The Museum’s Mission
The mission of PIEAM is to incorporate the diverse cultures of the Pacific Islands, with a focus on Micronesia, into a permanent collection, educational programs, rotating exhibits, and living arts.
Location and Design
The museum is located in the newly developing East Village Arts District of Long Beach, California. It is across from the Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) and the upcoming Armory Park at 7th and Martin Luther King Boulevard.
The unique design of the triangular piece of land located between 7th Street, Martin Luther King, Jr., Boulevard and Alamitos Avenue forms an “island oasis.” The museum building’s setting and exterior mural are meant to reflect art from the many islands of the Pacific Ocean.
The permanent collection and rotating exhibits are located on the 2,400-square foot ground floor, which also includes a media room and offices/front desk. The exterior of the building depicts a typical Micronesian scene as shown by the Men’s House (Abai), Betel nut palms, and the Dilukai figure. The museum also includes a 2,400-square foot exterior sculpture garden.
The mural on the exterior of the building was designed and executed by Art Mortimer, a Long Beach native who was named Artist of the Year, Long Beach, CA, by the CA Public Corporation for the Arts, 2004. He has a long history of creating murals throughout California.
Please click here for directions to PIEAM.
History
PIEAM evolved from the private collection of the late Dr. Robert Gumbiner and the Ethnic Art Institute of Micronesia. Dr. Gumbiner was the founder of FHP, a pioneer in the health maintenance (HMO) industry. In the early 1970s, his health care work led him to an island in the Pacific Ocean: Guam. From there he explored the other islands in Micronesia.
During his travels, Dr. Gumbiner was intrigued by the island of Yap, one of the four states of The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) and known as the most traditional island in Micronesia. In 1994, he founded the Ethnic Art Institute of Micronesia to preserve and revive the lost arts of Micronesia and serve as a base for training a younger generation of artists. There he was given a unique opportunity as the only foreign investor in Yap to build a 22-room boutique hotel, Traders’ Ridge Resort, which opened in late 1999. These two ventures provided the opportunity to offer island guests a unique cultural experience (through the Ethnic Art Institute of Micronesia) and brought traditional island arts to the outside world.
During his travels, Dr. Gumbiner amassed an impressive private collection of work, previously located in a private gallery in his home on Naples Island, Long Beach, CA. With his passing, the art was gifted to PIEAM. In addition to his collection, Dr. Gumbiner provided funds to launch the museum.