San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
Jessica Hanson York takes the reins at Mingei
It’s no surprise that Jessica Hanson York will become the new executive director of the Mingei International Museum on July 1.
“From early on, I saw distinct possibilities in all of her abilities,” said Rob Sidner, whom she’s succeeding.
Hanson York, the museum’s deputy director and chief advancement officer, has been with the Mingei for 11 years and worked closely with Sidner throughout.
“As we took on new challenges and projects together,” she said, “I gained new skills and experiences. I had the space and the opportunity and the encouragement to grow into this (new) role.
“The role of executive director is a notoriously tough one. You need to wear so many different hats. Fortunately, I’ve had the time to learn a lot. I feel prepared for the job, as prepared as one can be.”
Hanson York says the Mingei’s mission speaks to her own personal values and passions.
“It serves as a place where people from around the world can find their own culture and also explore the world,” she said. “Through the lens of folk art, crafts and design we have the objects and kind of art that can play a really meaningful role in people’s lives.
“We’re asking our visitors to take time to appreciate these handmade objects from a maker’s or a user’s perspective, to celebrate the ingenuity, the humble materials, the care that went into the making process. All things people can connect to.”
If Hanson York’s vision of the Mingei sounds remarkably like her predecessor’s, that’s not a coincidence. In assuming the leadership of an institution that’s on solid footing and with a multimillion-dollar restoration in place, she says she’s in an ideal position.
“I’m not envisioning a different Mingei,” Hanson York explained. “I think it’s about focusing even more on people. Museums are made of people, and for me evolving to be even more human centered is something I think about a lot. That starts internally with caring for our staff and volunteers and then ensuring that we’re caring for our community and doing our part in alignment with our mission to make San Diego even better.”