Have you ever glanced up at the presidents at Mount Rushmore National Memorial and considered how much work went into carving their profiles?

Have you ever taken that thought a step further, and wondered whether you could sculpt something (albeit, something much, much smaller)?

Well, during the month of September the memorial's sculptor-in-residence will be leading workshops in sculpting with clay on Thursdays and Saturdays.

The workshops will take place in the historic former studio of Gutzon Borglum, the sculptor of Mount Rushmore. Leading the classes will be  Dustin Baker, a park ranger and Mount Rushmore’s sculptor-in-residence. 

Mr. Baker is a professional artist and will provide personalized advice on how to create your own sculpture from the early stages to completion.  Artists of all skill levels and ages are welcome to register.  The workshop is designed to be educational and entertaining, allowing participants to explore their own creativity, with Mount Rushmore National Memorial serving as an inspirational backdrop.

The workshops are free of charge, including tools and materials. Classes begin at 11:30 a.m. and end at 3:45 p.m.   There are only eight spaces available for each workshop and registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis.

It is strongly encouraged that anyone who registers be able to attend all four hours, and participants may keep their sculpture if they attend the entire session.  Participants should be prepared to be outside and to endure periods of standing.

For more information call (605) 574-3181, and leave a message for Mr. Baker.  Same-day registrations will be accepted at the Information Center at Mount Rushmore.