I’m Jennifer Findley, Chair of the Museum’s Board of Trustees and a huge fan of Mingei! The Museum has grown tremendously in recent years, presenting a rotation of innovative exhibitions paired with engaging programs. As an art advisor and advocate for artists, I’m especially excited about Mingei’s work with living artists who share fresh perspectives through the traditional mediums of folk art and craft. These initiatives continuously inspire me to support Mingei and help to steer the Museum forward.
Mingei exhibitions highlight the contemporary work of artists near and far, making space for today's craftspeople to share meaningful stories that address important and timely issues. A few shining examples:
- Piñatas: The High Art of Celebration featured nearly 20 artists, including the memorable full-scale Low Rider Car by Justin Favella, to spotlight piñatas as a traditional craft and vibrant contemporary art form.
- In La Frontera, over 85 works from international contemporary jewelry artists were shared with the public, including 24 artists who were born, raised, live, or work along the U.S. – Mexico border region.
- Our current exhibition, Blue Gold: The Art and Science of Indigo, highlights historical objects alongside the work of more than a dozen contemporary artists exploring the creative expression of indigo.
To allow Mingei to continue to collaborate and support our creative community, we invite you to contribute to this year’s Annual Appeal.
Local artists and makers also bring their unique craft skills and perspective to educational programs for members and the public. These artists teach annually in the Museum’s Summer Camp series, lead craft-making sessions for monthly Family Sunday events, and present talks and workshops planned around each exhibition. Our audience is growing, and so is our creative network. It’s only with your generosity that we’re able to offer compelling exhibitions and programs, and we invite you to support the Museum’s mission by making a gift to the 2024 Annual Appeal.
Your donation will help Mingei continue to honor our mission and traditions while supporting local artists and propelling the future of craft forward.
On behalf of the Museum’s board, staff, and volunteers, thank you for your past support and for your continued passion for Mingei.
With gratitude,
Jennifer Findley
Chair, Board of Trustees
Thank you for supporting the 2024 Annual Appeal!
Donors as of January 17, 2025
Anonymous
Anonymous in memory of Rev. Carolyn S. Owen-Towle
Anonymous in memory of Uyehara-Kaneshiro Families
Tina and Craig Abernethy
Lyn and Dick Allison
Barbara J. Anderson
Valentina Arbab
Teresa King Aubert
Elaine Baldwin
The Baratz Family in honor of Katy Dessent
Sarah Barnes
Cia and Larry Barron
Sandra Barstow in honor of Elinor Merl
Thomas Bauer
Lori Baxter
Sharon G. Beamer
Constance Beardsley
Marie-Claude Beaupre
Mary Beebe and Charles Reilly
Susan Berman
James and Marie Biers
Marilyn Bintz
Robert Black
Alice Bloom
Barbara Bomze
Arthur Boothroyd and Carol Mackersie
Leslie Bouffard
David E. Boufford
Pat Boyce and Debbie Fritsch
Isabella Jolie Bustillos
Dr. Mary Ann Calcott
Carmela Caldera Bowen
Dr. and Mrs. Edgar D. Canada
Lavonne Cashman
Cathy and Michael Casteel
Lynda Claassen in honor of Rob Sidner
Sarah and Tim Clayton
Suzi Click Lewis
Linda Coates
Nancy Coffin and Richard Burkett
Polly Cone and John Neyenesch
Cecelia Conover
Karen and McDermot Coutts in honor of the staff at Mingei
Kathleen Cudahy
Donna Damson
Gary and Denise David
Karen and Terry Davidson
Stephanie J. Davis
Davis Family Trust Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation
The Dawe Family in memory of Jim Dawe
Deborah Deacon
Caroline S. DeMar
Katy and Mike Dessent in memory of Roger C. Cornell
Alice and Doug Diamond
Carol Y. Dickinson
Donna Donati
Barbara Doren
Rumi Dover
Berit and Tom Durler
Earthward Bound Foundation
Dan and Aileen Emer
Alfred and Karin Esser Charitable Fund in memory of Roger C. Cornell
Ellen Fager
Marilyn K. Felfe
Diane and Elliot Feuerstein Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation
Ronald Fichter in memory of Roger C. Cornell
Dale and Matthew Fisher
Kay and Terry Foster
Caroline Frederick
Theresa Friederich-Takasugi and Wayne Takasugi
Catherine R. Friedman
Barbara Fryer
Karen and Tom Gammiere
Natalie Gebet
Golnaz Ghahari
Faye Girsh
Joyce Glazer in memory of Roger C. Cornell
Laurel Gonsalves
Norma and Gary Greene
Warren Guykema
Jill G. Hall
Mike Hallor and Ellen Sidner Hallor
Dr. Emily Hanna and Mr. Anthony Bingham
Andrea Hanson and Chris Szwedo
Jay and Mary Hanson
Jessica Hanson York and Keith York
Patrick Harrison and Eleanor Lynch
Michelle and Ron Hebdon
Kathi Herter
Monica Hickey
Jason and Lindsey High in honor of Maureen King
Carol F. Hinrichs
Judy Hirsh and Dr. Walter Cohen
Linda Hirshberg
Marilee Hong
Maryka Hoover
Mary Howell
Pat Hughes
Irwin Jacobs
Marie Carmen Janssen
William and Kate Jeffery in honor of John Seiber
Dan Jensen in memory of Roger C. Cornell
Bonita Johnston
Christine Justice
Anne-Marie Kaukonen
Kristin Kelly
Michael and Patricia Kelly in memory of Rae J. Mansell
Heather and Ron Kerner
Dr. Aram Kevorkian in memory of Sevan A. Kevorkian
Maureen and Charles King in memory of Roger C. Cornell
Zoe and Eric Kleinbub
Nancy and Curt Koch
Martin and Barbara Kruming
Madeline Lacasse in honor of Erin Lizarraga
Jane LaFazio and Don Strom in honor of Allison Manch
Theresa F. Lai
Elizabeth Lancaster and Eli Shefter
Eloise Lau and Dan Kinnard
Alan Lawson in memory of Arlene Sontag
Caryl Lees
Robin J. Lipman
Jean Litchfield
Claudia Lowenstein
The Lundsten Family
Mary Lydon and Duane Anderson
Kyong and Daniel Macek
Megan Maher
Donna and Peter Mallen
Richard and Raimie Manch
Harold and Beverly Martyn
Monique Matosian-Bharucha and Farhad Bharucha
Margaret Mays
Jeff and Patty Maysent
Bill and Peggy McCarberg Charitable Fund
Dr. and Mrs. Herbert I. McCoy
Katy McDonald and Perry Vasquez
Courtenay C. McGowen
Douglas and Susan McLeod
Carol Mendoza
Elinor Merl and Mark Brodie
Katherine Merten
Maggie and Paul Meyer
Marie Mezan
Bonnie Minamide
Deborah Moceri
Billie Moffitt
Judith Morgan in memory of Roger C. Cornell
Regina Morin in memory of Patricia Schneider
Jennifer Morrissey and Douglas McCannel
Patricia Morrison
Liz Morrison
Maria L. Nagy
Lisa Needle in memory of Patricia Schneider
Judith Nicolaidis
Caroline and Nick Nordquist
Amy Okamura
Virginia Oliver
Ellen O'Neal
Lisbet O'Neil
Judith Koperski Organ in memory of Roger C. Cornell
JoAnn Pari-Mueller and Daniel Mueller
Virginia S. Patch
Gale and James Petrie
Maureen Phillips
Annelisa Polk
Allison and Robert Price Family Foundation
Kerianne Quick
Jeanne Rawlings and John Lamb
Toni Robin TR/PR
Judith Ann Roda in memory of Roger C. Cornell
Allison Rossett and Susan Reynolds
Tina Rounsavell
Raquel Rudoy
Cathy Sang in honor of Jessica and the whole team for their wonderful work
Paul Schatz and Juan Carlos Ruiz
Michele Schlecht
Gail Schneider and David Matlin
Connie Schroeder
Margaret R. Seeley Charitable Foundation
John M. and Patricia A. Seiber
Georgina Sham
Debra Shannon and Arlene Kaplan
Felicia Shaw in memory of Mildred Willis
Curt Sherman
Anne C. Sidner
Paul and Darcy Siegel
Kathleen Sloan
Lisa Smith
Annie So
Elisabeth Spiegelberg
Gail Steel
Thomas Straus
Connie Strohbehn Kaczmarczyk
Patricia Stromberg
Mark Taggart
Takahashi Family Charitable Fund
Dan and Ai Tauber
Mary and Ron Taylor in memory of Roger C. Cornell
Linda Temko
Joy S. Thonneson
Molly Thornton
Irving G. Tragen in memory of Nessa Moll
Ann Travers and Barbara Nordin
Amy Threefoot Valeiras
Joseph and Molly Vasquez
John Venekamp and Clifford Schireson in memory of Roger C. Cornell
Marie Vickers
Sara Vickers
Dr. Osvaldo Humberto Viveros and Mrs. Yolanda Viveros
Patricia L. Waller in memory of Jerome Smith
Mary Lindenstein Walshok
Abby and Ray Weiss
Linda J. West
David Weston in memory of Roger C. Cornell
Batsheva Wiesner in memory of Carol B. Talley
Judith A. Wilkinson
Li-Ann Wong in memory of Roger C. Cornell
David Workman and Barry Rose
Mr. and Mrs. Brendan M. Wynne in memory of Roger C. Cornell
Leanna Zevely
Terri Peterson Zimdars
Sarah Zimny