International Folk Art Festival
For the past ten years the International Folk Art Museum in
Santa Fe sponsored an amazing market of folk art from around the world.
Crafts-people bring their wares from their home countries to vend at the market
and participate in festival activities which include music, dance and
performance arts. Over the past ten
years 650 artists from 80 countries and 6 continents have participated and
their earnings have impacted not only their lives but also those of their
countrymen back home. From Afghanistan to VietNam
proceeds from their sales have enabled the establishment of
workshops in their homelands which bring much needed income and immense
self-satisfaction to the people.
There is every type of craft and folk art available. Naturally, I must inspect each booth and
discuss the products with the artists.
But the textiles!!!! The textiles are exquisite and I can have any
questions answered by the creators, themselves. There is always a translator available as many of the artists do
not speak English. In fact, this is
often the first time they have left their native country. (What a shock that
must be for them)
Here are some photos of the market and the beautiful
articles of art.
Already, I am looking forward to next July and the 11th
Market.
Santa Fe is a designated UNESCO City of Crafts and Folk Art
and the first city to be named to UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network.
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