Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs

Rob Sidner: Museum Director/Art Lover

Located at the House of Charm in beautiful Balboa Park, Mingei International Museum can be viewed as something of an enigma. While it is no less a bona fide museum than any of the others that occupy Balboa Park, it is the kind of art on display there that separates it and gives it its own unique distinction. “The objects here are objects of use arising out of a functional purpose which in turn makes the objects grounded” Says Museum Director Rob Sidner, who became the director of Mingei International when predecessor and museum founder, Martha Longenecker, retired in 2005. Enthusiastic to a fold, Mr. Sidner is a man on a mission when it comes to promoting art and folk art, the style of art that Mingei International is renown for, in particular. “Our real goal here at the Mingei is to inspire people to express their own creativity. By exposing them to the exhibitions put on display here, we hope to broaden their horizons and put to rest a lot of misconceptions regarding art.” What those misconceptions were, Mr. Sidner was not shy at all about explaining. “One really shouldn’t talk about art and money in the same sentence” he says. “Art is not only for the rich and elitist. Beauty isn’t only found in multi-million dollar works. Something simplistic that represents being created by the whole of the individual: The hands, the head, and the heart can be, and should be, viewed with just as much appreciation. Value of art should come from the prizing of an object.” Mingei, meaning ‘Art of the People’, was first coined as term by Japanese scholar Dr. Soetsu Yanagi. In August 1996, the museum came to Balboa Park. “Although I knew of museums before, I never had a connection to them. Being part of the Mingei Museum has been a revelation for me. The experience to work with a great, cohesive staff brings a lot of satisfaction because we’re sharing enrichment.” “I feel the Mingei Museum represents the greatest expression of human creativity because the artists on display here are making useful art that is more than simply aesthetically pleasing.” With a collection that comprises of 17,500 objects from 141 countries, Mingei International Museum is no stranger to artistry. As the museums’ director, Mr. Sidner isn’t either. When asked of some of his personal favorite artists, he responded “I enjoy almost everything from the Italian Renaissance and classic Dutch painters, as well. I also try to stay aware of contemporary artists.” And to all the struggling, budding artists out there, Mr. Sidner’s message is simple and to the point. “People truly getting in touch with themselves is the source of creativity. Build on that and practice. You are capable of doing great things if you work for it.”

Mingei International Museum is opened Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jun/19/47791/

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all

Previous article

Pranksters vandalize Padres billboard in wake of playoff loss

Where’s the bat at?

Located at the House of Charm in beautiful Balboa Park, Mingei International Museum can be viewed as something of an enigma. While it is no less a bona fide museum than any of the others that occupy Balboa Park, it is the kind of art on display there that separates it and gives it its own unique distinction. “The objects here are objects of use arising out of a functional purpose which in turn makes the objects grounded” Says Museum Director Rob Sidner, who became the director of Mingei International when predecessor and museum founder, Martha Longenecker, retired in 2005. Enthusiastic to a fold, Mr. Sidner is a man on a mission when it comes to promoting art and folk art, the style of art that Mingei International is renown for, in particular. “Our real goal here at the Mingei is to inspire people to express their own creativity. By exposing them to the exhibitions put on display here, we hope to broaden their horizons and put to rest a lot of misconceptions regarding art.” What those misconceptions were, Mr. Sidner was not shy at all about explaining. “One really shouldn’t talk about art and money in the same sentence” he says. “Art is not only for the rich and elitist. Beauty isn’t only found in multi-million dollar works. Something simplistic that represents being created by the whole of the individual: The hands, the head, and the heart can be, and should be, viewed with just as much appreciation. Value of art should come from the prizing of an object.” Mingei, meaning ‘Art of the People’, was first coined as term by Japanese scholar Dr. Soetsu Yanagi. In August 1996, the museum came to Balboa Park. “Although I knew of museums before, I never had a connection to them. Being part of the Mingei Museum has been a revelation for me. The experience to work with a great, cohesive staff brings a lot of satisfaction because we’re sharing enrichment.” “I feel the Mingei Museum represents the greatest expression of human creativity because the artists on display here are making useful art that is more than simply aesthetically pleasing.” With a collection that comprises of 17,500 objects from 141 countries, Mingei International Museum is no stranger to artistry. As the museums’ director, Mr. Sidner isn’t either. When asked of some of his personal favorite artists, he responded “I enjoy almost everything from the Italian Renaissance and classic Dutch painters, as well. I also try to stay aware of contemporary artists.” And to all the struggling, budding artists out there, Mr. Sidner’s message is simple and to the point. “People truly getting in touch with themselves is the source of creativity. Build on that and practice. You are capable of doing great things if you work for it.”

Mingei International Museum is opened Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jun/19/47791/

Sponsored
Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Public balks at Balboa Park "West End"

But it's temporary! says PR firm
Next Article

Sparky, hectic, unmediated inventiveness on display

This way to Radium Girl!
Ask a Hipster — Advice you didn't know you needed Big Screen — Movie commentary Blurt — Music's inside track Booze News — San Diego spirits Classical Music — Immortal beauty Classifieds — Free and easy Cover Stories — Front-page features Drinks All Around — Bartenders' drink recipes Excerpts — Literary and spiritual excerpts Feast! — Food & drink reviews Feature Stories — Local news & stories Fishing Report — What’s getting hooked from ship and shore From the Archives — Spotlight on the past Golden Dreams — Talk of the town The Gonzo Report — Making the musical scene, or at least reporting from it Letters — Our inbox Movies@Home — Local movie buffs share favorites Movie Reviews — Our critics' picks and pans Musician Interviews — Up close with local artists Neighborhood News from Stringers — Hyperlocal news News Ticker — News & politics Obermeyer — San Diego politics illustrated Outdoors — Weekly changes in flora and fauna Overheard in San Diego — Eavesdropping illustrated Poetry — The old and the new Reader Travel — Travel section built by travelers Reading — The hunt for intellectuals Roam-O-Rama — SoCal's best hiking/biking trails San Diego Beer — Inside San Diego suds SD on the QT — Almost factual news Sheep and Goats — Places of worship Special Issues — The best of Street Style — San Diego streets have style Surf Diego — Real stories from those braving the waves Theater — On stage in San Diego this week Tin Fork — Silver spoon alternative Under the Radar — Matt Potter's undercover work Unforgettable — Long-ago San Diego Unreal Estate — San Diego's priciest pads Your Week — Daily event picks
4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
Close

Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

This Week’s Reader This Week’s Reader