You may know Gail. She has been working with Mingei for a very long time, is a docent at the Carlos Museum, a writer, retired teacher at Westminster, extremely active member of the Atlanta International Club– and a number of other organizations! She also manages to travel extensively and always finds time to scour local markets for hand-made textiles.
Here are a few photos from her home and a few words about why she loves Mingei!
Tired of the Container Store look? Tired of mall styles dictating your decor? If you yearn to escape the commercial and reveal your true soul in your home, walk into the spirit-filled space of Mingei World Arts in Decatur. At Mingei, you will tap into cultural creativity from ethnic groups around the globe.
An old basket sits atop a graphically striking textile.
New products emerge from recycled materials and vintage artifacts adapt to new uses. Rare handmade objects are art for display. What you can do with Mingei “stuff” is limited only by your imagination.
A yak butter container holds dry flowers. A Hmong spirit lock fills a small wall space. A chapati rolling pin or a weaving shuttle becomes a towel rod. A dowry chest is a colorful coffee table. A hand-worked shawl dresses a window or accents a sofa. A framed page of Tibetan script or Miao baby head cover enriches the look of a living room. And whether or not you use your Tjap as a stamp, it makes a unique doorstop.
Framed enbroidered baby head covers grace the wall above Gail's sofa, which holds a collection of luscious pillows. The coffeetable is draped with a woman's hand woven headcovering.
Come to Mingei to birth your creative soul and transform your home!
–Gail Goodwin
