Poeh Museum facts for kids
| Nah Poeh Meng | |
2005 photo
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| Established | 1988 |
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| Location | Pojoaque, New Mexico |
| Type | Native American art museum |
The Poeh Museum is located in Pojoaque, New Mexico, U.S.A. Its name comes from the Tewa word poeh, which means "pathway." This museum focuses on the amazing art and culture of the Puebloan peoples, especially the Tewa tribes in northern New Mexico.
The Pojoaque Pueblo founded the museum in 1987. It is housed inside the Poeh Center. The museum often changes its exhibits, and it also has a large collection of permanent artworks. It collects and shares oral histories from Tewa elders, telling stories about their lives in both Tewa and English.
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Where to Find the Museum
The Poeh Museum is located right off Highway 84. It is close to the Pojoaque Pueblo's Cities of Gold Casino and Hotel. The museum is about 16 miles away from Santa Fe.
The Museum's Story
The Pojoaque Pueblo started the Poeh Museum in 1987. Its main goal is to share and celebrate the art and culture of the Pueblo people. This includes their history from before Europeans arrived up to today.
Building the Poeh Center, where the museum is now, began in 1992. Money for the center came from gaming revenue. The building was finished in 2003. Other groups also helped fund the museum's growth.
About the Poeh Center
The museum is part of the Poeh Center. This center is well-known for its traditional pueblo style and building methods. The Poeh Center also has the Poeh Arts educational program. It includes the Poeh Tower Gallery and offices. The Poeh Tower is the tallest adobe building in New Mexico.
The main part of the museum is entered through a narrow, cave-like hallway. A small water channel runs through the entire exhibit area. The gallery has a modern security system and a special climate control system. In 2000, Harvard University gave the Poeh Center an award. This was to recognize its work in bringing back and sharing Pueblo culture.
What You Can See: Collections
The museum has about 600 historical items. These include paintings, jewelry, pottery, textiles, and sculptures. They range from pieces made before Europeans came to modern works. Many pieces are by local artists. Young artists from the six Tewa-speaking tribes also contribute. This helps students in the Poeh Arts Program learn about their culture.
One exhibit shows figurines dressed in animal skins. They are in a snowy landscape with hunting tools like spears. These unique figurines were made by Roxanne Swentzell, a local clay sculptor.
The museum's main exhibit is called Nah Poeh Meng. This means "Along the Continuous Path" in Tewa. It tells the history of the Pueblo people from their own point of view. It shows their journey from ancient times to modern life. This exhibit opened in 2005. It uses sculptures by Roxanne Swentzell and murals by Marcellus Medina. Instead of text, the exhibit uses visual art to tell the story. You can also hear recorded information in seven different languages. These include Tewa, Tiwa, Towa, Keresan, Zuni, Spanish, and English.
Di Wae Powa (They Come Back): Historic Tewa Pottery
In 2012, the Poeh Cultural Center started talking with the National Museum of the American Indian. They wanted to bring Tewa pottery back to its homeland. These pots had been part of the Smithsonian Institution's collection.
In 2019, 100 pots were brought to the Poeh Museum. They are now on a long-term loan. These pots came from six Tewa pueblos: Nambé, Ohkay Owingeh, Santa Clara, Pojoaque, San Ildefonso, and Tesuque. The pots had been collected by private people and museums in the mid-1800s to early 1900s. Now, these pots are on display at the Poeh Museum.
Museum Services
The museum's collections are used for teaching and research by students. The museum works with many other institutions. These include the Southwest Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA) and the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture.
You can also access the museum's archives and photos online. This helps with classroom learning. The archive has about 10,000 photographs. They show everything from early prints to modern Pueblo life. The museum also offers weaving classes.
To help local artists, the museum provides free studio space. Any Native American artist can use it. The museum often hosts art demonstrations and traditional dance festivals. The museum gift shop sells art and gifts unique to Pueblo culture.
