Museum of International Folk Art facts for kids
| MOIFA | |
Museum of International Folk Art
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| Established | 1953 |
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| Location | Santa Fe, New Mexico |
| Type | Folk art |
| Collection size | >135,000 artifacts |
| Public transit access | Santa Fe Trails (bus) |
The Museum of International Folk Art (MOIFA) is a special museum in Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA. It's run by the state and is part of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs. This museum is famous for having the world's largest collection of international folk art. Folk art is art made by ordinary people, often using traditional skills and materials from their culture.
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History of the Museum
The Museum of International Folk Art was started by a woman named Florence Dibell Bartlett. She wanted to share beautiful art from different cultures with everyone. The museum first opened its doors in 1953.
The original building was a gift from Florence Bartlett to the state. It was designed by a well-known New Mexico architect, John Gaw Meem. Since it opened, the museum has become famous around the world.
Today, the museum has more than 135,000 amazing art pieces. These items are shown in four main areas, called wings: the Bartlett Wing, the Girard Wing, the Hispanic Heritage Wing, and the Neutrogena Collection.
Explore the Museum's Wings
The Museum of International Folk Art has different sections, each with its own unique focus.
The Girard Wing
The Girard Wing is very popular, especially with kids! It features an exhibition called Multiple Visions: A Common Bond. This exhibit shows folk art, toys, and textiles from over 100 countries.
A famous architect and designer named Alexander Girard designed this special exhibit. He also donated many of the items. You can see toys, dolls, costumes, masks, and many types of fabric art here. Since it opened in 1982, over a million people have visited this fun and colorful wing. It's a great place to find old favorites or discover new treasures.
The Neutrogena Collection
The Museum's Neutrogena Collection was given to the museum in 1995. It was donated by Lloyd Cotsen, who used to be the CEO of the Neutrogena company. This collection has more than 2,500 textiles, pottery, and carved items from all over the world.
The Hispanic Heritage Wing
The Hispanic Heritage Wing opened in 1988. At that time, it was the only place in New Mexico especially for Spanish and Hispanic art. This wing was updated and reopened in 2009. It continues to highlight Hispanic folk art from New Mexico and other places.
The Bartlett Wing
The Bartlett Wing is named after the museum's founder, Florence Dibell Bartlett. This wing often changes its exhibitions. It shows different art forms and traditions from the museum's collections. Past exhibits have included art from Turkey, Tibet, and Sweden. They have also shown art from the New Deal era in New Mexico, recycled objects, and special pottery called mayólica.
Museum Location and Events
The Museum of International Folk Art is located on Museum Hill in Santa Fe. Every July, the museum hosts the International Folk Art Market| Santa Fe [1]. This is a big event where artists from around the world sell their folk art.
The Museum of International Folk Art shares Milner Plaza with another state museum, the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture. Nearby, you can also find the private Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian, the Museum of Spanish Colonial Art, and the Santa Fe Botanical Garden.
See also
- Mingei International Museum of World Folk Art, California
- Sallie Wagner
