A Night with the Director of the Mingei International Museum

Speaker Rob Sidner

Eva Zeisel designed
more than 100,000 objects

Mingei is a special word increasingly used throughout the world for "arts of the people."

At this month’s presentation we will hear from the director of the museum, Rob Sidner, and learn how the museum came to be, including a retrospective on the Mingei’s 30 year history. We will be privy to behind the scenes information and stories regarding the museum and its collections.

Rob Sidner, the director of the museum, will share with us information regarding the formation of the current exhibitions and the future of the museum. There will be plenty of time for Questions of this scholar in the field of cultural icons.

Rob Sidner has been a valuable member of the Mingei International Museum for more than 14 years. In that time he has contributed to the museum in many capacities and now holds the position of Director of the Museum. Prior to joining Mingei, Rob owned The Cable Gallery in San Diego. Rob has a Master’s degree in Liturgy from Notre Dame as well as Bachelor degrees in Theology from the Gregorian University in Rome and English from Saint Meinrad College.

Rob Sidner, Director
Mingei International
Museum

John Dirks, Sculpture

Mingei International in San Diego was incorporated in 1974 as a nonprofit, public foundation dedicated to furthering the understanding of art of all cultures of the world. This art shares a direct simplicity and reflects a joy in making, by hand, useful objects that are satisfying to the human spirit. Through the universal language of line, form and color, Mingei speaks eloquently of the similarities and distinctions of individuals and cultures.

Founded by Martha W. Longenecker, Mingei International built and established the Museum of World Folk Art in University Towne Centre, San Diego, California on May 5, 1978. In August 1996 it opened a new, state-of-the-art museum in Balboa Park, San Diego, and, in 2003, a second location at 155 West Grand Avenue in Escondido.