Vero Beach Museum of Art
3001 Riverside Park DriveVero Beach,
FL 32963
AT A GLANCE: Vero Beach Museum of Art
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Parking
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Plentiful and free,
onsite parking.
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Amount of time needed
to peruse exhibits:
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1 hour
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Amount of time needed
for gift shop
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30 – 45 minutes
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Dress code
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Dress tastefully. Otherwise, you’ll experience a surge of self-consciousness.
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Be sure to…..
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Wander through the sculpture gardens outside
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Plunk yourself down in one of the beanbag chairs located on the side of
the museum opposite the entrance. Grab
an iPad to create one-of-a-kind works of art, or play the art-inspired games
pre-loaded. They won’t kick you out
for overstaying your welcome. We’ve
been known to spend over an hour there, giggling like young children and
having the time of our lives.
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Nearby/other
establishments to visit
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You’re a mile from the
Atlantic Ocean. This is a 5-minute car
ride, or a 25-minute walk. If you
haven’t done so, go stick your toes into the ocean.
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Walkability, general
downtown area / amount of traffic
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You will need a car or
other transportation if you go to 14 Bones for lunch. The Lemon Tree or Casey’s Place are
walkable, if you’re in the mood for a rousing walk.
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Safety, in terms of
type and number of crimes committed in general area
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Vero Beach is a
high-rent area. While thieves would
probably target one of the BMWs or Mercedes, keep your valuables out of site
and lock your car.
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Have you wondered about the criteria I use when
visiting gift shops? I make note of
several general things (i.e., unique items, displays that grab your attention) in
order to evaluate them, and then I mentally go through my set of questions. I outline the 2-phase formula that I use,
below. Please feel free to use my
methods upon your next visit to a gift shop, and your friends will regard you
with great esteem.
Phase 1: Does
it have the trifecta of gift store merchandise? Yes/No
Does
it have refrigerator magnets? Yes/No
Does
it have branded shot glasses? Yes/No
Does
it have branded wearables? Yes/No
(sweatshirts, hats, t-shirts)
(sweatshirts, hats, t-shirts)
Regardless of the person, we will all answer these
questions in the same way. Something is
either there or it isn’t. We’re not
judging at this point, but merely making astute observations that an average
person would overlook. Thank goodness
that you’re not average. Please note
that the above questions create a baseline, and I certainly hope to see much
more than t-shirts and shot glasses.
Enter Phase 2, which relies on your individual shopping
prowess. The following items are judged
according to a sliding scale, with a 1 meaning the bottom of the barrel and a
10 being a shopper’s joy and bliss. It is
highly unlikely that any two people will have identical answers for Phase 2.
Rank
the following on a 1 – 10 scale:
- How does the gift shop merchandise support the mission of the museum?
- What is the quality of the items for sale?
- Does the gift shop have a decent quantity, with enough merchandise to hold your interest?
- What kind of vibe do you get while in the gift shop? Do you want to buy one of everything?
- How are the overall aesthetics, such as cleanliness and good use of floor space?
- How well do the items in the gift shop “fit” the demographics of the museum’s visitors? In this case, Vero Beach is an upper-class town, and the Vero Beach Museum of Art has a strong local following. Therefore, I would expect their merchandise to be on the pricey side for my demographic, but on par with the local visitors.
- How is the mix of merchandise? For example, a gift shop should have a children’s section that is neither too big nor too small. According to my research, books that are about the museum, its exhibits, its artists, or the local area should comprise the greatest amount of floor space.
- Good or bad, do you carry that vibe with you after you leave the gift shop?
Keeping all of that in mind, we turn our attention
to the Vero Beach Museum of Art. Is this
a good gift shop? I say “no.” Is this a good shop, though? Absolutely.
It is similar to a fashionable boutique that you pass every day and wish
you had the money or time to pop in. The
gift shop has an
According to their http://www.verobeachmuseum.org,they believe in the following:
“Mission, Vision
and Core Values
“Mission
The Vero Beach Museum of Art
provides cultural leadership and enrichment for the public through a wide
variety of educational, studio art and humanities programs; a diversity of
quality exhibitions; and the collection, preservation and presentation of important
American and international works of art.
“Vision
The Vero Beach Museum of Art will
be a cultural magnet for the Treasure Coast and beyond. It will be recognized
locally, regionally and nationally for the significance of its exhibitions, the
excellence of its collections and the exceptional quality of its
interdisciplinary public programs, Museum Art School, educational offerings,
Board and Staff.
“Core Values
Excellence, Integrity,
Exceptional Quality, Highest Professional Standards, Pride, Commitment, Diversity,
Strong belief that the Visual Arts and Humanities make a tremendous difference
in our lives.”
What’s not to like about a place that strives to be
the epicenter of culture on Florida’s Atlantic coast? They want to enrich the community’s
appreciation of art in all its forms.
Enter the gift shop, turn right, and check out all
of the sassy hats. Go ahead and try one
on. The sales staff will not bother you,
and won’t mind if you ask their opinion It’s
not at all unusual to see women wearing hats while they’re out and about in
Florida. They’re not only a unique
fashion statement, they’re great for shielding your eyes and face from the
relentless Florida sun. Weekly readers
know that I have a selection of hats that are appropriate to Florida. I didn’t try any on at the Vero Beach Museum;
I had my sights set elsewhere.
Walk past the large window to the children’s section. A bookcase holds an innumerable number of
children’s books that offer an introduction to the many facets of art. You’ll see such titles as “Play-Draw-Create,”
“Shimmer Art,” “Glitter & Clay Charms,” and “Twirled Paper.” I have no clue as to what twirled paper is
all about, and I missed the opportunity to flip through the book for a
definitive answer. I see this book
collection as something you would buy as a gift for a child, as opposed to
children selecting a title for themselves.
Continuing on your counter-clockwise path brings you
to one of the prettiest displays I’ve seen here
Continue on your way with style. You are entering the “glass counter” zone,
and this one doesn’t disappoint. From
what you’ve experienced so
The only branded merchandise in this gift shop is
baseball hats imprinted with “Vero Beach Museum of Art.” The hats are located to the left of the glass
counter, tucked away and almost out of sight.
The ones who conceived the gift shop seems to have been embarrassed to
have them on display and tucked them away as best they could.
The Museum’s gift shop had closed for remodeling
this past summer, and they changed the floorplan and along with their
inventory. Gone are the expensive items
that never sold well, given the spontaneity of shopping at a museum gift shop. Silk is a stunning fabric, known for its
lustrous color. It’s elusive, meaning you
won’t find silk clothing at Walmart or Target. The Museum’s gift shop used to carry decorative
and expensive silk jackets, and I’d drool over these every time we
Let’s take a break and get some lunch. I offer three choices:
Lemon Tree, www.lemontreevero.com, is a small, upscale
restaurant that serves breakfast and lunch.
Try the New Yorker sandwich, made with roast beef, cheddar cheese, and
horseradish.
Casey’s Place, http://www.caseysplace.net/, is a casual sandwich shop, and you
order and pay for your food at the counter.
Keep Casey’s Place in mind if you visit during Florida’s hotter
months. All seating is outside, and
there happens to be a large shade tree that offers respite from the sun. Try the Reuben Sandwich.
14 Bones, www.14bones.com, is an unassuming place that offers delicious
barbeque, though part of their menu offers healthy selections. Eat healthy someplace else. This is a barbeque place. Try the pulled pork sandwich.
You can visit more museums after lunch, but you
might feel a bit worn out from the day’s excitement. Go home, or back to your hotel, pour yourself
an adult beverage (wine is good), prop your feet up and reflect on the quiet
elegance of the Vero Beach Museum gift shop.
After your visit to the gift shop there, the memory of whimsical items,
vibrant colors, and unique items will jump to the front of your mind. It’s a great shop, and I think you’ll really
enjoy it. You’ll just have to go
elsewhere for refrigerator magnets.
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