The Museum of International Folk Art Presents "The Arts of Survival"

Written by Ivan Konstantine Thursday, 16 February 2012 01:08

Santa Fe, New Mexico.- The Museum of International Folk Art is proud to present "The Arts of Survival: Folk Expression in the Face of Disaster", on view at the museum until May 6th. "The Arts of Survival" explores how folk artists helped their communities recover from four recent natural disasters: the Haitian Earthquake; Hurricane Katrina on the U.S. Gulf Coast; Pakistani floods; and the recent volcanic eruption of Mt. Merapi in Indonesia. The exhibition features work by folk artists—some of whom have also won a coveted spot at the 2011 Santa Fe International Folk Art Market—with monumental artifacts, poetry, spoken word, and photographic and video documentation to explore the many ways in which a country’s traditional arts and artists rally in times of disaster.

Dr. Marsha Bol, Director of the Museum of International Folk Art described the ‘Gallery of Conscience;’ “…as a forum where current issues facing folk artists around the world can be discussed. With "The Arts of Survival" we continue our examination of issues threatening the survival of the traditional arts, bringing them to the attention of our visitors,” Dr, Bol continued; “As the largest folk art museum in the world we believe it is our responsibility to address issues that threaten to disrupt folk arts – and in the case of this exhibition – the effect of natural disaster on the folk art community.” To rebuild and renew, one day at a time. As tragic events and terrible forces become part of carnival masks, scrolls, paintings, and vodou flags, the events are memorialized and the pain they brought is brought to a manageable state. When the force of the Earth breaks the world into pieces, the pieces can be collected and sold to bring an artist a step closer to economic recovery.


Visitors to this second ‘Gallery of Conscience’ exhibit will see the devastation of the Haitian earthquake emblazoned into the carnival masks and sequined vodou flags; how a New Orleans quilter took the flood-stained bedclothes of her neighbors ruined home and made art that both restores and represents. The visitor will hear the voices of the women whose centuries old tradition of ralli quilts bring comfort and color to the millions of flood refugees living in tent cities in Pakistan, and the puppeteers of Indonesia who incorporate the news of recent volcanic eruptions into their wayang performances. Exhibition curator Dr, Suzanne Seriff said; “The Arts of Survival provides a window to the many ways contemporary folk artists use what they know best to respond to natural disaster with vision, perseverance, dignity and imagination—even in the midst of political infighting, infrastructural log jams, and environmental after-effects. Through this experience they learn that the most fundamental power is the indomitable spirit of mankind.”

The Museum of International Folk Art houses the world’s largest collection of international folk art, with ongoing exhibitions Multiple Visions: A Common Bond in the Girard Wing and Familia y Fe in the Hispanic Heritage Wing. Changing and traveling exhibitions are offered in the Bartlett Wing and exhibitions highlighting textiles are featured the Neutrogena Wing. Lloyd’s Treasure Chest offers visitors interactive displays about collections and how museums care for collections. Since opening in September 1953, the Museum of International Folk Art has gained national and international recognition as an accredited Museum that is home to the world’s largest collection of folk art. The collection of more than 135,000 artifacts forms the basis for exhibitions in four distinct wings: Bartlett, Girard, Hispanic Heritage, and Neutrogena. In 2003, the Museum celebrated 50 years of documenting, collecting, preserving and interpreting the creative works of traditional artists from cultures around the world. Florence Dibell Bartlett founded the world's first international folk art Museum in Santa Fe, New Mexico. As a witness to two world wars, Florence Bartlett believed that encouraging people to interact with folk art and with one another would help promote cultural understanding. The Bartlett Wing, named in honor of museum founder Florence Dibell Bartlett, offers rotating exhibitions in both the East and West galleries that are based on the museum collections and on field studies of specific cultures or art forms. Exhibition in the east Bartlett wing have ranged from Turkish, Tibetan and Swedish traditions to New Deal era art in New Mexico, recycled objects and Mayólica and ¡CARNAVAL! and Dancing Shadows: Wayang Kulit of Indonesia. The West Bartlett gallery became the Gallery of Conscience in 2010.


The Girard Wing’s popular long term exhibition, Multiple Visions: A Common Bond, showcases folk art, toys, miniatures and textiles from more than 100 nations. The late Alexander Girard, who contributed his immense collection to the museum, designed this delightful exhibition, which opened in 1982. The unorthodox exhibition contains no label text, instead, the case numbers relate to the printed gallery guide, giving visitors a choice to learn more about the display, or enjoy the display without explanation. The Hispanic Heritage Wing of the Museum of International Folk Art is one of the few museum wings in the U.S. which devoted space to display the art and heritage of Hispanic/Latino cultures. The renovated gallery supports changing exhibits on a larger scale. The Hispanic Heritage Wing showcases Hispano/Latino Arts and culture from New Mexico and beyond, relating New Mexico to the larger Latino/Hispano communities within our country and the rest of the Spanish-speaking world. The Neutrogena Wing encompasses the Cotsen Gallery and Lloyd’s Treasure Chest. The Cotsen gallery features textiles from the museum’s renowned collection, as well as traveling exhibitions. Lloyd's Treasure Chest» invites visitors to get closer to collection items and explore what goes on behind-the-scenes in a museum. The Neutrogena Wing opened in 1998, expanding upon an ongoing public-private partnership that has characterized the museum’s profile since its inception. The Museum of International Folk Art is a Division of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs. Visit the museum's website at ... http://www.internationalfolkart.org

---

Click on logo below to add this article to your favorite Social Website ~