Bonsall Rotary hears about Mingei

Martha Ehringer, director of public relations for the Mingei International Museum, recently spoke to the Bonsall Rotary about her pride and joy: the museums in Balboa Park and downtown Escondido. Ehringer wove a great story of the history of this collection of “objects made by hand for daily use” that can be viewed as art!

The word “mingei,” meaning “art of the people,” was coined by the revered Japanese scholar Dr. Sōetsu Yanagi by combining the Japanese words for “all people” (“min”) and “art” (“gei”).

Established in 1978, Mingei International Museum collects, conserves and exhibits these arts of daily use – by anonymous craftsmen of ancient times, from traditional cultures of past and present and by historical and contemporary designers.

Locally, it grew from an interested society that opened a storefront in the University Town Center mall in the 1970s to a large facility in Balboa Park across from the central fountain and, in Escondido, in the old J.C. Penney building downtown at 155 West Grand.

The museum is open every day except Mondays and holidays. For more information, visit http://www.mingei.org.