collaborative effort. I work with trees.”
“My work is mostly about collaborating with trees,” Cantrell states in his artist statement. “The fact that wood is once living tissue built over periods of time interests me. Added to that is the story the wood itself tells with grains and scars and odd patterns of growth. The material has interacted with the landscape, weather, and time, leaving me with very little to do to improve things. Most of the time I carve without a plan and intuitively move from one thing to the next. In this way, occasionally my own emotions, or the emotions of the surrounding world show up. The hope is that each piece has its own internal narrative going on, and that it somehow reflects personal and shared human experience.”
Mark Cantrell displays and sells his Woodcreatures at the Grant County Art Guild on Bullard Street. Recently the two “Mark”ed Woodsmen collaborated on a large wood sculpture titled “Juniper Spirits.” Located at the Cholla Cholla Gallery an alligator juniper trunk became a life-size Wood Creature. Breithaupt prepared the wood while Cantrell carved his famous woodland faces into it. You have to see it.
For further information: Mark Breithaupt and Mark Cantrell are both members of the Silver City Art Association and are in the SCAA Red Dot Guide.
Mark Breithaupt: www.desertrockcreations.com Facebook is Cholla Cholla Studio.
Mark Cantrell: Instagram @woodcreaturesnm, website www.woodcreaturesnm.com.
