Mingei Museum hosts anniversary bash

Ethnic attire was all the rage recently when Mingei International Museum held its 30th anniversary bash at the museum recently. This year’s honoree was the museum itself - not to mention the generations of supporters who made Mingei the highly acclaimed folk art, design, and craft museum it is today. Mingei’s founder - long-time La Jollan Martha Longenecker - was on hand to savor the milestone, along with current director Rob Sidner.

The Romero family - considered the “Royal Family of the Guitar” - provided the exciting entertainment after the elegant dinner. Credit Frances Hamilton White (honorary chair of the event) and Ann and Phil White (co-chairs) for pulling off the spectacular evening. A long list of local sponsors underwrote the festive affair, including Kathryn Fishback, Jeanne Jones and Don Breitenberg, and Erna and Andrew Viterbi.

Proceeds from the celebration were earmarked for Mingei’s exhibitions and educational programs. The delighted guests enjoying the evening included Lael and Jay Kovtun, John and Elizabeth Bergan, Jim and Wendy Bowers, Audrey Geisel, Mary Ann and Arnold Ginnow, Pam Hartwell, Robert Horsman and Katherine Kennedy, Linda and Mel Katz, Wanda Kaufman and Richard Levi, Barbara Joy Marriott-Wilcox and Gloria Penner and Bill Snyder.