A Gathering of Voices: Folk Art from the Judith Espinar and Tom Dillenberg Collection

Exhibitions

A Gathering of Voices: Folk Art from the Judith Espinar and Tom Dillenberg Collection

A Gathering of Voices: Folk Art from the Judith Espinar and Tom Dillenberg Collection
A Gathering of Voices: Folk Art from the Judith Espinar and Tom Dillenberg Collection

A Gathering of Voices: Folk Art from the Judith Espinar and Tom Dillenberg Collection


December 16, 2018 - September 8, 2019

A Gathering of Voices celebrates the promised gift of the folk art collection of Judith Espinar and Tom Dillenberg. Comprising primarily ceramic traditions from Mexico, Spain, France, Hungary, Morocco, and numerous other countries, the collection also includes rich holdings of New Mexico santos, Latin American retablos, and metalwork, furniture and textiles from around the world. The exhibition brings together the various voices of international cultures and living traditions, through the vision of one collector.

The unique installation of A Gathering of Voices reflects how Espinar has lived with folk art, animating the objects through groupings that guide the viewer to cross-cultural comparisons of certain motifs, forms, or techniques. These “inhabited spaces” are re-created in the gallery, along with deeper investigations of individual artists, their workshops, or the traditions they keep alive.

Judith Espinar was one of the cofounders of the International Folk Art Market, which was established in 2004 and is today the largest event of its kind focused on the work of master folk artists. She previously worked in the fashion industry in New York for more than 30 years, before moving to Santa Fe, where she owned and operated the longtime Santa Fe ceramic store The Clay Angel.

Photo: Addison Doty

2- MOIFA_Espinar_01: Fireplace display in the home of Judith Espinar

2-MOIFA_Espinar_08: View of kitchen, home of Judith Espinar. Photo: Addison Doty

2-MOIFA_Espinar_07: View of living room 2, home of Judith Espinar. Photo: Addison Doty

2-MOIFA_Espinar_06: View of living room, home of Judith Espinar. Photo: Addison Doty

2MOIFA_Espinar_05: New Mexico and Mexican santos, including James Córdova, Frank L. Garcia, Anita Romero Jones and Felix López.

2- MOIFA_Espinar_04: African ceramics, featuring Reinata Sadimba (Mozambique) and Jabulile Nala (South Africa). Photo: Addison Doty

2-MOIFA_Espinar_03: “The Ladies,” grouping of ceramic figurative candlesticks and pitchers from Sicily, Peru and France.

2- MOIFA_Espinar_02: Home “altar” in the home of Judith Espinar,