The Mingei International Museum is reeling in hearts with its beautiful exhibition “To Catch a Fish,” on view in Balboa Park through November 1, 2026. Curated by Emily Hanna, the show brings together more than sixty works of craft and art that are either used in fishing or celebrate the deep bond between people and fish.
Visitors can admire utilitarian treasures like hand-crafted basketry fish traps, scrapers, weights and nets alongside works of spiritual meaning: amulets, robes, images of saints and even kites. Each object tells a story of human creativity across cultures and centuries.
The exhibition also shines a spotlight on three contemporary artists. Marianne Nicolson, an artist-activist of the Musgamakw Dzawada’enuxw First Nations, created “The Halibut Hooks” especially for this show, a moving installation about the impact of commercial fisheries on Indigenous communities in British Columbia. Robert Lang’s “Vertical Pond III: From the Ashes” features origami koi folded from paper made with the ashes of his Altadena home and studio, consumed by the Eaton Fire — a poetic testament to resilience and rebirth. Work by Aidelen Montoya completes the contemporary selection.
A perfect family outing and a reminder that everyday objects can be extraordinary art. Don’t miss it before the final catch on November 1!
Photo: Mingei International Museum
