Sunday July 19, 2009- January 30, 2011
A Century of Masters:
The NEA National Heritage Fellows of New Mexico
Hispanic Heritage Wing

Presented as part of the 100th anniversary celebration of the founding of the Museum of New Mexico. Each year, the National Endowment for the Arts» honors folk artists, storytellers, performers, and musicians throughout the United States for their contributions to traditional art forms. The National Heritage Fellows demonstrate artistic excellence and a commitment to their art forms through their processes, techniques, and transmission of the knowledge to others that strengthens and enriches their communities. New Mexico residents are well-represented in this distinguished group of talented artists, especially given the size of the state's population. The Museum of International Folk Art holds examples of the works of all the Fellows from New Mexico in its collections, from weavings, to pottery, tinwork, straw appliqué, retablos, and woodcarving. Events celebrating the opening are from 1:00 to 4 :00 p.m. The exhibition celebrates the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Museum of New Mexico. The National Heritage Fellowship Artists from New Mexico are:

Charles M. Carrillo» (artist, santero) 2006
Helen Cordero» (Cochiti potter, deceased) 1986
Frances Varos Graves» (colcha embroiderer, deceased) 1994
George López» (artist, woodcarver, deceased) 1982
Ramón José López»(artist, santero) 1997
Esther Martinez» (San Juan storyteller, deceased) 2006
Roberto & Lorenzo Martinez» (musicians) 2003
Eliseo & Paula Rodriguez» (artists, straw appliqué) 2004
Emilio & Senaida Romero» (artists, tinwork, deceased) 1987
Margaret Tafoya» (Santa Clara potter, deceased) 1984
Irvin Trujillo» (Rio Grande weaver) 2007
Cleofes Vigil» (storyteller, singer, deceased) 1984

The Opening included performances by Los Reyes de Albuquerque and Artist demonstrations with Maria Fernandez Graves- Colcha Embroidery, José Floyd Lucero- Woodcarving, Vicki Rodriguez-Straw Appliqué & Nicolas Otero- Retablo Making ; and a reception hosted by the Museum of New Mexico Women's Board.