Camp Mingei: Craft Camp for Grown-Ups is a three-day experience designed for those who carry a lifelong curiosity for the handmade. Moving beyond the nostalgia of the traditional summer camp, this retreat offers an exploration of craft, utility, and artistry behind the Museum’s exhibitions.
Participants will engage in hands-on workshops led by three distinguished local artists, bridging the gap between historical tradition and contemporary practice. It is an invitation to slow down, honor the integrity of materials, and rediscover the profound joy of making.
Registration includes a daily light breakfast and coffee, an intimate curator-led tour, and all the specialized materials and instruction needed for each workshop.
Day 1 - Beaded Suncatcher with Aidelen Montoya Day 2 - Woven Spatula with India Thompson Day 3 - Gyotaku Fish Rubbing with Dwight Hwang
Day 2 Schedule 10-10:30am - Welcome, coffee, light breakfast 10:30-11:30am - Curator-led tour by Emily Hanna, followed by sketching in the Gallery 11:30am-1:30pm - Hands-on Beaded Suncatcher Workshop with Aidelen Montoya
Beaded Sun Catcher Workshop Drawing inspiration from Aidelen Montoya’s luminous glass trout and the technical mastery showcased in both _Clearly Indigenous _and To Catch a Fish, participants will explore the intersection of light, color, and natural form. In this hands-on workshop, you will manipulate translucent glass seed beads and wire to capture the iridescent spirit of aquatic life, crafting a custom suncatcher designed to transform sunlight into a vibrant, moving narrative.
About the Artist Aidelen Montoya is a San Diego-based artist working at the vibrant intersection of art, science, and social justice. Her practice is a modern reflection of the Mingei spirit, taking complex or "invisible" information and transforming it into honest, handcrafted objects.
Using data as a primary medium, Aidelen employs traditional craft techniques like beadwork and embroidery to visualize environmental and social narratives. By encoding statistics into her designs, she turns cold data into tactile stories of resistance and resilience.
A graduate of Cal State San Marcos and an MFA candidate at the University at Buffalo, Aidelen has shared her passion for "education without pressure" at institutions like the San Diego Natural History Museum. Her work serves as a living bridge, connecting ancestral knowledge with modern research to help us better understand the world we call home.