MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
Guadalupe
Project Auction
Friday, Dec. 11
8-10pm
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The Virgin of Guadalupe, an iconic 16th century image that appeared miraculously on a simple Indian man's peasant cloak in colonial Mexico, is one of the most beloved figures of the Latin world. Signifying for many the essential mother, she
is the patroness of the indigenous peoples of the world, and maker of many miracles.
On December 11, the eve of the Virgin's saint's day, a variety of figures of The Virgin of Guadalupe, created by women artists, will be auctioned to benefit refugee and immigrant artisan women
through Refugee Women's Network's (RWN) microloan program. It is our aim to seed a fund to help these newly arrived women make a solid and creative beginning here in the United States.
Refugee Women's Network is a national non-profit organization created by and for women, that focus on enhancing refugee and immigrant women's strength, skills, and courage. Its programs include Microenterprise & Microloan Program, Leadership Program, Health Promoters Program and Advocacy. RWN is governed and staffed by refugee and immigrant women. For more information on RWN, log onto www.riwn.org
We hope you will join us
for this fantastic evening
to see the beautiful sculptures which will be on view at Mingei
starting December 1.
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Trim the Tree!
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Beaded ornaments from Guatemala, panda gourds from Peru, snowflakes of Japanese washi paper, copper enamel jaguars from Guerrero, scrap fabric elephants from Jaipur, tin flamingos from Oaxaca, paper mache stars from Kashmir, glass lanterns from the Phillipines, trashy angels from Oaxaca, straw balls from Mexico... treasures beginning at $3!
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Mingei Book Club
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We are skipping December, but will meet on
Tuesday, January 12 at 7:30pm for Melissa Faye Green's
There is No Me Without You.
Available now at Mingei. Get reading!
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GLOCAL???
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| Yes, we did spell that right. By shopping at Mingei this holiday season, you support your locally-based, independent import store. You know we bring the world to you. Did you know that we also work with local international artisans? Read more below about some artisans whose work we are featuring currently. |
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Threads of Promise weaving group
This small business enterprise, supported by RRISA (Refugee Resettlement and Immigration Services of Atlanta), employs Burmese and Bhutanese women in the production of beautiful hand-made products, including some stunning scarves we have just brought into Mingei. Terrific gifts--beautiful, functional and reasonably priced at $30-$50.
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Decatur Banner Bags
We have a full selection in stock now of tote bags and messenger bags made from vintage banners that have flown over Decatur during some of it's best parties! There are star-spangled red. white and blue bags from the 1996 Olympic goings-on here, and bright green and blue bags with Decatur's logo from the Millenium. Wonderful, functional gifts for any Decaturite or DecaturiteWanna-Be! The glocal connection? These bags are made by Maria Cristina Giraldo Echeverria,
a Colombian refugee artisan resettled in the area by the International Rescue Committee (IRC). $35 and $50.
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Keepers
These clever, ingeniously designed little bags may be just the thing for the person who has everything! Made by Bhutanese refugee women in Atlanta in a variety of wonderful fabrics (including a MIngei exclusive of Indian hand-block print fabric we picked up in Jaipur),
these regular or passport sized bags hold your cellphone, a little money, your driver's license or work ID-- all your essentials, leaving your hands free. These are perfect for walkers, cyclists,
school kids-- everybody! $24 and $25. |
Coleccion Luna
Our beautiful bags made of recycled hand-made clothing from Guatemala come to us from local designer, friend and part-time helper, Stephanie Jolluck. Jolluck travels a 4-6 six times a
year to the Highland Region of Guatemala, working directly with the
Indians on her designs. It is a partnership: the line of textiles is
created from recycled Indigenous clothing ~ "huipiles" (blouse like
garments), "corte" (skirts/utilitarian fabric), "faja" (belts) that are
hand-woven, hand-embroidered, woven on a backstrap loom, woven by
treadle loom, or machine embroidered. Jolluck gives them her designs
and they create the bags from their gently used tradtional
clothing. The artisans work in
their homes and when they have free time, giving them freedom to tend their family responsibilities. Prices range from $ 6 to $60. |
Baubles. bangles and beads
Sararabrazil. Little Bird Beads. Betsy Hall. Patty Rollins. Cate Powell. Elaine Coyne. These are a few of the local jewelers whose work we carry amidst the Oaxaca filigree silver, Thai hilltribe jewelry, freshwater Chinese pearls, old beads from Afghanistan, vintage pendants from India, hand-made paper earrings from Japan, bronze earrings from San Bartolo...
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Himalayan candles
Wonderful hostess gifts! Holiday scents in Spice, Pumpkin Spice, Mistletoe and Apple Cinnamon have arrived! The gorgeous imported and reusable containers (including some beautiful wooden boxes hand-made in India) are filled with fragrant soy goodness by Julai Leaphart in Conyers, Georgia! Another terrific glocal treasure! |
Moving it all to the front--
Since last Terrific Thursday we have been busy bees moving all kinds of treasures out of limbo in the back room to their starring roles in the front of the store. Our back room is quite a trove, where coveted finds lie in wait after arriving from overseas. At this time of year, everything comes out front to shine. If you haven't been in this week, you are missing some wonderful things! Come see the reverse glass Buddha paintings from Thailand, Kashmiri paper mache boxes, silk scarves from Afghanistan, framed pages of Tibetan text, Crazy Mexican hand-carved wooden noisemakers, lush carved wooden panels from India and lots of holiday ornaments! |
What "Mingei" means
We are so often asked what the name of our store means , and how it is promounced. Mingei (Min- gay) is a modern Japanese word formed by combining the root "min" meaning "all people", and "gei" meaning art, the same root as in the word "geisha". The term was coined by Dr. Yanagi Soetsu in 1926 to describe traditional hand-made crafts that had been set aside in favor of mass-produced items as the world became industrialized. In contrast to the fine arts which produce objects for an aesthetic purpose, Mingei objects are most often made by unknown craftspeople for everyday use. Mingei's simple beauty is functional, and satisfying to the senses and the spirit.
Come join us for your holiday shopping and feel the spirit!
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Happy Thanksgiving! We'll be closed Thanskgiving Day enjoying our feast, but look forward to seeing you on Friday.
Thanks for your business!
Ellen and Ann
Mingei World Arts |
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