June 9: Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe
the most fun you can have in a museum!
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When I first walked into the Museum of International Folk Art (MoIFA) many years ago, I couldn’t stop smiling. It was like entering a landscape of joyful play and cross cultural creativity. It continues to be one of my favorite museums ever. If you’re in Santa Fe I highly recommend putting it at the top of your list.
The setting is beautiful – MoIFA sits atop Museum Hill across from its counterpart, the Museum of Indian Art and Culture. From the plaza that stretches out between the two museums, you get a spectacular view of the foothills of the Sangre de Cristos mountains.
When you enter MoIFA, you’ll first pass by a gift shop and a bookstore. Both are wonderful in their own right and it would be easy to get sidetracked here, but keep going! Begin by heading into the Alexander Girard wing, which is kind of like what would happen if Disney’s “It’s a Small World” ride was turned into an exhibit with actual creations from people all around the globe. This wing of the museum holds more than 106,000 objects lovingly collected and arranged by Alexander Girard, who was a folk art connoisseur. It’s quite a sight to behold – dioramas feature figures, toys, masks, textiles, and structures made by artists from Peru, India, Spain, Thailand, Mexico, Indonesia, and dozens of other countries. You and your imagination will get blissfully lost in here!
The Girard wing is the only permanent part of the museum, the other three wings host rotating exhibits that are always fascinating. As of this writing and until November 2024, the Hispanic Heritage Wing is home to a wildly psychedelic collection of cartonería from Mexico – paper art creations that can be small in scale but also so large as to fill up close to an entire room of the gallery.
The museum is host to many wonderful special events throughout the year. One of my favorites is the Dia de los Muertos celebration in early November. On your way out, definitely do make time for the gift store and book shop. I can almost guarantee you’ll want to bring something home to remind you of this whimsical and fun visit!
