Established in 1978, Mingei International Museum collects and displays what it calls "art of the people" – the tools crafted and lovingly used during humankind's daily activities, in all eras and from all cultures of the world. The museum's collection includes work by anonymous craftsmen of ancient times and by historical and contemporary designers, and ranges from folk art, ceramics, pottery, textiles, dolls, masks, stone carvings, and decorative objects.
The Mingei exhibitions reflect the "… joy in making by hand useful objects of timeless beauty that are satisfying to the human spirit," according to the museum's literature.
The word mingei was coined by scholar Dr. Sōetsu Yanagi, and is composed of the Japanese words for all people (min) and art (gei). Yanagi taught the value of creating objects that express all human aspects: the head, heart and hands.
The museum includes six galleries, a multimedia education center, a theater, a museum store, and a reference library. In August 1996, Mingei International moved to its new, 41,000-square-foot facility on the Plaza de Panama in Balboa Park, located on the central square with the San Diego Museum of Art and the Timken Museum of Art.
Visit Mingei International's two beautiful museums, located in Balboa Park and in downtown Escondido.
Attraction Information
- Hours:
- Tuesday through Sunday: 10am to 4pm
- Closed Mondays
- Admission:
- Adults: $7
- Seniors: $5
- Youth (6-17), students and active military with ID: $4
- Group Tour Rates (10 or more): $3
- Members and children under 6: Free
- Balboa Park Location
- Address: 1439 El Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego, CA
- Phone: 619-239-0003
- Escondido Location
- Address: 155 West Grand Avenue, San Diego, CA
- Phone: 760-735-3355
- Website
- www.mingei.org
