Our Blog
June 2 Electronics Meetup Notes
Written by Instructor Paul A few people brought another interesting week of applications to Thursday’s meetup. First were three new meetup visitors: a tech retiree looking for some new challenges, a custom builder who specializes in copying complex structures big… View Article
This week: Two Electronics Meetups for the Price of One!
Written by our very own electronics instructor, Paul! This week felt like two meetups for the price of one, featuring some of the most amazing projects we’ve seen so far. First was Española GloveWorks, an incredible organization that not only… View Article
Introducing our Resident Makers!
We’re thrilled to announce the three makers joining Make Santa Fe this summer as our 2026 Maker in Residence cohort. This cycle brings together two very different projects, but both share something that defines the spirit of this program: they… View Article
There’s certainly no shortage of amazing electronics projects around Make lately!
Written by our very own electronics instructor, Paul! Well, there’s certainly no shortage of amazing electronics projects around Make lately. This week’s meetup started with advanced rotor and stator designs for Charles and Kevin’s DIY wind turbine generator. Their creativity… View Article
‘Been a long time coming’
Original Article: https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/city-of-santa-fe-to-vote-on-lease-for-visual-arts-center-at-midtown-campus/article_796b715e-d173-441d-b74e-1142d8500aec.html By Carinajulig cjulig@sfnewmexican.com City to vote on lease for visual arts center, potentially paving way for $28M midtown development. More than two and a half years after entering into an exclusive negotiation agreement with a coalition called… View Article
Institute of American Indian Arts and Santa Fe Art Institute Collaborate on Transatlantic Rising Stars Project Artist Residency
Original Article: https://nativenewsonline.net/arts-entertainment/institute-of-american-indian-arts-and-santa-fe-art-institute-collaborate-on-transatlantic-rising-stars-project-artist-residency/ The Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) is pleased to announce its collaboration with the Santa Fe Art Institute (SFAI) through the Transatlantic Rising Stars Project (TRSP), known as Transatlantic Stars, a three-year initiative of the European… View Article Institute of American Indian Arts and Santa Fe Art Institute Collaborate on Transatlantic Rising Stars Project Artist Residency
Original Article: https://iaia.edu/iaia-sfai-transatlantic-rising-stars-residency/ by Levi Rickert | May 2, 2026 The Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) has announced a new collaboration with the Santa Fe Art Institute through the Transatlantic Rising Stars Project, a three-year initiative led by the European… View Article
Make Santa Fe launches three-month fellowship program mixing craft, art, engineering
Boldness. Audacity. And failure. Those are three of the words James Johnson, the executive director of Make Santa Fe, uses to describe what he hopes to see emerge from his organization’s new maker-in-residence program, which will offer three-month fellowships to builders, designers and creative technologists working on a specific project.
Philosophy on the Organization of the Makerspace
Over the past two weeks, Make Santa Fe staff and volunteers completed one of the biggest upgrades our space has seen. In anticipation of turning 10, and largely out of necessity, we closed the doors and spent two weeks over the holidays upgrading and improving the space.
Making Skills Visible: How Make Santa Fe Supports Career Pathways
Recently, Make Santa Fe was featured on Job Hunt New Mexico to talk about a challenge we see every day: many people have the creativity, curiosity, and drive to build things but don’t always have access to the tools, training,… View Article
Creative Mornings @ Make Santa Fe
Last week, Make Santa Fe hosted Creative Mornings Santa Fe, and our executive director, James, shared a talk on why failure isn’t the problem—it’s the process. He explored the difference between “work mode” (producing) and “creative mode” (exploring), and offered five… View Article
2025 Annual Report
Letter for Executive Director Dear Makers & Community, As I’ve been compiling our 2025 annual report it’s become clear that MAKE Santa Fe is growing up. I’ve been amazed at the amount of work our small staff has been able… View ArticleAnnual Report: 2025 Letter from the Executive Director
Dear Makers & Community, As I’ve been compiling our 2025 annual report it’s become clear that MAKE Santa Fe is growing up. I’ve been amazed at the amount of work our small staff has been able to accomplish. In 2025… View Article
We Make Because
Every day at Make Santa Fe, I watch something remarkable happen: someone walks through our doors and makes something that didn’t exist. They exercise creativity, passion, grit, and determination to invent and make. They do this because they want to,… View Article
Looking Back Just Three Years Ago
What are we doing today that will define Make Santa Fe over the next 3 years? Recently, during a trip down memory lane, I looked back at some old photos from when I started as Executive Director just three years ago. Back then, programs like 24-hour access, monthly badge classes, and standardized teacher pay didn’t exist. Our Ceramics, Blacksmithing, Leatherworking, and CNC shops didn’t exist. We didn’t even have access to the whole building! So much has changed in 3 years, it’s hard to imagine the impact it’s had on Santa Fe and the creatives that utilize Make.
A Generous Gift: Bringing the Fadal VMC 15XT to Life at Make Santa Fe
This summer, Make Santa Fe received an extraordinary gift from Will Putnam: a Fadal VMC 15XT vertical machining center. This industrial-grade CNC mill represents a huge leap forward for our community’s capacity to prototype, fabricate, and create with precision. Will’s donation is not just a machine—it’s an investment in empowering makers across Santa Fe.
‘Maker nerd paradise’: MAKE Santa Fe celebrates community at Saturday race
Original Article: https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/maker-nerd-paradise-make-santa-fe-celebrates-community-at-saturday-race/article_8d327af3-3b50-4087-b803-6974ad88b0cc.html Written by: André Salkin asalkin@sfnewmexican.com Jul 5, 2025 The miniature shopping cart, toting a plastic baby and various fake food items, screeched to a halt about halfway down the racetrack. The drag-racing cart dubbed “The Grocery Grabber”… View Article
How do I Make a Powertool Racer?!
Are you looking to build a power tool racer? Well, look no further. Here are some basic designs and plans to help get you started! Each racer has advantages and disadvantages. Components and techniques can be mixed and matched, and each can be modified to make it your own!
2024 Annual Report
Letter from the Executive Director Dear Makers, Wow, what a year it’s been! Reflecting on 2024, I’m struck by the incredible momentum we’ve generated for Make Santa Fe. This year, we broke records in membership, class attendance, donations, and community… View Article
