Museum of International Folk Art (MOIFA)

Museum of International Folk Art (MOIFA) Review

A delight for adults and children alike, this museum is the premier institution of its kind in the world. In the Girard Wing you'll find thousands of amazingly inventive handmade objects—a tin Madonna, a devil made from bread dough, dolls from around the world, and miniature village scenes galore. The Hispanic Heritage Wing contains art dating from the Spanish colonial period (in New Mexico, 1598-1821) to the present. The 5,000-piece exhibit includes religious works—particularly bultos (carved wooden statues of saints) and retablos (holy images painted on wood or tin), as well as textiles and furniture. The exhibits in the Neutrogena Wing rotate, showing subjects ranging from outsider art to the magnificent quilts of Gee's Bend. Lloyd's Treasure Chest, the wing's innovative basement section, provides a behind-the-scenes look at this collection. You can rummage through storage drawers, peer into microscopes, and, on occasion, speak with conservators and other museum personnel. Check the Web site or call to see if any of the excellent children's activities are scheduled for the time of your visit. Save time to visit the incredible gift shop and bookstore.