Seek

Summer has a way of inviting us outward. The days stretch longer, routines soften, and ideally, we find a bit more time to wander, discover, and find inspiration. It’s a time for seeking out the best things this season has to offer! 

Summer at Mingei is shaped by this spirit of exploration, inviting visitors of all ages to discover new perspectives, creative practices, and meaningful moments together. This month, we are thrilled to install Clearly Indigenous: Native Visions Reimagined in Glass, an extraordinary exhibition featuring contemporary Indigenous artists from across North America and the Pacific Rim. Many of these artists trace inspiration and opportunity back to Dale Chihuly—another artist long present in our Museum—whose early workshops helped open pathways for a generation of Indigenous artists to explore the medium on their own terms. The result is a remarkable collection of luminous works that carry stories of identity, innovation, and cultural continuity. 

For those seeking to learn more, I hope you will join us for a free Community Day to celebrate the opening of Clearly Indigenous on Saturday, July 11. Through artist conversations, Kumeyaay bird singing, basket weaving demonstrations, and more, the Museum becomes a place not only to experience art, but to connect more deeply with one another and the cultures that shape this exhibition.

This season also marked the conclusion of the first-ever “Teens at Mingei” cohort. Over the past year, this group of 12 high school students explored careers in the arts through mentorship, workshops, and conversations with artists and creative professionals across San Diego. Watching their confidence and curiosity grow has been so exciting, and we are already preparing to launch a new cohort in the fall. The future of the arts depends on young people being encouraged to seek creative lives and imagine new possibilities for themselves.

We are just as excited about the summer offerings for our youngest audience! Mini Mingei is free for all families through August. We wanted to make it easier for caregivers and young children to experience the joy of making and learning together. These early encounters with creativity encourage children to seek wonder, ask questions, and see themselves as makers from the very beginning.

Thank you for continuing to seek alongside us, for supporting artists, celebrating creativity, and helping Mingei remain a place of exploration and community. We hope this season brings moments of inspiration and unexpected discovery.

Jess

The exhibition To Catch a Fish explores not only fishing gear from different parts of the world, but the more mystical aspects of fishing lore, including the existence of supernatural watery beings.  

This incredible trough was made in the Southeast Asian nation of Myanmar, formerly known as Burma. It is monoxylous—carved of a single log of wood—and depicts a mermaid. In historic Burmese texts, mermaids are known as Yay Thu Ma. They were (and continue to be!) spotted in the Irrawaddy River, the principal river of Myanmar, which winds its way through 61% of the country. The river is a lifeline, serving as a waterway for transportation, a source of irrigation for agriculture, and, of course, as a source of fish for human consumption. 

The Irrawaddy is home to one of the most interesting fishing practices in the world, in which dolphins cooperate with fishermen to herd fish toward fishing nets. This extraordinary practice of collaboration between the animal kingdom and humans makes it clear why there might be convictions that other mystical beings exist below the surface of the water. 

In the day-to-day bustle, finding the space to slow down and make something with our hands can feel like a rare luxury. As children, our creativity is fiercely protected. We are actively encouraged to build worlds from mud and sticks, or piece together stories from magazine scraps and paint. Yet, somewhere along the way, adulthood shifts our relationship to art, and we become consumers rather than creators. In a world increasingly driven by efficiency and consumerism, many of us are seeking a way back to that creative instinct. 

This season, we are leaning wholeheartedly into the joy of working with our hands. We’re introducing our very first Camp Mingei: Craft Camp for Grown-Ups—three unique, artist-led workshops built around the simple idea of staying curious and enjoying the creative process. Our studio is a space for what we so often seek but rarely find in everyday life: a chance to step away from the screens, slow down, and trade productivity for pure creative play.

Alongside camp, we are launching Knot Together, the latest installment of our Together series. Inspired by the traditional fishing nets and utilitarian nautical knots featured in our exhibition To Catch a Fish, this series dives into the tactile world of macramé. Here, participants can seek connection not just with a physical craft, but with a community of fellow makers.

We want to give adults the space to be joyful creators. It's an invitation to focus on the process rather than productivity, and to rediscover how good it feels to make things alongside other people. Step into the studio and join us!

In the world of contemporary craft, some of the work I find the most interesting is by Native American artists. Across the many sovereign tribal nations within the United States and Canada, Indigenous artists are drawing on extraordinarily rich cultural traditions, craft technologies, and cosmologies. Upon those foundations, they are innovating, re-inventing, collaborating, and breaking new ground. On June 27, 2026, Mingei International opens the exhibition Clearly Indigenous: Native Visions Reimagined in Glass, curated by Dr. Letitia Chambers, a scholar of Cherokee descent. The exhibition traces the story of the introduction of one practice—studio glass—to Indigenous communities, and how the art form has spread and evolved. 

One thread of the story begins with the founding of an art school for Native American students in 1962 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The Institute of American Indian Arts, established first as a high school, eventually became a college and attracted Indigenous students from across the country.  The school also attracted diverse faculty from a variety of backgrounds, including the renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly, who served as a visiting professor in 1974. Chihuly established the school’s first glass program and hotshop, and taught glass blowing. 

The school’s co-founder, Cherokee artist Lloyd Kiva New, is also considered one of the founders of the contemporary American Indian art movement.  He encouraged students at IAIA to look forward, and not to be confined by the pressure of preservationism or the expectations of authenticity or legitimacy imposed by others. The school made space for a flowering of innovation and exploration, and the spirit of dynamism in Indigenous art-making spread far beyond the school.

Clearly Indigenous presents 120 glass works by 29 Native American and Aboriginal artists, and is on view from June 27–September 20, 2026

Seeking extraordinary objects often takes us beyond the Museum's walls. For To Catch a Fish, that journey led Director of Registration and Manager of Exhibitions, Caitlin Podas, and Registration Intern, Makena Jackson, to Pasadena, where they met artist Robert Lang and retrieved one of the exhibition's most remarkable contemporary works.

Some artworks are simply too delicate to ship. Instead, they require careful planning, hands-on handling, and, occasionally, a road trip. 

Lang's Vertical Pond III: From the Ashes is composed of dozens of intricately folded origami koi fish made from ash paper. The work carries special significance, as the paper was created from the remains of Lang's Altadena home and studio, which were lost in the Eaton Fire. Through transformation and resilience, the artwork reflects themes of loss, renewal, and perseverance.

Upon arriving in Pasadena, Caitlin and Makena met Lang, learned more about the artwork and its creation, and, of course, met his dog, Casey. After completing the necessary paperwork, they carefully packed boxes containing the koi and loaded them into the Museum van for the journey back to San Diego.

Once safely at Mingei, the work entered the next phase of its exhibition journey. Caitlin and Makena conducted detailed condition reports using Articheck, documenting the precise condition of each component before installation. This essential process helps ensure that every object entrusted to the Museum is carefully protected and preserved.

The final installation required close coordination among the exhibition team. Following Lang's detailed diagrams and instructions, staff carefully arranged the individual koi to create the illusion of fish swimming through water, transforming dozens of separate elements into a single, flowing work of art.

Visitors to To Catch a Fish encounter the finished installation, but behind every object is a story waiting to be discovered. This journey to Pasadena was one small part of Mingei's ongoing effort to seek out and share the stories that bring exhibitions to life. Watch the team pick up and install the piece here. 

At Shop Mingei, we seek out artists and brands whose work reflects the creativity and care at the heart of Mingei's mission. From local artisans to makers across the globe, each product tells a story of craft and design.

A brand visitors gravitate towards in the shop is Ichcha, founded by three sisters who work closely with artisans in India to preserve traditional block printing and textile-making techniques. Through their commitment to handmade production, women's empowerment, and sustainable practices, Ichcha demonstrates how craft can support both cultural heritage and meaningful social impact. 

We spoke with the sisters behind the brand to learn more about their work, their partnerships with artisans, and the beauty they find in imperfection.

How would you describe the philosophy behind the brand?

It’s simple: Do good work with good people. 

We believe that the most beautiful things are made by hand, with intention. That beauty is not perfect—it is honest. It lives in the slight variation of a natural dye, in the imperfect impression of a hand-carved block, in the knowledge that a real person's hands brought this object to life. 

We seek to develop sustainable products but also to have a meaningful relationship with the people who create the beautiful treasures. 

When you host an event at Mingei, you're not simply renting a venue—you're inviting guests into an experience. For those seeking a gathering space that inspires curiosity and connection, Mingei offers a one-of-a-kind setting where art and hospitality come together.

Imagine welcoming your guests on Mingei’s Terrace, where sweeping views of Balboa Park create an unforgettable first impression. From there, guests can explore galleries filled with objects that celebrate the beauty of everyday life. Each exhibition offers opportunities for conversation, transforming a traditional event into an experience rich with inspiration. As guests move through the Museum, they are invited to seek out unexpected moments of connection and discovery.

Visitors may find a quiet moment in Mingei’s beloved Library before continuing to the Entry Level, where exhibitions provide a dynamic backdrop for receptions, networking events, and celebrations. Here, guests can enjoy cocktails and seasonal bites from ARTIFACT, Mingei’s Michelin-rated restaurant, while surrounded by exceptional works of art. Just steps away, Shop Mingei offers thoughtfully curated gifts and handcrafted objects created by artists and makers from San Diego and around the world.

As the event continues, attendees make their way to the Museum’s Theater, an ideal setting for presentations, lectures, performances, film screenings, and keynote addresses.

Whether hosting a corporate gathering, nonprofit fundraiser, client reception, or private celebration, Mingei offers more than a venue. With three distinctive floors, inspiring exhibitions, exceptional hospitality, and one-of-a-kind views, every event becomes an opportunity to create meaningful connections and lasting memories. At Mingei, guests discover a place where inspiration can be found around every corner.

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:
June 18—Silk Road
July 17 *please note this is a Friday night dinner
August 20

Each gathering extends the Museum experience beyond the gallery, inviting guests to explore culture through taste and connection.

Mingei is grateful to the members and friends who have contributed to the Museum’s 2026 spring giving campaign thus far. While the City's proposed elimination of arts and culture funding remains unchanged, we have been inspired by the many members, donors, and advocates who continue to champion the arts.

Thank you for being a part of this dynamic community, one where we all believe that art belongs to everyone. 

Donors of Note (as of June 1, 2026)

Anonymous

Michael and Holly Adams

Prudence and Michael Arbib

Elaine Baldwin in memory of Marilee Hong 

Lori Baxter

Maurine Beinbrink

William Bergner

David E. Boufford

Dr. Mary Ann Calcott

Betty Carr

Linda Coates

Karen and McDermot Coutts

Ann Rea Craig

Davis Family Trust Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation

Magdalena Donea

Barbara Doren

Susan Drews

Joann Driggers

Jeane F. Erley

Elisabeth Etchell

Barbara Ford

Theresa Friederich-Takasugi and Wayne Takasugi

Catherine R. Friedman

Victoria Fu

Chong-Min Fu-Sosnaud

Karen and Tom Gammiere

Brian Grapilon

Marti Gray

Gail and Douglas Hall

Dr. Emily Hanna and Mr. Anthony Bingham

Andrea Hanson and Chris Szwedo

Dr. Karen L. Helrich and Mr. Bertram Edelstein

Janis Henricks

Carol C. Hill in memory of Marilee Hong 

Carol F. Hinrichs

Anonymous

Rochelle Jacobs

Kate and Jeff Jeffery

Lisa Johnson

Michael and Patricia Kelly

Heather and Ron Kerner

Laura Kertz and David Milsom

Martha King

Aiden Kinsley

Ralph T. and June K. Kubo

Theresa F. Lai in memory of Jean Kockinos

Elizabeth Lancaster

Caroline Lara

Gail A. Laughlin

Lorna Leyton

Amparo Lima-Young

Robin J. Lipman

Allison Manch in memory of Marilee Hong 

Kay Martens

Christine McFadden

Erin McGinn

Douglas and Susan McLeod

Terry Mendez

Pat and John Minnich

Laura Monterosso

Judith Morgan

Caroline and Nick Nordquist

Ann and Darwin Olsen

Virginia S. Patch

Nina and Chuck Podhorsky

Vicki and Jack Reed

Jane Rieger

Patricia Rutledge

Paul Schatz and Juan Carlos Ruiz

Donna Seecof

Barbara Skidmore

Anne Sloop in memory of Danny Wolmer

Elisabeth Spiegelberg

Jeanette Stevens

Kathy L. Taylor

Mary and Ron Taylor

Molly McCormick Thornton

Christine Tilton and Spencer Rudey

Kathy and Jim Waring

Deborah Warriner

Sara Whitehead

Lynn and William Whitehouse

Carole Wilson and Robert Brandt

This fall, Painted Prayers and Skate Craft invite us to consider the many roles craft plays in our lives, from preserving tradition to fueling innovation. Though worlds apart, both exhibitions are rooted in the creativity of everyday people.

Painted Prayers: The Japanese Folk Art Tradition of Ema

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

Spanning more than two centuries, Painted Prayers explores the rich tradition of ema, painted wooden plaques offered in temples and shrines as acts of prayer and remembrance. Curated by Japanese art historian Meher McArthur, it is the first U.S. museum exhibition to present such a wide-ranging collection of ema and the stories they tell.

Skate Craft: Do-It-Yourself Design in Skateboarding

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

Skate Craft explores the creative spirit at the heart of skateboarding, highlighting a culture built on experimentation, resourcefulness, and self-expression. From homemade decks and backyard ramps to contemporary artist-designed boards, the exhibition showcases the ingenuity that continues to shape skate culture today.