Santa Fe Has Many World-Class Museums
Museum of Indian Arts and Culture
This museum serves as a repository of native art that tells the stories of the people of the Southwest from pre-history through contemporary art. The museum serves a multicultural audience through changing exhibitions, public lectures, field trips and artist residencies.
LOCATION: 710 Camino Lejo (Museum Hill)
DAYS/TIMES: Mondays-Sundays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; after Labor Day Tuesdays-Sundays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
ADMISSION: $6 for residents, $8 nonresidents; free admission for Museum Foundation members, school groups, children 16 and younger, and New Mexico veterans with 50 percent or greater disability; New Mexico residents with ID free on Sundays; New Mexico resident senior citizens (60 and older) with ID free Wednesdays; students with ID $1 discount.
476-1250; indianartsandculture.org
“Comic Art Indigené” (May 11-Jan. 4)
Storytelling as well as rock art have long been part of the narrative arts associated with Native American culture. This exhibition looks at storytelling through the prism of comics and comic-inspired art to express contemporary Native American experiences. It showcases how American Indian artists articulate identity, reclaim stereotypes and express world view, politics and culture through the use of this kinetic art for the masses.
“Spider Woman’s Gift: Navajo Weaving Traditions” (May 14-Sept. 1)
Dozens of classic Navajo textiles, including a chief’s wearing blanket, dresses, belts, jewelry and baskets from the museum’s permanent collection are highlighted in this exhibition as a way to teach weaving to the Navajo by the mythological character Spider Woman.
“Native Couture: Santa Fe Style” (through Feb. 21, 2010)
An exploration of the design elements, history, glamor and sophistication of Santa Fe style, which has been adopted by movie stars, artists and craftspeople.
“Bare Nation: Sculptors from the IAIA” (May 11–April 12)
Students from the Institute of American Indian Arts will display cutting-edge sculptural creations in stone, bronze and wood in the Doris and Arnold Roland Sculpture Garden.
“Native Treasures Indian Arts Festival” (May 23-25)
Museum-quality Indian arts show highlighting the works of 140 of the finest Native American artists in the Southwest with a portion of the proceeds to benefit the museum’s educational programs. Pre-sale and benefit reception, May 23, 6-8 p.m., tickets $75. Early-bird admission, May 24, 9-10 a.m., $10. Regular festival hours 10 a.m.-4 p.m., $5; festival free all day May 25, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Museum of International Folk Art
This museum houses the world’s largest collection of international folk art, featuring works from more than 100 countries. Among the mediums on display are ceramics, furniture, wood carvings, textiles, devotional art and more.
LOCATION: 706 Camino Lejo (Museum Hill)
DAYS/TIMES: Mondays-Sundays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; after Labor Day Tuesdays-Sundays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
ADMISSION: $6 for residents, $8 nonresidents; free admission for Museum Foundation members, school groups, youth age 16 and younger, and New Mexico veterans with 50 percent or greater disability; New Mexico residents with ID free on Sundays; New Mexico resident senior citizens (60 and older) with ID free Wednesdays; students with ID $1 discount.
476-1200; internationalfolkart.org
“A Chair For All Reasons” (June 29-Jan. 1)
Throughout the world, people settle into chairs, stretch out on benches, perch on stools and sink into sofas. This exhibition looks at materials, techniques, artistic design and functional approaches to furniture from cultures around the globe.
“Needles + Pins: Textiles and Tools” (through Jan. 4)
The tools and techniques used to create and embellish textiles and dress are highlighted in this exhibit. Spinning wheels, looms and a variety of needlework accessories from around the world will be on display, along with examples of the beautiful textiles that are created by them.
“Tresteros and Trunks” (opens May 16)
Selection of furniture from the museum’s permanent collection.
Museum of Spanish Colonial Art
One of the largest collections of Spanish Colonial art in the United States is held here. The more than 3,000 pieces in the museum represent an artistic and cultural heritage that spans four centuries and four continents.
LOCATION: 750 Camino Lejo (Museum Hill)
DAYS/TIMES: Tuesdays-Sundays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; starting Memorial Day open seven days a week, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
ADMISSION: New Mexico residents $3, nonresidents $6; museum members and youth age 16 and younger, free; Sundays free to all New Mexico residents with ID.
982-2226; spanishcolonial.org
“Three New Mexican Innovators: An Exhibit of the Works of Celso Gallegos, Luis Tapia and Horacio Valdez” (June 27 through fall)
Exhibition highlights works of these three wood carvers and “santeros” from northern New Mexico.
“57th Annual Traditional Spanish Market” (July 26-27)
Held on the Santa Fe Plaza from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., this free two-day market is the oldest and largest exhibition and sale of Spanish Colonial art forms in the United States. The market will feature the works of more than 250 artists, music and dance performances, demonstrations and regional foods.
Site Santa Fe
Located in Santa Fe’s historic Railyard District, SITE Santa Fe is a private not-forprofit and non-collecting contemporary arts organization that provides an ongoing venue for exhibitions and artists.
LOCATION: 1606 Paseo de Peralta
DAYS/TIMES: Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Fridays, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sundays, noon-5 p.m.; closed Mondays and Tuesdays
ADMISSION: General admission $10; students and seniors, $5; SITE Santa Fe members and youths age 18 and under, free; Fridays free to all visitors.
989-1199; sitesantafe.org
“Lucky Number Seven” (June 22-Oct. 26)
SITE Santa Fe’s seventh international biennial, curated by guest curator Lance Fung, from New York. Exhibition features artists from partner institutions around the world creating on-site art in all mediums.
Palace of the Governors
Built from 1609 to 1610, the Palace has served as New Mexico’s history museum since its founding by the Territorial Legislature in 1909. It is among the oldest continuously occupied public buildings in the country, and its collection of more than 17,000 objects chronicles 223 years of Spanish administrative control, 25 years as part of Mexico, 66 years as a territory of the United States and 96 years from statehood in 1912 until the present. The Palace also administers a history library, photo archives, a print shop and a bindery.
LOCATION: 105 W. Palace Ave.
DAYS/TIMES: Tuesdays-Sundays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; from Memorial Day through Labor Day open seven days a week, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
ADMISSION: New Mexico residents $6, nonresidents $8; museum members and youth age 16 and younger, free; Sundays free to all New Mexico residents with ID; free Friday evenings for all, 5-8 p.m.
476-5100; palaceofthegovernors.org
“Old Spanish Trail” (May 25-Oct. 26) This exhibition celebrates the early trading route between Santa Fe and Los Angeles, a route that became the principal one for moving livestock from Santa Fe to California. The story of the trail is told through the use of photos, artifacts and textiles.
“Tesoros de Devoción (Treasures of Devotion)” (opens July 20)
A magnificent collection of bultos, retablos and crucifijos was recently purchased from the Larry Frank family. Frank was a collector of northern New Mexico devotional art. The pieces represent the fine northern New Mexico traditions of painting and woodwork.
Santa Fe Children’s Museum
This is a place for children and families to learn and play together on the numerous interactive exhibits indoors, in the one-acre outside learning landscape, and through a host of diverse programs.
LOCATION: 1050 Old Pecos Trail
DAYS/TIMES: Wednesdays-Saturdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sundays noon-5 p.m.; open Tuesdays June through August.
ADMISSION: $4 New Mexico residents with ID; $8 nonresidents; $4 children age 12 and younger (must be accompanied by an adult). Sunday admission $1 for New Mexico residents.
989-8359; santafechildrensmuseum.org
“Earthworks” a new one-acre outdoor learning landscape with a meadow, pond, sand play area, music plaza, poetry trail, lookout fort, obstacle course, gardens, 900-squarefoot greenhouse and more.
Regular rotating exhibits include: “Make and Take,” create art from recycled materials; “Magnets,” build a bridge, tower or dragon using hexagonal nuts; “Climbing Wall,” use your body and mind to climb higher and higher; “Pulley Power,” lift yourself using different pulley systems; “Waterworks,” learn to siphon water and use an old-fashioned pitcher pump; “Animals,” observe the behavior of snakes, rabbits, rats, salamanders, finches, and Costa Rican and Madagascar hissing cockroaches.
