MOIFA | AUGUST 2023

King Island Dance Group at the Sante Fe Indian Market

Photo: King Island Dancers performing the Walrus Dance. Photo courtesy of Brenda Maxwell.

 

Through dancing, drumming, and storytelling, the King Island Singers and Dancers will share their story of resilience and revitalization through traditional song and dance such as the Walrus, Raven, Wolf, and Medicine Man Dances. Working in partnership with the Southwestern Association of American Indian Arts, two performances will take place during the 101st Santa Fe Indian Market, on Saturday, August 19 from 1:30 - 2:30 pm at Cathedral Park Stage and from 4 - 5 pm on the Plaza Stage.

 

Left Photo: A King Island Dancer performing the Walrus Dance. Photo courtesy of Brenda Maxwell.

Right Photo: A King Island Dancer performing the Raven Dance. Photo courtesy of Brenda Maxwell.

 

During the 1950s, King Islanders were forced to leave their homes when their children were sent to schools on mainland Alaska and their parents left the island to be near them. This dislocation led to the loss of traditional practices, including dance, but the dances were reintroduced by the efforts of Paul Tiulana in the 1970s. The King Island Dancers includes Tiulana’s children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Their performances feature beautiful hand-carved wood masks and sonorous drums created from walrus stomach.

This program is organized by the Museum of International Folk Art in partnership with Southwestern Association of American Indian Arts (SWAIA) and in conjunction with the museum’s current exhibition Ghhúunayúkata / To Keep Them Warm: The Alaska Native Parka. The event is funded by Susan Steinhauser and Daniel Greenberg, with matching support provided by Beverly and Michael Morris and Friends of Folk Art.

 

Public Talk with La Cartonería Artist Leo Linares and Curator Marta Turok

Photo: Leo Linares making the alebrije in his studio in Mexico City that he will be painting at the Museum. Courtesy of Leo Linares.

 

On Sunday, August 6, Marta Turok, cultural advisor for La Cartonería Mexicana / The Mexican Art of Paper and Paste and curator from the Franz Meyer Museum in Mexico City presented a conversation about cartonería and the evolution of alebrijes with the contributing artist Leo Linares. Leo continues the work of his renowned grandfather, Pedro Linares, creator of the alebrije—mythical or magical creatures—for museums, art galleries and collectors from around the world. If you missed the talk, Mr. Linares will also provide an artist demonstration of the creation of an alebrije work on August 5 - 7 from 10 am – 12 pm for the public. The completed work will become part of the exhibition.

 

Gallery Talk and Discussion, Between the Lines: Prison Art and Advocacy

Photo: Mara Taub holding a stack of letters from prisoners requesting reading and support materials, courtesy of Mara Taub.

 

Mara Taub, long-time advocate for prisoner and immigrant rights, will lead a talk and discussion in the Gallery of Conscience for Between the Lines: Prison Art and Advocacy / A Community Conversation on Sunday, August 13 at 2 pm. Ms. Taub is the founder of The Coalition for Prisoner's Rights, a Santa Fe based nonprofit which focuses on advocacy and support for prisoners and their families with reading materials and other resources. MOIFA requested and collected gently used paperback books as part of the event to be used in The Coalition’s support activities. ASL interpretation will be provided.

 

Japanese Craft in Light and Sound

Photo: Display of Japanese umbrellas, or wagasa 和傘, created by participating craft collective Hiyoshiya from Kyoto. Photo by Cristina Salazar.

 

Co-organized with the Santa Fe Botanical Garden, this event at the close of the International Folk Art Market featured a sunset reception with an illuminated installation of traditional Japanese umbrellas, or wagasa 和傘, created by participating craft collective Hiyoshiya from Kyoto. The event included a musical performance of the koto 琴, a 13-string Japanese harp, by the recording artist, Mitsuki Dazai. Set within the artfully designed grounds of the Garden, this multi-sensory event transported attendees to another time and place. The event raised $10,000 for the Museum’s educational programming with umbrellas from the installation currently available for purchase in the Lynn Godfrey Brown Museum Shop.

We are grateful our lead sponsors Maria and Edward Gale, the Gale Family Foundation, with additional support from David Tausig Frank and Kazukuni Sugiyama, and TOKo Santa Fe.

 

Arts Alive! on Museum Hill

Photo: Arts Alive! mask making workshop, courtesy of MOIFA.

 

Each summer, the museums on Museum Hill collaborate to offer hands-on activities for visitors of all ages. For more information on activities that took place, click here.

To support MOIFA’s Exhibition Development Fund and/or Education Fund please contact Laura Sullivan at [email protected], or by phone at 505.216.0829.