Folk art? What’s that? you might think. According to Artlex’s online dictionary (www.artlex.com), it’s “Art made by people who have had little or no formal schooling in art.” Folk artists typically use traditional techniques and content, in styles handed down through many generations, and often of a particular region. Paintings, sculptures, ceramics, metalwork, costume, tools, and everyday objects all may be folk art. The art you’ll see here personalizes American history. Though much of it is traditional, it’s less conventional and much more fun than you might expect. Almost all American, and many times religious, patriotic and/or political, the exhibits are fascinating. Definitely worth a look.

The museum currently has an exhibit of its permanent collection, “Folk Art Revealed.” This exhibit is great for folk art beginners and enthusiasts as it gets to the heart of what folk art is by exploring the objects through four themes: symbolism, utility, individuality, and community. Traditional objects like quilts, trade signs, and paintings are juxtaposed next to contemporary works by self-taught artists like Henry Darger, Adolf Wolfli, and Bessie Harvey. Most objects are American but many comprise the museum’s international collection as well.

By comparing foreign artists’ work to that of American artists, you might ask yourself which, if any, themes tend to define just American folk art and which tend to permeate all forms of folk art. Pieces in the museum date from America’s colonial period to the present and the exhibit included everything from weathervanes to whirligigs, from the interior walls of a house to quilts, sculptures, toys and, not surprisingly, quite a few paintings. Where else can you see works by masters of the 20th century such as Horace Pippin, Bill Traylor, Martin Ramirez, Morris Hirshfield, Sister Gertrude Morgan, and Nellie Mae Rowe?

When you go to the American Museum of Folk Art, don’t forget to also check out its old location, where it still has exhibits: the Eva and Morris Feld Gallery at Two Lincoln Square. It is definitely worth checking the website to see what is going on at both sites. The museum and the gallery often coordinate and show exhibits that complement each other. For a listing of current exhibits click here, http://www.folkartmuseum.org.

But what kind of research topic would bring you to the museum or the gallery? A lot of topics, actually. Here are just a couple of themes to explore: Looking at the decorative furniture, you can see a Neoclassical revival in which the brand new republic looked back to the legacy of the ancient civilizations of Greece and Rome, as well as to the British, for decorative styles. In the quilts, you can see patterns with themes of patriotism, religion, and personal stories. Quilts and painted scenes bear religious phrases and imagery.

You should know that there is a book of masterworks from the permanent collection. It’s great because it provides an extensive artistic and historic context for many works. Although the book is no longer available as part of the exhibit, it is available for purchase in the museum’s shop and available for reference in the museum’s library (which is open to the public by appointment – call ext. 110). Take some time to look through this book.

Besides checking out the book, the best advice we can give about the museum is TAKE A TOUR. We learned so much! The tour of the gallery is free to those who have paid the museum’s general admission. It examines not only specific pieces of artwork, but also teaches you how to approach folk art—what to look for as you go through the exhibit. Don’t be afraid to ask the tour guides questions, especially when you first arrive. They are probably your greatest resource.

Depending on your interests, the museum may offer educational programs that you want to look into. Tours and workshops specifically geared to students are only for large school groups during the school day, and you cannot join a school group that is not your own. But you should look into the many public programs that the museum offers: lectures, films, gallery tours, workshops, artist presentations, and weekend family programs. Many of these are free with admission.

For any questions about using the American Museum of Folk Art as an educational resource, contact Janet Lo at 212-265-1040 ext. 119.