Releases | New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs

10th Annual Folk Art Flea is on the Move!

February 4th, 2019

(Santa Fe, New Mexico) - The Museum of International Folk Art (MOIFA) is celebrating the 10th year of its innovative Folk Art Flea, and it is on the move. Normally held in May, this year’s Flea is jumping to June—Saturday, June 8. The Flea also is moving outdoors. Look for the big tent on Milner Plaza on Museum Hill where this year’s Flea treasures will be waiting for new homes. The large tent will be easy to spot and will provide a roomy and shaded location for shoppers to peruse this year’s folk art finds.

One of Santa Fe’s most anticipated special events, the Flea can be counted on to provide collectors of all ages and interests with a wide array of well-priced folk art treasures from across the globe--from toys to textiles, jewelry to masks, to wood carvings, yard art and more. A special “Collectors’ Corner” displays more rare and unique items.

Flea founders Judith Haden and Ginger Smith had no idea that their 2008 idea to raise funds for the MOIFA by selling previously owned folk art would become a popular Santa Fe tradition. “Our first year, we raised $ 27,600 for the Museum and last year it generated just over $54,000. We couldn’t be happier,” says Haden.

Smith adds, “It is always fun to see the excitement on the faces of shoppers as they leave the Flea with their arms full of “new” folk art. Every year we see how one person’s “trash” is indeed another’s treasure.”

According to Museum executive director, Khristaan Villela, Ph.D., “The Friends of Folk Art Flea event has contributed nearly $450,000 to benefit Museum programs. We are getting close to our goal of $500,000 and I’m hopeful that we’ll surpass that with the 2019 Flea. It’s very exciting.”

Last year more than 1,900 people came to shop the Flea, attracting folk art fans from all over New Mexico and neighboring states. “It is great to see how many shoppers also take the opportunity to come into the museum to view our current exhibits.”

Villela adds “But we couldn’t hold the Flea without the amazing donations made by generous folk art fans from around Santa Fe. Our Flea volunteers stay busy year-round collecting folk art for the Flea. And that’s a good thing.”

There are five Flea donation days coming up:  April 27, May 29-31 and June 1 from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. each day. Donors can bring their tax-deductible folk art donations to the Museum’s back parking lot or call 505-476-1201 for other donation options.

The Flea is presented by the Museum’s Friends of Folk Art, a group of Museum of New Mexico Foundation members that supports the fund- and friend-raising of the Museum. The Friends of Folk Art group is celebrating its 25th year of offering members-only special events and educational programs. All funds raised from these events support the Museum’s award-winning exhibition and educational programs. A valued benefit of belonging to the Friends group is early shopping at the Flea. Many members say they love the programs that the Friends offer, but their favorite event every year is shopping at the Flea.

The 2019 Flea June 8 begins at 10 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m. Early admission for Friends of Folk Art members (only) is from 9-10 a.m., while free general admission is from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Those wanting the early bird opportunity may join Friends of Folk Art by calling (505) 982-6366 ext.100.

For Listing Editors:

WHO: Folk Art Committee, Museum of International Folk Art

WHAT: 10th Annual Folk Art Flea

WHERE: Museum of International Folk Art on Museum Hill, 706 Camino Lejo, Santa Fe

WHEN: Saturday, June 8, 2019

ADMISSION: “Early Bird” admission to Friends of Folk Art members is between 9-10 a.m.. Free public admission is between 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

 

NUMBER TO CALL FOR PUBLIC INFORMATION: 505-476-1201

 

Media Contacts:

Jo Ann Ward                                         Pam Najdowski

joanndewingward@yahoo.com               pamnajdowski@yahoo.com

505-780-5191 (h) or 713-906-5717 (c)    (505) 920-4970 (c) 

 

About the Museum of New Mexico Foundation & the Friends of Folk Art: Founded in 1962, the Museum of New Mexico Foundation provides critical private funding to one of the nation’s largest collection of state-run museums, historic sites and arts and cultural programs. The foundation’s mission is to support the Museum of New Mexico system through fund development for exhibitions and educational programs, financial management, and advocacy. The Friends of Folk Art is a group of Museum of New Mexico Foundation members who love folk art and arrange tours, trips and social events related to folk art, with all proceeds benefiting exhibitions and educational programming at the Museum of International Folk Art.

 

About the Museum of International Folk Art: http://www.internationalfolkart.org/  Founded in 1953 by Florence Dibell Bartlett, the Museum of International Folk Art’s mission is to foster understanding of the traditional arts to illuminate human creativity and shape a humane world. The museum holds the world’s largest international folk art collection of more than 150,000 objects from six continents and over 150 nations, representing a broad range of global artists whose artistic expressions make Santa Fe an international crossroads of culture. For many visitors, fascination with folk art begins upon seeing the whimsical toys and traditional objects within the Girard Collection. For others, the international textiles, ceramics, carvings and other cultural treasures in the Neutrogena Collection provide the allure.  The museum’s historic and contemporary Latino and Hispano folk art collections, spanning the Spanish Colonial period to modern-day New Mexico, reflect how artists respond to their time and place in ways both delightful and sobering. In 2010, the museum opened the Mark Naylor and Dale Gunn Gallery of Conscience, where exhibitions encourage visitors to exchange ideas on complex issues of human rights and social justice. A division of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs. 706 Camino Lejo, on Museum Hill in Santa Fe, NM 87505. (505) 476-1200. Hours: 10 am to 5 pm daily, May through October; closed Mondays November through April, closed Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Events, news releases and images about activities at the Museum of International Folk Art and other divisions in the Department of Cultural Affairs can be accessed at www.media.newmexicoculture.org

 

 

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2-MOIFA-10TH FOLK ART FLEA BLUSAS

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