New Mexico: from Folk Art to Chimayo

 17-18 May 2022

Museum of International Folk Art

This has nothing to do with the International Folk Art Museum in Santa Fe. It was taken in the lower parking lot for the Santuario de Chimayo but I liked the color of the peppers and the wreath form.
It’s SO cheery! (And, “SO Santa Fe”!)

At the Museum of International Folk Art, we were able to visit three special exhibits as well as the main galleries—Multiple Visions, the Girard Family collection

Special Exhibition: #Mask

New Mexico’s governor sponsored a contest to see who could come up with the most creative mask in the first year of the pandemic. Many of those colorful and creative masks were on display here in a special exhibition but this was the first display you saw as you entered the gallery. I immediately knew what this was since I’ve been enjoying Louise Penny’s Inspector Gamache murder mysteries series! In GLASS HOUSES, the cobrador is interwoven into the current times and is integral to this particular book. Basically, this mask was worn by “plague doctors” who also wore their distinctive leather doctor hats and carried a stick to point to the part of the body that needs to be examined. Inside of the beak of the bird mask were herbs or flowers to help mask the stench as well as neutralize or kill bacteria.
[For more information: Plaque doctor costume ]

Special Exhibition: Yokai

Yokai are Japanese demons, ghosts, or shape shifters and have a very long tradition in Japanese culture. They were the precursors to manga and Pokémon! This was a really interesting display.

When I closed my eyes to go to sleep last night, this was the image I had in my mind’s eye!

Japanese figures compared to modern Pokémon cards

This demon’s human body has been completely absorbed…except for one eye. 
Of COURSE I had to take a photo of it!

Were I to name this guy, I’d be calling him RATFINK. I thought he was so interesting.

Special Exhibition: Dressing for a Purpose

This special exhibit focused on “folk wear” of the Scandinavian countries. The signage told how traditional dress can be a metaphor for progress built on the back of stability. We didn’t have much time in this gallery because we had lunch reservations, but it was of special interest to me because much of it was recognizable. This grouping is the Sami gakti dress of the far north. Most of the Sami people are reindeer herders. My Finnish mom told me about the Sami and gave me a tiny pair of Sami boots made of reindeer hide, complete with the curled-up toes. I also have a miniature Sami woven basket pack, worn like a backpack.

This type of crown might be worn today with a modern wedding dress when a bride marries. It can be decorated as desired, but always features the long ribbons. A cross between the future and the past.

Permanent Collection: Multiple Visions

The Girard family were avid collectors of folk art from all over the world. The Girard wing contains their donation which was used to start this museum. Over one million visitors have seen these pieces. They are varied in what is considered folk art: models, fiber arts, toys/dolls, wheeled toys, masks and lots more are all included. I took a ton of photos in here. I may use some of the primitive stuff as a springboard for future art. Stay tuned…and in the meantime, I hope you can appreciate some of the fine folk art we got to see.

From the MOIFA website: 

What IS folk art? Generally, folk art is ART that:

   -May be decorative or utilitarian

   -May be used every day or reserved for high ceremonies

   -Is handmade; it may include handmade elements, as well as new, synthetic, or recycled components

   -May be made for use within a community of practice or it may be produced for sale as a form of income and empowerment

   -May be learned formally or informally, folk art may also be self-taught

   -May include intangible forms of cultural expression such as dance, song, poetry or foodways

   -Is traditional; it reflects shared cultural aesthetics and social issues. It is recognized that, as traditions are dynamic, traditional folk art may change over time and may include innovations in tradition

   -Is of, by, and for the people; all people, inclusive of class, status, culture, community, ethnicity, gender, and religion

This was the graphic at the beginning of the Girard Collection “Multiple Visions” exhibit. 
Of course, I had to snap a shot!

Russian lacquer box (the box itself is made of compressed cardboard!)

Sailor’s Valentine (I saw these for the first time at the Shell Museum on Sanibel Island!)

For more information on the Museum of International Folk Art: Folk Art

If I lived in Santa Fe, I’d be a Museum member here and go at least once a quarter just for the inspiration!

Sanctuario de Chimayo

The Santuario de Chimayo is a pilgrimage site located in the mountains in Chimayo, NM. In the weeks leading up to Easter, people progress from Taos or Albuquerque to this chapel in Chimayo. They may take home a bit of holy dirt from the chapel’s floor. While no photography was allowed inside the sanctuary, this was one of the most colorful interiors I’ve seen. Large wooden panels were painted with saints and stories from the Bible and were affixed to the walls. The ceiling was wood with typical vegas. I was very disappointed that I couldn’t take some photos. One of my favorite church interiors of all time and the most unique for sure.

If you have a photo or note of someone who needs prayers, you can leave their photo here and they will be prayed for.

After our visit to the shrine, Janet walked us uphill to her friend’s gallery and Chimayo pepper blends stand. I bought some Chimayo pepper and a blend to bring home with me. I used the blend on dinner tonight and now I wish I’d bought more! (This photo was taken on the grounds of the shrine, along a creek, as we were walking back to our car)

Trujillo Weavers of Chimayo

Note the beautiful rug being woven on this walking loom.

Emily and I bonded over our mutual fun with unnatural hair color. She is 8th generation Trujillo weaver and demo’d a small area on her mother’s weaving. There were two looms in this part of the studio; they are walking looms. You step on the treadle, weave, then step on the other treadle. Your feet could be pretty tired after an afternoon of weaving.

I snuck a peak into the office

The Dye Shed

Dinner out at Rancho de Chimayo

Front courtyard

We drive to Foss State Park in Oklahoma—And stop at the Cadillac Ranch outside of Amarillo

Andrew and I stopped at the Cadillac Ranch in 2014 when we were driving cross country together. I was surprised with how taken he was with this place, especially given how much enthusiasm he’d shown for other stops along the old Rt 66 we were following. I made sure Dan got to have this experience as well. One thing I noticed —you couldn’t help but notice—was how much paint had been added to the Cadillacs, and how thick it now is. Given the hot sun in Amarillo, it has bubbled and “melted” and flowed in molten sheets on the cars. One Caddy no longer has interior structures and a young woman was painstakingly taking selfies inside that one!

Vandalizing a Cadillac

This cracked me up. I think Dan must’ve enjoyed this because I never asked him to pose! He just walked right up and stood beside one of the cars. (THAT’S good training!)

What did Dan paint? “JW” 😂

All the angles on the vehicles are now softer and the paint has begun to flow in sheets.
It’s mesmerizing and gross simultaneously. But, COLORFUL.

This might be, like, my third selfie ever.

And now, one more from the Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe

I really enjoyed this Native Shepardess and her sheep and dog. I follow a weaver/shepherd on Instagram and this sculpture reminded me of her!