Mingei International Museum
Encyclopedia
The Mingei International Museum is a non-profit public institution that collects, conserves and exhibits folk art, craft and design. The museum was first founded in 1974 and its building opened in 1978. The word mingei
, meaning 'art of the people,' was coined by the Japanese scholar Dr. Sōetsu Yanagi by combining the Japanese words for all people (min) and art (gei).
In May 1978, Mingei International Museum of World Folk Art opened at University Towne Centre in San Diego with the exhibition, Dolls and Folk Toys of the World.
In August 1996, Mingei International was relocated to the historic House of Charm
on the Plaza de Panama in Balboa Park. It shares the central square with the San Diego Museum of Art
and the Timken Museum of Art
.
In 2003, Mingei International opened a second museum in downtown Escondido
, in North San Diego County. The premiere exhibition, Niki de Saint Phalle Remembered featured the artist's
work from the Museum’s permanent collection and loans from the Niki Charitable Art Foundation.
In its 30-year history, Mingei International has presented 140 exhibitions, accompanied by related lectures, films, demonstrations, workshops, music, theater and dance.
Mingei International Museum closed its Escondido museum galleries to the public on June 26, 2010.
Several regions of the world are represented.
Mingei
', the Japanese folk art movement, was developed in the late 1920s and 1930s in Japan. Its founding father was Yanagi Sōetsu .-Origins:In 1916, Yanagi made his first trip to Korea out of a curiosity for Korean crafts...
, meaning 'art of the people,' was coined by the Japanese scholar Dr. Sōetsu Yanagi by combining the Japanese words for all people (min) and art (gei).
History
Mingei International Museum was founded by Martha Longenecker, Professor of Art Emerita, San Diego State University. As an artist craftsman who studied pottery-making in Japan, she became acquainted with and learned from the founders and leaders of the Mingei Association of Japan. Under her guidance, the Museum was established and developed over more than 27 years.In May 1978, Mingei International Museum of World Folk Art opened at University Towne Centre in San Diego with the exhibition, Dolls and Folk Toys of the World.
In August 1996, Mingei International was relocated to the historic House of Charm
House of Charm
The House of Charm is a historic museum building in Balboa Park, San Diego. It was built for the 1915-16 Panama-California Exposition, and like most buildings from that Exposition it features Mission Revival Style architecture. It acquired its current name, "House of Charm", during the park's...
on the Plaza de Panama in Balboa Park. It shares the central square with the San Diego Museum of Art
San Diego Museum of Art
The San Diego Museum of Art is a fine arts museum located in Balboa Park in San Diego, California that houses a broad collection with particular strength in Spanish art. The San Diego Museum of Art opened as The Fine Arts Gallery of San Diego on February 28, 1926, and changed its name to the San...
and the Timken Museum of Art
Timken Museum of Art
The Timken Museum of Art is a fine art museum located in Balboa Park in San Diego, California, close to the San Diego Museum of Art.-History:...
.
In 2003, Mingei International opened a second museum in downtown Escondido
Escondido, California
Escondido is a city occupying a shallow valley ringed by rocky hills, just north of the city of San Diego, California. Founded in 1888, it is one of the oldest cities in San Diego County. The city had a population of 143,911 at the 2010 census. Its municipal government set itself an operating...
, in North San Diego County. The premiere exhibition, Niki de Saint Phalle Remembered featured the artist's
Niki de Saint Phalle
Niki de Saint Phalle, born Catherine-Marie-Agnès-Brandon Fal de Saint Phalle was a French sculptor, painter, and film maker.-The early years:...
work from the Museum’s permanent collection and loans from the Niki Charitable Art Foundation.
In its 30-year history, Mingei International has presented 140 exhibitions, accompanied by related lectures, films, demonstrations, workshops, music, theater and dance.
Mingei International Museum closed its Escondido museum galleries to the public on June 26, 2010.
Collections
The Museum's collections comprise 17,500 objects from 141 countries. The collections contain artifacts from the 3rd century BCE to the present day and include objects as diverse as ancient clay vessels and 21st-century Venetian glass. http://www.mingei.org/collections/index.phpSeveral regions of the world are represented.
- Mexico: pottery, wood carvings, textiles, retablos, masks
- India: bronzes, wood carvings, pottery, textiles
- China: costumes, jewelry, wood carvings, pottery
- Japan: pottery, textiles, wood carvings, lacquer ware, metal work
- Indonesia: ancestral monuments, wood carvings, textiles, masks, sculptures
- Africa: pottery, head rests, stools, masks, textiles
- Pre-Columbian: pottery and textiles from Central and South America
- Middle East: textiles, jewelry, wood carvings
- U.S.A.: mid 20th-century pottery; contemporary furniture, textiles, glass; Navajo weavings