Tend

Tending is a gentle, intentional act that guides everything Mingei does.

As the season shifts and spring warmth turns us to gardens and domestic spaces, we are nurturing objects, stories, and young learners. Spring at Mingei is rich with beauty and ideas grounded in our shared need to make, to care, and to sustain. This season’s exhibitions and programs reveal how tending is present in the rhythms and textures of everyday life.

To Catch a Fish invites us to consider the deep interdependence between people and marine life, and our responsibility as stewards of the natural world. Artist Marianne Nicolson illuminates the urgency of tending to ancestral knowledge and living practice. At the same time, Robert Lang’s handmade paper—created from the ashes of his Altadena home then folded into origami fish—suggests another kind of tending altogether: the quiet, patient work of holding grief and loss.

In our most familiar spaces, we encounter this care. There is something devotional in the annual spring cleaning—opening windows, removing dust from beneath the refrigerator, returning order to our space after the end of a dull winter. India Thompson’s Feels Like Home reimagines everyday objects and appliances, woven to scale from reed. Her work is intimate and personal, and asks: Are we tending to objects, or memories?

Farm to Craft offers the most elemental connection to our theme. Tending to crops is ancient, universal, and woven into culture and geography across millennia. This stewardship of land lives deep in our collective imagination, and, standing among the objects on our entry level, one can almost sense the hands of the farmers and makers who brought them into being.

If you have young children or grandchildren—or any small people in your life—we hope you’ll join us for Mini Mingei. This biweekly program opens with a story read aloud by our talented educators, then invites caregivers and little ones to make together, side by side, in a guided and unhurried setting. It fosters intergenerational connection and plants the earliest roots of creative life. The art of the people begins with our youngest people!

These are, for many of us, genuinely challenging times. But tending is meaningful work—especially when we do it for one another. Sustained commitment to what we value is how relationships deepen, and communities hold. Thank you for being part of ours, and for trusting us with the objects and stories at the heart of this Museum. We hope to see you at Mingei soon. Until then, tend to what matters most.

Jess

Microwave exemplifies the various emotional, humorous, and ironic layers present in each work featured in the exhibition, India Thompson: Looks Like Home. The artist, India Thompson, represents a once-new and exciting technological advancement that speeds up the cooking process, through the slow and meticulous craft of round reed basketry. Unlike a real microwave, with a timer to automatically heat food, allowing you to continue onto other household tasks without much thought, Thompson’s woven replica requires her constant attention in order to recreate the details of her beloved and reliable appliance. 

As a person who has lived in multiple rented apartments with countless fixtures that she does not legally own but must tend to as her temporary home, Thompson’s recreations of these fixtures are caringly-made keepsakes she can finally call her own.

As Mingei’s Director of Engagement, Learning, and Impact, and as a mom, tending to a child's natural appreciation for beauty and making is a deeply personal mission. Even before I had my own kids, I felt a calling to create spaces within art environments where children could truly belong.

To tend is to help a child, usually moving a mile a minute, to finally slow down and look closely. It’s about creating the opportunity to feel the cool squish of clay between their fingers, to carefully pull a single thread through fabric, or to simply hold space for a story to be read aloud. At Mingei, we believe these moments of making aren't just crafts; they are the seeds of a lifelong connection to the world around us. These moments show our littlest makers that art isn't just something to be looked at, it's something they can reach out and create themselves. It turns a Mingei visit into a personal discovery, sparking that sense of wonder when they realize they aren't just observers; they are artists with the power to bring their own ideas to life.

Mini Mingei is a dedicated space for our littlest visitors, ages 2-6, to pause, create, and be utterly astonished by what their own little hands can do. It is here that we begin to instill a lifelong love of making, proving that you’re never too young to find joy in the "art of the people."

Every lasting relationship is shaped through acts of care—small gestures repeated over time that nurture connection and allow love to grow. Celebrations themselves are moments of tending: opportunities to gather the people who support us, honor the bonds that sustain us, and mark the beginning of new chapters together.

At Mingei, we invite couples to celebrate these milestones in a setting honoring creativity and human connection. Architect Jennifer Luce of LUCE et studio designed this award-winning building as a space for beauty and discovery. Guests might gather in the open-air Cargill Commons and Neeley Courtyard overlooking the historic Plaza de Panama, celebrate in the light-filled La Atalaya Foundation Theater with its glass wall framing views of Palm Canyon, or toast the evening on the rooftop terrace beneath the silhouette of the California Tower.

Each space offers its own atmosphere, yet all share the same spirit: an environment where meaningful moments can be held with care.

At Mingei, weddings become more than a single day’s celebration. They are the planting of something lasting—a promise tended by family, friends, and community. Within these walls, couples begin that journey surrounded by love and the shared human stories defining the art of the people.

Photos from the wedding of Shola & Tyler.

Coordination: @laurelstreetevents; Photography: @madelinebarrphoto; Venue: @mingeimuseum; Florals: @petaltothemetalco; Catering: @urbankitchencatering; Band: @goldenbellmusic; HMU: @Alicia’sBeautyandCo.

Seventy percent of our planet is covered in water, from shallow freshwater streams to the deepest saltwater oceans, altogether inhabited by as many as 30,000 species of fish. For millennia, fish have been an important source of sustenance for people, but to catch fish, people—who are land-dwelling and oxygen-breathing—must approach or enter the water, a realm profoundly apart from their own.

Successful fishing requires skill, patience, and the right equipment. In many parts of the world, traditional fishing gear, including boats, nets, floats, traps, hooks, and spears, continues to be made by hand. Fishermen and women must also know fish behavior and habitats, as well as the impact of the weather and of other animals competing for this food source.

In many cultures historically located near water, fish and their watery habitats are associated with mystical and spiritual traditions. Fish are frequently linked symbolically to fertility, abundance, healing, freedom, and resilience. Underwater realms are sometimes thought to be governed by divine, supernatural, or ancestral forces. Where this is the case, communities tend to these resources and environments with care, reverence, and a sense of reciprocal responsibility. 

Global demand for this staple food has led to an unsustainable level of overfishing. Large-scale, industrial extraction methods, water pollution, global warming, the construction of dams, and the introduction of invasive species together have had a devastating impact on fish populations, and therefore on local communities. Cultures whose livelihoods, spiritual traditions, and very existence depend upon fish, grapple with aspects of their environment that are vanishing. 

This exhibition presents over 130 works of art and craft from Mingei’s permanent collection that are either used in fishing or illuminate the relationship between people and fish, together with several stunning contemporary artworks. 

To Catch a Fish is on view at Mingei International Museum from May 2nd to November 1st, 2026.

When visitors encounter an object on view at Mingei, the experience often feels seamless. A rain cape floats against the wall. A bowl rests quietly in a case. Yet behind the moment of discovering these objects is a practice of careful tending.

This spirit of tending is woven deeply into the Museum’s work, and it is especially visible in the hands of Exhibition Designer Jerry Maloney.

For Farm to Craft: Grains in Global Folk Art, Jerry created a custom mount for a 19th-century Japanese mino, a rain cape made from hand-beaten rice straw and cotton. Once worn in the fields to keep farmers dry, the garment carries with it the story of grain cultivation and ingenuity. But such a delicate object cannot simply be hung. It requires a custom solution meant to preserve such fragile work. 

Down in Mingei's workshop, Jerry began by carefully measuring the cape and cutting a clear plexiglass mount to size. Precise holes were drilled to allow monofilament supports to be stitched directly to the straw garment. Rare earth magnets, secured with epoxy, allow the mount to be safely installed while remaining nearly invisible to the viewer.

The result is subtle by design. The mount disappears so the object can speak.

Jerry’s work mirrors the spirit of the objects Mingei celebrates. Our exhibitions are built through acts of making as well. Mounts are measured, cut, stitched, and assembled with the same attention to material and form that the original makers practiced.

These details may go unnoticed, but they are essential acts of stewardship. In this way, we honor the object, the maker who created it, the culture that shaped it, and the audience who encounters it today. Through this quiet, deliberate care, we ensure these works endure—so their beauty and meaning can be experienced for generations to come.

Curator Guusje Sanders shares a few of her personal picks from Boundless. She provides insight into her connection to the pieces for reasons that are sometimes unexpected, and personal. Just like the rest of us, sometimes a piece just speaks to you. Enjoy this fun behind-the-scenes glimpse into her eye, her instincts, and what makes certain pieces stick.

Joanie picks up the handsaw she uses to make grooves for the traditional wooden bottom, pointing out a piece of soft flannel wrapped around it, secured with an oversized safety pin. “My mom put this on there. Isn’t it cute? I change the blade, of course, but I leave this on.”

Throughout our conversations, her sweet, creative light shines through—her nickname, “Joanie", suits her sunny, Southern California energy. The baskets may look perfect, almost hard to believe they were made by a human hand, but Joan embraces the spirit of a maker and the cliché reputation that comes with it. “Sometimes, I’m a little out there, my mom was too, some attribute to age—but that’s not entirely it—it’s always been part of being a creative person too, I think. Your brain works in a different way. I used to laugh; I always thought it was fun to be called an artist because they're kind of nutty. You can get away with more. People just roll their eyes,” she says with a little chuckle.

Embark on a global culinary journey with ARTIFACT at Night—an exclusive monthly prix fixe dinner series exploring flavors from around the world.

Upcoming dinners:
April 16 — Indonesia
May 21 — To Catch a Fish (inspired by the exhibition)
June 18 — Silk Road

Each dinner offers a new perspective on place, culture, and the stories experienced through food. Join us!

Mingei International Museum thrives because of the generosity of people who believe in the power of creativity, community, and cultural exchange. Alongside annual gifts, some of the Museum’s most dedicated supporters choose to make a lasting impact through legacy giving.

By including Mingei in an estate plan, such as a will or trust, supporters become members of Ancestors to the Future, the Museum’s legacy society. These forward-looking commitments help sustain our exhibitions, expand community and education programs, and care for Mingei’s collection of more than 30,000 objects.

Legacy gifts ensure that Mingei remains a place where students, families, artists, and curious visitors can gather to experience the joy of creativity for decades to come. If you are considering a planned gift or would like to learn more, the Advancement team would be happy to connect with you.

Heather Kerner, Development Manager 

hkerner@mingei.org or 619-704-7504 

Anonymous

Malvina Abbott

Barbara C. Adachi*

Holly and Michael Adams 

Jane M. Ahring*

Claire Anderson

Norm Applebaum, AIA*

Sally Ault 

Joyce Axelrod

Elaine Baldwin

Jan Bart

Jan Bast*

Maurine B. Beinbrink

April Blankfort*

Angelina Boaz

Robyn Bottomley

David E. Boufford

Patricia C. Dwinnell Butler*

Carmela Caldera Bowen

J. Dallas & Mary H. Clark*

Theodore Cohen*

Kathleen and Joel Cook

Roger C. Cornell, M.D.*

Florence Covell*

Kathryn Crane

Katy and Mike Dessent

Alice and Doug* Diamond

Rumi Dover

DeWitt Drury*

Bernard Eggertsen and Florence Nemkov*

James Eisen* and Madeleine Kemp-Eisen

Heidrun Faulconer

Michele Fergoda

Norma and Richard Ferrara*

Fran and John Ferris

David Martin Finkelstein*

Walter Fitch, III*

The Barbara A. Gaynor Trust*

Audrey S. Geisel*

Mrs. Milton D. Goldberg*

Leslie Grace*

Jessica Hanson York and Keith York

Jean Hahn Hardy and John I. Hardy*

Jake Harshbarger*

Joan B. Heaney*

Carol F. Hinrichs

Linda and Jerry* Hirshberg

Marilee Hong*

Nancy and Steve Howard

Frances Hunter*

Robert Bruce Inverarity*

Dr. Sheila Johnson*

Gladys Lucille Johnstone*

Wayne S. Julien

Charmaine and Maurice Kaplan*

Louisa S. Kassler*

Maurice Kawashima

Maureen Pecht King

Rita Krieger

Daina A. Krigens and Hugh Lawrence

John Gregory Kroll*

Greg La Chapelle*

Theresa F. Lai

Clara and L. Curtis* Larson

Gail A. Laughlin

Lawrence Lee and Nick Pavelich

I. Lehman Trust*

Charlotte G. and Don B. Leiffer*

Theodora F. Lewis*

Robin J. Lipman

Josephine R. MacConnell*

Matthews Survivor’s Trust*

The Mayers Family Trust

The McGrory Family

Christa M. McReynolds

Elaine and Lane McVey

Meadows Family Trust*

Carol Miller Trust*

Juanita H. Dahlstrom Miller*

Joani Nelson*

Nancy L. Nenow

Carolyn* and Tom Owen-Towle

Gwendolyn E. Peacher*

Estate of Jane W. Pettus*

Sydney Martin Roth*

Dr. Beverly H. Sheiffer*

Curt Sherman

Ron Shore

Rob Sidner

Nancy E. Snyder

Dorothy Day Stewart*

Tomoye Takahashi Trust*

Leona Mercer Vennard*

Dorothy Vogler

Joanne C. and Frank R.* Warren

Bert Waxler*

Therese T. Whitcomb*

White Family Trust*

Terri Peterson Zimdars

* deceased

Mingei's 2026 exhibitions reflect the breadth of craft across cultures, geographies, and mediums—each rooted in the beauty of everyday making. Together, they invite us to look closely at how process and tradition shape the objects that surround us. 

To Catch a Fish

On View: May 2 - Nov 1, 2026

Presents over sixty works of craft and art that are either used in fishing or that illuminate the relationship between people and fish.

India Thompson: Looks Like Home

On View: May 16 - Oct 18, 2026

Thompson meticulously weaves reed sculptures of her apartment’s contents, transforming familiar items like microwaves, toilets, and refrigerators into poignant reflections on belonging and impermanence.

Clearly Indigenous: Native Visions Reimagined in Glass

On View: Jun 27 - Sep 20, 2026

Explore how Indigenous artists fuse heritage and contemporary glassmaking to illuminate their stories, connection to nature, and cultural traditions.

Painted Prayers: The Japanese Folk Art Tradition of Ema

On View: Oct 10, 2026 - Apr 4, 2027

This exhibition traces the history of this religious painting tradition, explores the uses of large and small ema, and introduces the wide range of imagery and prayers they represent. Curated by Japanese art historian Meher McArthur, it is the first U.S. museum exhibition to present such an extensive display of ema, spanning from the 18th century to today.

Skate Craft: Do-It-Yourself Design in Skateboarding

On View: Nov 21, 2026 - May 9, 2027

Skate Craft celebrates skateboarding's true "Do-It-Yourself" values, tracing its evolution from the early days of making decks in garages and building ramps from found lumber to the handcrafted works of art seen today.