MOIFA Opens Exhibition Música Buena: Hispano Folk Music of New Mexico

September 6th, 2019

(Santa Fe, New Mexico) – The Museum of International Folk Art invites the public to the opening exhibition Música Buena: Hispano Folk Music of New Mexico, a Camalache (gathering) and Harvest Festival on Sunday, October 6, 2019, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Camalache features live entertainment, food, hands-on activities for the entire family, and local vendors all celebrating the history and influence New Mexico’s music has on its culture.

The Camalache and Harvest Festival will be held at Milner Plaza on Museum Hill. The celebration opens with Los Matachines de Bernalillo dancing on the plaza at 1:00 p.m. with Cipriano Vigil and Family performing New Mexico folk music in the museum from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., followed by band Lone Piñon at 2:30 p.m. Throughout the afternoon, guests will have the opportunity to participate in a corn husk doll-making activity with Becky Dickens as Big Jim Farms of Corrales will roast and sell bags of fresh green chile. Herbalist and ethnobotanist, Tomás Enos of Milagro Herbs will provide information about different herbs and vend throughout the afternoon while the Museum of New Mexico women’s board provides refreshments.

The exhibition itself illustrates the collection of rites and traditions born of the many cultures present in New Mexico. Much of the state’s musical practices gleaned influence from those present in the seventeenth century. With the arrival of the Spaniards, so came their multicultural history, which included Roman, Visigoth, Celtic, Muslim, Sephardic, and Christian influences. New traditions formed in New Mexico as Spanish influences blended with regional, Native practices.

The state’s singular musical genres continue to influence modern styles while New Mexico’s small towns and pueblos continue older traditions with seasonal performances and plays. Co-curators Nicolasa Chávez and Cipriano Vigil bring these traditions, histories, and practices to MOIFA through objects, video, and sound, as well as live entertainment until the closing in Spring 2021.

Fiesta dress is encouraged but not required. Break out your vintage pieces or your version of fiesta dress from any culture to celebrate.

Opening of Música Buena: Hispano Folk Music of New Mexico

Location: The Museum of International Folk Art, Milner Plaza

Date: October 6, 2019

Tickets: This event takes place during the first Sunday of the month, and so is free to New Mexico residents

Schedule:

1:00 p.m. – Los Matachines de Bernalillo performs on Milner Plaza

1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. -- Cipriano Vigil and Family performs NM Folk Music in the museum

2:30 p.m. – Lone Piñon performs NM Folk Music in the museum

1:00 – 4:00 p.m. – Corn Husk doll making activity with Becky Dickens; Big Jim Farms from Corrales will be roasting and selling green chile; Herbalist and ethnobotanist Tomás Enos of Milagro Herbs will share information and sell herbs

2:00 – 4:00 p.m. - Refreshments provided by the Museum of New Mexico Women’s’ Board