Fresh, changing selections of choice acquisitions to Mingei International’s permanent collection. The Founder’s Gallery is the permanent home of Mingei International’s Board Table and Chairs and Bonsai Viewing Bench and Table by George Nakashima Woodworker, S.A., two handmade paper Lanterns by Sori Yanagi and a Han Dynasty stone Ram from China. On view with these objects are other gifts to the Museum which have contributed to the extraordinary growth of Mingei International’s permanent collection in recent years.
Included in the changing exhibition have been a Ban Chiang Culture Clay Vessel (3000-1000 BC), centuries-old Chinese pottery, a 19th century Wine Storage Jar, Hayrack and a pair of lacquered cabinets also from China, an 11th century Polychromed Wood Buddha from Nepal, three 18th century Tibetan ink-painted Offering Scarves, an 18th century Japanese painting on paper of The Death of Buddha, a woodblock print by Shiko Munakata, a 19th century Japanese Step Chest, antique Hawaiian Koa wood bowls, pottery of Japanese artist/craftsmen Shôji Hamada, Kanjiro Kawai and Tatsuzo Shimaoka and of Americans Otto Natzler, Beatrice Wood, Harrison MacIntosh, Rupert Deese, Peter Voulkos and Laura Andreson, wood-turned bowls of Bob Stocksdale and Gene Blickenstaff, weavings of Eve Gulick, Joan Austin and Jack Lenor Larsen, stenciled fabric by Yoshiko Yotsumoto, other furniture by George Nakashima Woodworker and by Sam Maloof, an enamel sculpture by JoAnn Tanzer, a copper bowl by Helen Shirk, lacquer by Nagatoshi Onishi, a jewelry box by Brett Allen Hesser, a Shaman’s Belt of silver, gold and ivory by Denise and Samuel Wallace, Wednesday’s Palace by Alice Hudson, a 4th-6th century Byzantine Glass Cup, a 20th century Glass Bottle by Louis Comfort Tiffany and contemporary glass sculptures by Dale Chihuly, Italo Scanga, Alessandro Diaz de Santillana, Laura Diaz de Santillana and Benjamin Moore.
One of the major acquisitions added in 2002 was _Nikigator,_ Niki de Saint Phalle’s largest animal sculpture, which she considered her finest. Placed outside, near the entrance of the Museum, it is an interactive exhibition for children and adults. Also added to the displays in 2002 were eight other new pieces by Niki de Saint Phalle, two of them sculptural Snake Chairs that provide seating for Museum visitors.