Last updated: 4/13/2011
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Street Address
Museum of International Folk Art
On Museum Hill, 706 Camino Lejo
Santa Fe, NM 87505
Mailing Address
P.O.Box 2087
Santa Fe, NM 87504
phone: 505-476-1200
fax: 505-476-1300
e-mail: internationalfolkart@gmail.com
web: www.internationalfolkart.org

Admissions

Youth 16 & under ALWAYS FREE! New Mexico residents with I.D. Free on Sundays; NM resident seniors (60+) free on Wednesdays; NM residents $5. for single museum visit or $15. for a four-day pass for five Museums (Museum of Indian Arts & Culture, Museum of Spanish Colonial Arts, Museum of Fine Arts, Palace of the Governors, Museum of International Folk Art.

Museum Type(s)

Art

Staff

Laura May
phone: 505-476-1203
Deborah Garcia
phone: 505-476-1214
e-mail:
Aurelia Gomez
phone: 505-476-1211
e-mail:
Christine Vitagliano
phone: 505-476-1209
Larry Dalrymple
phone: 505-476-1217
e-mail:
Rosemary Sallee
phone: 505-476-1226
e-mail:
Paul Smutko
phone: 505-476-1216
e-mail:
Jacqueline Duke
phone: 505-476-1207
e-mail:
Patricia Sigala
phone: 505-476-1212
e-mail:
Marsha C. Bol
phone:
Description

The Museum of International Folk Art houses the largest collection of international folk art in the world. Permanent exhibitions include Familia y Fe, an exhibition highlighting Spanish Colonial arts from Colonial to contemporary times; and Multiple Visions: A Common Bond, with folk art, toys and miniatures from more than 100 countries displayed by designer and collector/donor, Alexander Girard. Public programs include lectures, films, artist demonstrations, all age hands-on activities and workshops, and panel discussions.

History

The Museum opened to the public in 1953 and has gained national and international recognition as the home to the world's largest collection of folk art. The collection of more than 130,000 artifacts forms the basis for exhibitions in four distinct wings: Bartlett, Girard, Hispanic Heritage, and Neutrogena.

The Hispanic Heritage Wing introduces the culture of northern New Mexico, and its permanent exhibition, Familia y Fe/Family and Faith, focuses on two of the strongest currents that continue to shape regional life today. Spanning four centuries from the Spanish colonial period to the 20th century, the exhibition presents hide paintings, tinwork, furniture, jewelry, straw appliqué, horse gear, weavings, and santos, three-dimensional bultos and painted retablos.

A changing gallery features artists representing living artistic traditions from vibrant and varied Hispano/Latino cultures.

The Bartlett Wing, named in honor of museum founder Florence Dibell Bartlett, has two galleries that offer rotating exhibitions based on the museum collections and on field studies of specific cultures or art forms. Exhibition in this wing have ranged from Turkish, Tibetan and Swedish traditions to New Deal era art in New Mexico, recycled objects and mayólica. Recent exhibitions include 100 Aspects of the Moon: Japanese Woodblockprints by Yoshitoshi, Dressing Up: Children's Clothes from Around the World and Vernacular Visionaries: International Outsider Art in Context and CARNAVAL!

The Neutrogena Wing encompasses the Cotsen Gallery and Lloyd's Treasure Chest. The gallery provides an ideal setting for exhibitions featuring textiles from the museum's renowned collection which now includes the Neutrogena Collection, a gift to the museum from Lloyd Cotsen and the Neutrogena Corporation in 1995. This international collection contains exquisite textiles and garments as well as objects. The Treasure Chest invites visitors to explore what goes on behind-the-scenes in a museum and attracts all ages. The Neutrogena Wing opened in 1998, expanding upon an ongoing public-private partnership that has characterized the museum's profile since its inception.

Artifact Collections

The museum's holdings represent diverse cultures and constitute the largest collection of international folk art in the world. The core collection donated by museum founder Florence Dibell Bartlett of 2,500 objects from 34 countries has grown to over 130,000 objects from more than 100 countries. The museum collection has been shaped in large part by the generous support of individuals, most notably Alexander and Susan Girard with their gift of 106,000 objects and Lloyd Cotsen's Neutrogena collection of 2,600 textiles and objects. Both gifts brought new wings to the museum for the storage and display of the artwork.

Other significant donations have included Spanish Colonial art from Charles Carroll and the Cady Wells Bequest, the Houghton Sawyer collection of historic Mexican mayólica and the Warren Gilbertson collection of Korean and Chinese ceramics. Gifts of Brazilian folk art from Katarina Real and James Bert Smith and Beej Nierengarten Smith have enhanced this collection area. J. Monroe Thorington's donation contributes to the study of European folk art and the museum is indebted to Else and Joseph Chapman for their recent gift of Japanese woodblock prints.

Also, important collections are occasionally offered for purchase to the museum. With the assistance of museum foundations, curators are able to acquire well-documented collections, such as the Donald Cordry collection of Mexican textiles, costumes and masks, Judy Frater's textiles from India, and a collection of African ironwork from Tom Joyce.

Curators conduct scholarly research on historic and contemporary collections to document and interpret the arts and cultures of people from around the world. When possible, they engage in field research to document objects and traditions in their cultural contexts that serve as a basis for interpretive exhibitions and programs. While conducting field research throughout the world, curators and consultants have the opportunity to purchase

Research Collections

N/A

Educational Programs

Walk -in Tours are offered at 10:15 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays; Thursday through Sunday tours are offered at 10:15 a.m. and 1:00 and 3 p.m. Docent training offered bi-annually, next class to begin in the Fall of 2005, contact Larry Dalrymple (476-1217) for more information. Visit the Web site for the Special event schedule. Curricula available on line, at no cost at: http://www.internationalfolkart.org/eventsedu/curricula.html

Governance

The Museum of International Folk Art is a division of the State Department of Cultural Affairs.

Library
Access: General Public, Students, Scholars
Appointment required: Yes
Publications

The Museum of New Mexico, a sister organization, produces El Palacio

El Palacio
ADA
Wheelchair Accessible
Exhibitions
Museum Events
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