There are many beautiful spots in Santa Fe; it’s just a
magical place. Perhaps this is due
in part to its age; people have been living here since the 10th
century. That sort of thing
alone will give a town a particularly rich energy. The city’s decision back in the early 20th
century to mandate building styles in keeping with the town’s existing
character (lots and lots of low-slung adobe) also contributes to the feeling of
enchantment. Besides just looking
pretty, the small human scale of the town has been largely preserved, making it
a great place to be with kids.
If you venture up into the hills, you will find one of my
favorite places in Santa Fe: the Girard Wing of the Museum of International Folk Art. The whole museum is
worth a visit, but the Girard Wing is unique. It contains textile designer Alexander Girard’s collection
of folk art and toys from around the world – approximately 106,000 items.
Girard not only contributed the items, he also designed the
permanent exhibit space to hold them.
It is a fantastic space.
Colorful and maze-like without being overwhelming, it showcases the
objects at various eye-levels (including some at near floor-level). It invites people of all sizes to
wander and explore. Everything is
behind plexiglass, but many displays can be seen from multiple perspectives,
making viewing a more dynamic experience. Toys are arranged in a frequently
humorous way, creating an elaborate tableaux or telling a little story (sometimes
the story is enchantingly ambiguous).
I happened to be without my son during my visit, unfortunately - but other children I observed were utterly delighted. I can't wait to go back, kid in tow.
