It’s been well over a decade since I’ve been to the Mingei International Museum. Located in Balboa Park, The Mingei International Museum is a unique little museum showcasing folk art, craft and design from around the world. There, I was first introduced to the fantastic work of Evelyn and Jerry Ackerman (which resulted in an incredible opportunity to actually work with them!) 2018 the Mingei underwent a three-year renovation/transformation and reopened in 2021. Aside from a significant overhaul inside, they added this great courtyard patio space that includes the permanent installation of this huge stunning mural by Ellamarie and Jackson Woolley, titled “Variations on a Gold Theme.”
The day I visited the Mingei was the last weekend to catch the “Piñatas” exhibition. “Piñatas: The High Art of Celebration” had over 80 piñatas made by Latinx artists from all over the United States.
The works consisted of both traditional as well as contemporary interpretations of piñatas and some included political and pop-culture references. There was even a life sized piñata car!
Here’s a video that features one of the artists from the exhibition:
If you find yourself in San Diego, I highly recommend visiting Balboa Park (so many great museums and things to see!) and especially the Mingei International Museum. More info here.