SILVER AND SILK
Selections from Mingei International Museum's Collection. 2002. 216 pages. 122 color illustrations by Phila McDaniel and Lynton Gardiner. Collector's Commentary by Curatorial Consultant, Phila McDaniel. Foreword by Martha W. Longenecker, Founding President / Director of Mingei International Museum. Bibliography.
Excerpt from the book
FOREWORD
Martha W. Longenecker
Founding President / Director, Mingei International Museum
One of the unexpected joys of being an art museum director is meeting and coming to know members of one's community who share similar passions. It is particularly uplifting when that passion is for Mingei International's mission — furthering understanding of art of all cultures of the world. Our Museum is blessed with many exceptional individuals who devote their time and resources to fulfilling the vision of Mingei International.
One of these extraordinary people is Phila McDaniel, considered to be the first person to escort a study group from America into the relatively unknown Chinese province of Guizhou. Since that 1984 trip to the place she calls "Land of the Silk Dragon," her passion to learn more has prompted her to return again and again — 27 of her 50 trips to China have been extended study tours to Guizhou.
An art historian, with a Master of Fine Arts degree in Asian art and philosophy, and a teacher and lecturer for many years, Phila is well qualified to perceive similarities and distinctions among the many nationalities of Guizhou's 30,000,000 population. Her love of the people and their culture are expressed in her researching, documenting and collecting the art of the people of Guizhou. Her professional skill in photographing the land and the people heightens her capacity to share the unsurpassed beauty of this Asian culture.
Throughout 18 years of coming to know Guizhou intimately, Phila has developed an exemplary collection of over 400 embroidered textiles, silver jewelry and other objects used in daily life from many nationalities throughout the province, Its acquisition in 1999 by Mingei International was made possible by the generous contributions from an anonymous donor and the Hamilton-White Foundation. The collection continues to grow. Like a magnet it attracts important, museum-quality gifts — some from Phlla McDaniel, others from Tracey Brown, Mary Beth Jernigan, Drs. James P. and Judith A, Kemp, Peter Nelson, Bea and Tom Roberts and Rob Sidner.
After its premiere presentation at our Museum in San Diego, Mingei International will make the collection available in whole or part for travel to other venues in our nation and world. It, along with other Mingei international traveling collections - including ones from Mexico, Japan, Indonesia, India, and the United States of America, will provide more and more people the opportunity of seeing the finest art of the people from all cultures of the world. This is the vision of Mingei International.
In this fast-paced, high-tech, computerized world in which people are increasingly dependent on electricity and resources beyond their direct control for obtaining clothing, food, shelter and even pure water, it is gratifying to know of a place like Guizhou. Equally inspiring is the continuity of these more-than-2,000-year-old cultures, of people living close to the earth and sky and expressing their innate creativity in timeless works of an that enrich and embellish their lives.
Through these arts a new vista is opened on our marvelous Earth, reinforcing the bridge of understanding of the oneness of the East and the West.
