Mingei International Museum

A Tree of Life is part of the pottery and ceramic traditions of the central highlands of #Mexico. These beautiful, intricate objects have long been beloved in the Museum’s collection. So much so, that in a lighted niche outside the Museum’s east entrance, #Mingei is creating its own Tree of Life to welcome visitors throughout the inaugural year of its reopening. Mingei’s Creative Director, Patricia Cué, had the vision for our Tree of Life and it is a project close to her hea...rt because some of the best Tree of Life examples come from her home state of Puebla, Mexico. As Patricia explains, these trees are more than a craft, they are a medium for telling stories, and in Mingei’s Tree of Life supporters will help tell the Museum's #transformation story. You can be part of this story by making a donation to the Museum’s capital campaign. A contribution allows you to add a leaf, animal or character ornament to Mingei’s tree. Supporters will be recognized by name on an ornament hanging from the tree, and after one year, will be sent their #ornament as a keepsake. Learn more at mingei.org/find-your-place.

Combs in an exhibition? Yes, please! When the Museum reopens on September 3, its inaugural exhibitions GLOBAL SPIRIT and HUMBLE SPIRIT/PRICELESS ART will feature stunning everyday objects (like these combs) from its permanent collection. But the gallery space won't be the only area where you'll find beautiful works of art! The free Commons level will also showcase a selection of objects from the Museum's permanent collection along with new large-scale commissioned artworks. In the new Courtyard and at the main entrances visitors will once again see beloved Mingei icons like the Nikigator. For more information visit https://bit.ly/3uP9rF0.

#OTD Museum Founder, Martha Longenecker, was born. Martha (1920-2013) was an accomplished potter, professor and museum director. She established her own ceramics studio in Claremont, California, where she made wheel-thrown stoneware forms. Then in 1955, San Diego State University asked her to develop the school’s ceramics program. During Martha’s 35-year tenure as Professor of Art, she taught the history of #ceramics and #design. Continuing post-graduate research included ...significant study in Japan under the guidance of the #potter Shoji Hamada (18941978) and the contemporary potter Tatsuzo Shimaoka (19192007). Working in Japan gave her the opportunity to directly experience the teachings of #art historian and aesthetician Dr. Setsu Yanagi, whom she had met in 1952, and who coined the term #mingeiart of the people. For over 27 years, her inspiration and guidance established and developed the #Museum, bringing art of the people to the people of the San Diego region and beyond. Learn more about Martha and the Museum at https://mingei.org/about/history-of-mingei.

Today is #WhatIsItWednesday! What do you think this object is?

Vitsoe Universal Shelving System was recently installed in the Collaborative Level, Shop Mingei and Library by a team of working artists from New York who've been doing this for years. #MeetYourNewMingei

Celebrate #AAPIHeritageMonth with Pacific Arts Movement and us! This Sunday, May 16 at 12:30pm Kathleen Dang, Development & Engagement Director at Pacific Arts Movement will show us how to make a Chinese Lantern via Facebook Live.

Learn to create a sugar skull piñata with Diana Benavidez!

Will we see you this Sunday at our sugar skull piñata Facebook Live tutorial with artist Diana Benavidez? Supplies list and more info at https://mingei.org/learn/for-families.

We are honored to announce that we are a recipient of a two-year Institute of Museum and Library Services CARES Act Grant which will support our distance learning programs, as well as a new program with ElderHelp of San Diego and Jewish Family Service of San Diego. These programs will provide hands-on artmaking opportunities through a combination of tangible materials and digital platforms. Click the link below to learn more!

Honor #IndigenousPeoplesDay by learning about the indigenous people in our region at Barona Cultural Center & MuseumSan Diego County’s first museum on a Native American reservation dedicated to the perpetuation and presentation of the Kumeyaay-Diegueño culture. Click the link below for hours and safety protocols.

This coat is featured in our pop-up exhibition, Around the World with Mingei International Museum at the Coronado Public Library. These special embroidered coats are called chyrpys and were made by and for Turkmen women of the Tekke group. The vestigial sleeves were purely decorative, as these coats were often worn as head coverings and attached to a headdress. Woman’s Coat (chyrpy)... 1930s Silk, cotton Northern Turkmenistan, Tekke Turkmen Mingei International Museum, Gift of Barb Rich See more

Create a bat mobile and join a drawing tutorial led by Boygirlparty.com Susie Ghahremani for September's Family Sunday from Home!

Don't forget to meet us on Facebook Live tomorrow at 1pm! We'll be having a special Family Sunday from Home art-making demo with artist and illustrator, Susie Ghahremani. Learn a little bit more about Susie of Boygirlparty.com here: https://mingei.org/stories/drawing/susie-ghahremani

San Diego Design Week kicks off tomorrow and Deputy Director and Chief Curator, Christine Knoke Hietbrink, provides a sneak-peek into what you can expect from this five-day celebration of design and creativity. Mingei International Museum took the lead in organizing the first-ever #SDDesignWeek (SDDW) as an expression of its mission to celebrate human creativity from all cultures and eras. Mingei is the presenting cultural institution for SDDW and is thrilled to collaborate with the diverse design community in our region to bring Design Week to life.

Celebrate our region's creative community at the first-ever San Diego Design Week September 9-13! #SDDesignWeek offers over 100 programs including studio talks, portfolio reviews, cooking demos, cross-border projects, self-guided tours and more. Click the link below or head over to San Diego Design Week to learn more about presenters and programming.

San Diego Design Week is a five-day celebration of design in all forms September 9-13, 2020. This event is presented by Mingei International Museum with Founding Sponsor Intuit. Learn more at sddesignweek.org.