MOIFA Summer Research Fellowship Presentation by Carla Gilfillan

Join 2026 MOIFA Summer Research Fellow Carla Gilfillan for a presentation exploring the history of New Mexico’s unique tinworking tradition through the museum’s collection and archives. Gilfillan’s research combines archival research with community knowledge, examining the emergence of tinwork during New Mexico’s territorial period and the ways artists adapted newly available materials like tin, glass, and wallpaper into a local artistic tradition. Central to this research is the Isleta tinsmith, an anonymous artist whose work forms one of the most significant groups of 19th-century tinwork in MOIFA’s collection. Through archival research, visual analysis, oral histories, and reconstructions of historic techniques, Gilfillan investigates the maker and cultural context behind these remarkable works. Following the talk, master tinsmith Esteban Ismael Duran will lead a demonstration and workshop introducing traditional tinworking techniques. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the tools and processes involved in transforming tin into art, connecting art historical research with living artistic traditions.    2:00–3:00 pm – Research Presentation with Carla Gilfillan