Events

FREE Family Program! Join us for our monthly Family Mornings at Folk Art program featuring storytime, art activity, and explorations in the galleries. 

May 18 - Weaving Together! Be inspired by the creative expressions of South African telephone wire weavers. Come create your own Wire Basket or Sculpture. 

*ASL Interpretation Provided

Join us for an artist talk and wire weaving demonstration with artist, author, and entrepreneur Hlengiwe Dube. ASL interpretation provided. 

Included with Museum Admission | Register Here!

Artist talk | 1pm-2pm - Joan and Clifford Vernick Auditorium 

Weaving demonstration | 2:15pm-3pm - Ngqikithi yokuPhica / Weaving Meanings gallery

Hlengiwe Dube is an artist, author, and the founder of Ifundiso Trading. Born in New Hanover in 1974, she was raised in the Valley of Thousand Hills in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Her grandmother imparted the art of beadwork during her youth, fostering her development as a contemporary designer who draws inspiration from traditional motifs. Dube is now recognized as an expert in Indigenous knowledge within South African craft. Her expertise extends beyond artistic creation, and includes the larger contextualization of South African folk art and the advancement of local art forms–particularly beadwork and telephone wire baskets.

For several years, Dube has been affiliated with the African Art Centre, where she has hosted and facilitated workshops aimed at enhancing the quality of local art, especially within KwaZulu-Natal. She continues to conduct workshops–particularly for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds–with the goal of promoting self-employment. Her contributions have been recognized through numerous accolades, including the Living Legend Award in 2012, Woman of the Year in 2000, and the Amafa Heritage Award in 2012.

Join us in the Hands-on Studio at MOIFA for art projects, coloring sheets, and self-guided treasure hunts. Add to your explorations at the museum with fun art making, facilitated by our fantastic MOIFA docents.

May 25 | Make a Beaded Bowl! Design your own Huichol inspired Jicara, beaded offering bowl.

The program is free with Museum Admission. Museum admission is always free for Kids and Members.

Join us for FREE Hands-on Workshops for Ages 3-103! Art making activities are from 10am to 2pm. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Museum and Garden entrance free for Arts Alive! participants during workshop hours.

Wednesday, 6/4 - Paper Art with Eric Cristo Martinez

Wednesday, 6/11 - Colcha Embroidery with Vanessa Zamora Vasquez

Wednesday, 6/25 - Wire Sculptures

For groups of 6 or more, please contact: Patricia Sigala, 505-476-1212 • patricia.sigala@dca.nm.gov

Off site

The fabulous Folk Art Flea is back!  Once again, the much beloved and anticipated Flea will be at the Santa Fe County Fairgrounds at 3229 Rodeo Road featuring hundreds of curated folk art pieces from collectors and artists around the world.  The donated art benefits educational programs and exhibitions at the Museum of International Folk Art, through the Museum of New Mexico Foundation, a private nonprofit organization.

Admission is free and members of Friends of Folk Art (FOFA) enjoy early admission to the Flea from 9 to 10 a.m. Public admission is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For information on joining FOFA, a membership group of the Museum of New Mexico Foundation, please click here.

If you would like to become a sponsor of this popular community event and receive special benefits, including early shopping, please click here. Folk Art Flea Sponsors - MNMF  

For questions, please email friendsoffolkart@gmail.com

Please join us in celebrating the opening of Appearances Deceive: Embroideries by Policarpio Valencia. Born in Santo Niño, New Mexico in 1853, Policarpio Valencia lived his life as a farmer, salt trader, mill operator, mayordomo and Justice of the Peace in Rio Arriba County. In his later years, Valencia began repurposing used household textiles and clothing, adorning them with intricate embroidery and messages written in the Spanish of northern New Mexico.

Appearances Deceive is the first retrospective of Policarpio Valencia’s work. Each embroidered piece contemplates the serious subjects of mortality, and spirituality with wit and whimsy.

The opening event will feature two performances by musician Dr. Gregorio Gonzáles (Comanche and genízaro). Catering will be provided by the Women’s Board of the Museum of New Mexico.

1:30 – 2:00 pm First Musical Performance by Dr. Gregorio Gonzáles (Auditorium)

2:00 – 4:00 pm Women’s Board Reception (Atrium)

3:00 – 3:30 pm Second Musical Performance by Dr. Gregorio Gonzáles (Auditorium)

RSVP Here!

Join us for FREE Hands-on Workshops for Ages 3-103! Art making activities are from 10am to 2pm. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Museum and Garden entrance free for Arts Alive! participants during workshop hours.

Wednesday, 6/11 - Colcha Embroidery with Vanessa Zamora Vasquez

Wednesday, 6/25 - Wire Sculptures

For groups of 6 or more, please contact: Patricia Sigala, 505-476-1212 • patricia.sigala@dca.nm.gov

Joan and Clifford Vernick Auditorium

No museum admission required for book sale entrance  

The Bartlett Library Book Sale is returning to MOIFA. We have a mountain of books that have accumulated over the years and need to make space. Hundreds of used and new art and folklife books will be deeply discounted, most for just a few dollars. Come to the Vernick Auditorium at the Museum of International Folk Art on Friday, June 20th from 10am-4pm for early access. Sale continues on Saturday, June 21st from 10am-4pm. All proceeds to directly support the Bartlett Library. Presented by the MNMF, in partnership with IFAF and the NM DCA.

Join us for FREE Hands-on Workshops for Ages 3-103! Art making activities are from 10am to 2pm. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Museum and Garden entrance free for Arts Alive! participants during workshop hours.

Wednesday, 6/25 - Wire Sculptures

For groups of 6 or more, please contact: Patricia Sigala, 505-476-1212 • patricia.sigala@dca.nm.gov

Offsite

We begin our custom tour in Montréal, the second largest French-speaking city in the world—after Paris. This bilingual, cosmopolitan city was the first in North American to be designated a UNESCO City of Design by the Global Alliance for Cultural Diversity. We will have a comprehensive city tour, visit Montréal’s renowned museums, see the Gardens of Light at the Botanical Gardens, visit a folk art studio, experience the international gastronomy of Montréal, and see the AURA Show at Notre Dame Basilica.

Leaving Montréal, we will travel to Québec by motor coach via the Eastern Townships with a stop in Magog to visit the Musée d’Art Naïf and have lunch in picturesque North Hatley.

We will then arrive in Québec, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Old Québec, with its cobblestone streets and well-preserved old-world architecture, is the hub of French Canadian culture and a top foodie destination.

After a comprehensive city tour we will take a short ride to Wendake, home to the Iroquoian-speaking Huron-Wendat Nation. Included is a traditional Indigenous dinner. Just minutes outside of Québec, we will follow the Beaupre coast to the 278’ Montmorency Falls (taller than Niagara Falls). Visits to museums, a behind-the-scenes folk art tour and meeting local artists will be topped off with a local tastes-of-Québec food tour and lunch at the historic Hôtel Château Frontenac.

You must be a current member of Friends of Folk Art or using the membership of a member who is not traveling with us to join. For more information visit: https://canadatrip.eventbrite.com

For information on joining FOFA, a membership group of the Museum of New Mexico Foundation, please click here.

For questions, please email friendsoffolkart@gmail.com