Jessica Hanson York, Executive Director & CEO, Mingei International Museum
Welcome to Mingei International Museum’s first digital publication, Blue Gold – The Art and Science of Indigo. Located in the vibrant cultural district of Balboa Park, San Diego, Mingei is a museum of folk art, craft, and design, collecting and preserving objects from across time and cultures.
This publication was developed along with Mingei’s 2024 exhibition, also titled Blue Gold, which examines the complex chemical process that transforms plants into pigment, while showcasing stunning objects from around the globe made with this prized blue dye. As part of the Getty’s initiative, PST ART: Art & Science Collide, Blue Gold exemplifies the intersection of these disciplines.
Through its mission to celebrate “art of the people,” Mingei honors process, humble materials, and human creativity, all of which are essential elements of the indigo story. Artisans from around the globe - many who were also keepers of ancestral scientific knowledge - have used indigo for millennia to make and decorate objects for daily use such as clothing, textiles, and even books. Today, there is a new generation of artists revitalizing the use of natural indigo through craft and design, while addressing its complicated past.
We are particularly excited to introduce our first digital publication using Quire, the Getty’s innovative, open-source platform. This resource allows us to share scholarly content in a sustainable and flexible format, ensuring that Mingei’s deep exploration of indigo reaches a broad audience and remains accessible over time. The ten essays within this publication present new scholarship, some examining historical practices with a contemporary scientific lens, or delving deeper into the craft traditions in a particular geographic region, and others examining the artistic and social impacts of indigo trade and use.
In addition to the essay authors, I would like to thank several dedicated colleagues and associates who brought this publication to life: Barbara Hanson Forsyth was the curator who originated Blue Gold, and sought out the diverse group of writers who contributed to this body of scholarship; Mingei’s chief curator Dr. Emily Hanna and curator Guusje Sanders expertly shaped the story of indigo in our Museum gallery, producing a beautiful exhibition that has inspired thousands of visitors; Jean Patterson’s role as developmental and copy editor was invaluable; and Patricia Cué provided helpful design support and guidance in the early stages of publication development. Special thanks to the lead editor and production manager of this project, Mingei’s librarian Kristi Ehrig-Burgess, who led the Museum into a new frontier of digital publishing to share this collection of research.
Finally, my gratitude to the Harold and Colene Brown Family Foundation for the generous financial support that allowed us to produce both the exhibition and this digital catalog.
For all of us at Mingei, our journey with indigo has been exciting, daunting, and satisfying, as we have all shared in the wonder of this ancient material that has become a ubiquitous part of our current lives. We hope the insights in this publication spark your own appreciation for this remarkable dye and its place at the intersection of art and science.