kids encyclopedia robot

Museum of Indian Arts and Culture facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Museum of Indian Arts and Culture/Laboratory of Anthropology
Museum of Indian Arts and Culture, Santa Fe NM.jpg
Museum of Indian Arts and Culture
Established 1927
Location Santa Fe, New Mexico
Type Anthropology museum
Laboratory of Anthropology
Museum of Indian Arts and Culture is located in New Mexico
Museum of Indian Arts and Culture
Location in New Mexico
Museum of Indian Arts and Culture is located in the United States
Museum of Indian Arts and Culture
Location in the United States
Location 708 Camino Lejo, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Area less than one acre
Built 1931 (1931)
Architect John Gaw Meem
Architectural style Spanish Pueblo Revival
NRHP reference No. 83001630
Significant dates
Added to NRHP July 12, 1983

The Museum of Indian Arts and Culture is a special place in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It's a museum where you can explore the amazing art and rich cultures of Native American people. This museum is one of eight museums in New Mexico run by the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs. It is also part of the Museum of New Mexico system.

The museum works hard to show southwestern Native American cultures in a way that is true and respectful. They aim to work closely with the Native communities of the area. The current director is Dr. Matthew Martinez, from Ohkay Owingeh.

Discovering Native American Art and History

The Museum of Indian Arts and Culture has many different collections. These collections include textiles, pottery, baskets, and jewelry from the Southwest. They also have modern art and items that show daily life from a long time ago in New Mexico.

Caring for Ancient Finds

The museum is also responsible for taking care of all artifacts found on state-owned land. These are items from archaeological digs. The museum's Archaeological Research Collection holds millions of these artifacts. Many of these items are stored in "bulk" collections. This means they are grouped together rather than each one being counted separately.

Exploring Museum Exhibitions

The museum often changes its temporary exhibitions. These shows use items from the museum's own collections. There are also some long-term exhibitions that you can always see.

Painted Reflections: Ancestral Pueblo Pottery

This exhibition shows ancient pottery from the 800s up to today. You can see how artists used both painted designs and unpainted spaces to create cool optical illusions. It makes the pottery look like it has different textures and depths.

Clearly Indigenous: Native Visions in Glass

This display features beautiful glass artwork by 33 different artists. It also highlights Dale Chihuly, a famous artist who helped bring glass art to Native American communities. He opened the first "hot shop" (a place where glass is shaped with heat) at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe in 1974.

The Buchsbaum Gallery of Southwestern Pottery

This gallery has almost 300 ceramic pots. These were made by artists from the Pueblos of New Mexico and Arizona. The pottery ranges from some of the very first pots made in the Southwest to pieces created recently.

Here, Now & Always: A Permanent Exhibition

This major exhibition explores the Native communities of the Southwest. It also looks at the challenging landscapes they live in. Here, Now & Always includes over 1,300 objects from the museum's collection. It also features poetry, stories, songs, and expert discussions. This exhibition is currently being updated and is planned to reopen in July 2022.

See also

kids search engine
Museum of Indian Arts and Culture Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.