A Gem in the Desert

Please excuse my absence. I took a much needed break from things here but I did bring you back some exciting things. I visited the Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe for the first time. Odd that I have lived so close to this gem my entire life and had not been there. What originally caught my attention is a current exhibit called Needles and Pins: Textiles and Tools. The exhibit traces the origins of textiles across cultures throughout time. There are astounding examples of knitting, weaving, tatting, and embroidery. There are some pieces that truly took my breath away with their beauty. The exhibit isn't very large but it is worth a trip even if that is the only thing you have time for.
Additionally we spent hours on the permanent Girard Foundation Collection. The collection was all donated by one couple and is remarkably huge. Most exciting to me was finding a small set of kokeshi dolls and an Ada Lum doll among the treasures. There are so many cultures represented and all different art forms. There are a ton of dolls and small figurines and toys, whole little armies. We finally realized that the sun had shifted significantly in the sky and we should see what time it was. About four hours had passed and we had only made it through about half of the museum. What a phenomonal place to find inspiration and feel ready to get back to making my own things with a renewed spark. Needles and Pins runs through April 13. Highly recommended.