- Craft and Folk Art Museum
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Craft and Folk Art Museum 
Established 1973 Location 5814 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90036 Type Art museum Director Suzanne Isken Website http://www.cafam.org/ The Craft and Folk Art Museum (CAFAM), founded as the popular omelette café The Egg and The Eye, has been an energetic hub of global culture and progressive thought in Los Angeles, California since 1965.
Contents
Overview
Located in the heart of Los Angeles’ Museum Row on Wilshire Boulevard, and across from the George C. Page Museum and La Brea Tar Pits, CAFAM presents 6 original exhibitions a year ranging from the local to the global; traditional to contemporary. CAFAM is the only museum in Los Angeles exclusively dedicated to celebrating craft and folk art. The exhibitions give voice to cultural and ethnic groups often ignored in large arts institutions. CAFAM works to recognize emerging artists and make art accessible to all audiences. The museum’s goal to promote intercultural dialogue in our community — one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the world — is unique among local museums. The Craft and Folk Art Museum is founded on the notion that the power of art goes beyond aesthetic beauty, and can illuminate cultural values, inspire civic engagement, and build healthy community. The ethos of this unique museum is best summed up by their current tagline: CAFAM… because a shrinking world requires an EXPANDED mind.
Mission
The Craft and Folk Art Museum champions cultural understanding by encouraging curiosity about our diverse world. Our exhibits and programs serve as a catalyst for the exploration of art and ideas that reflect our ever-changing community.
History
In 1965, a group of well traveled and artistic women, led by Edith R. Wyle (grandmother of actor Noah Wyle ), called the high priestess of folk art by the LA Times, channeled their passion for indigenous art into The Egg and The Eye. This bohemian café celebrated food and art from world cultures, serving over 50 varieties of omelettes and offering a dazzling array of international folk art to enjoy and purchase.
The success of this unique concept spurred the formation of the nonprofit Craft and Folk Art Museum in 1973. From the beginning, CAFAM was a “living museum” offering artist-led workshops and educational programs. CAFAM was known for taking artistic risks, holding early shows for now-prominent artists, including Frank Romero, Otto Natzler, and Sam Maloof. In 1976, CAFAM initiated Los Angeles’ first multi-cultural festival, the International Festival of Masks. This two-day celebration of folk art, dance, music, and food drew up to 40,000 people until its closure in 1998.
Financial difficulties in the mid 1990s led to the temporary closure of the museum and the dispersal of its collections and library. In 1999, CAFAM formed a public-private partnership with the City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department and reopened its doors. By 2002, due to budgetary cuts, the Department of Cultural Affairs reduced funding, forcing the Board of Trustees [1] to take control.
Beginning in 2005, the museum realigned its curatorial direction to reflect contemporary views of craft and folk art and a commitment to promoting cross-cultural understanding. Since 2005, attendance has tripled from approximately 4,500 yearly visitors to over 15,000 in 2010. In the past five years the Museum has presented 36 exhibitions reflecting over 75 cultural traditions and has hosted over 150 public programs.
Artistic Philosophy and Exhibitions
CAFAM’s exhibitions are in-depth and thought-provoking examinations of cultural traditions, artists, and social concepts.
Past Exhibitions:
2011:
Borderlandia: Cultural Topography by Einar and Jamex de la Torre- Sept. 26, 2010 – Jan. 9, 2011
The Birth of Coffee - Sept. 26, 2010 – Jan. 9, 2011
A Marriage of Craft and Design: The Work of Evelyn & Jerome Ackerman- January 23 – May 8, 2011
Crossing the Line: A Space by Tanya Aguiñiga- January 23 – May 8, 2011
Ann Weber: Love and Other Audacities - May 21, 2011 - Sept. 11, 2011,
Jennifer Angus: All Creatures Great and Small - May 21, 2011 - Sept. 11, 2011
2010:Bold Abstractions: Textiles from Central Asia & Iran
The Fool's Journey: The History and Symbolism of the Tarot
Some Assembly Required: race, gender and globalization - May 23 , 2010 – September 12, 2010
Salvaged: Aaron Kramer and the Secret Life of Objects - May 23 , 2010 – September 12, 20102009:
Exploring the Other: Contemporary Iran through the lens of Iason Athanasiadis
Paper Cuts: 200 Years of Black Paper DollsCrowd-Pleasing Recent Exhibitions:
Identity: Unlimited Editions, in collaboration with the Los Angeles Printmaking Society
"Within Four Miles": The World of Josh Dorman - LA Times Review [2]
Il Vetro Veneziano: Contemporary Venetian Glass
Ironings Performed by Mung Lar Lam
Contemporary Katagami: Works by Jennifer Falck Linssen
Mythical Creatures and Characters: Tales from Around the World - LA Times Review [3]
Zulu Fire: Ardmore Ceramics from South Africa
Eva Zeisel: Extraordinary Designer at 100
The Original Silver’s Circus & Zoo: Works by Sonny King
An American Love Story: Works by Ramona Otto
Healing: A Cultural Exploration
Street Signs and Solar Ovens: Socialcraft in Los Angeles
Sovereign Threads: A History of Palestinian Embroidery
Tigers and Jaguars: LA’s Asian-Latino Art FusionThe Shop@CAFAM online
As part of its mission of cultivating cultural literacy through the lens of handicrafts, CAFAM launched its museum shop online December 15 [1] at [4]. Voted LA Weekly’s “Best Gift Shop in the Land,” [2]CAFAM’s shop is known for a selection of artisan-produced, certified fair-trade goods that reflect the world’s rich cultural diversity. Each purchase on "The Shop@CAFAM" is fair trade and supports the living wage of individuals and communities that participate in the creation of the product.
General information
Location: 5814 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90036
Telephone: 323.937.4230
Museum and Shop Hours: Tuesday - Thursday 11 am – 5 pm; Saturday & Sunday 12 pm – 6 pm; Closed Monday
Admission: $7 adults, $5 seniors and students, free for members and children under 10, first Wednesday of every month freeCRAFTlab, a multi-generational hands on workshop is held the second Saturday of each month from 1:30 to 3:30pm
Etsy Craft Night is held the first Thursday of each month from 7 to 9pm
External links
Notes
- ^ <a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http://www.cafam.org/images/PDFs/EggEye%2520Press%2520Release.pdf" rel="nofollow"></a>
- ^ <a href="http://www.laweekly.com/bestof/2009/award/best-gift-shop-in-the-land-721908/" rel="nofollow"></a>
Categories:- Museums in Los Angeles, California
- Museums established in 1973
- Art museums in California
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