by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
With a museum on the Northbank and another on the Southbank, Downtown is regarded as a center for culture and education. Each has ongoing exhibitions of art, science and history, but each also has a retail element in the form of a museum store.
The stores at the Museum of Contemporary Art and at the Museum of Science & History offer selections of merchandise that complement the institutions’ missions. The inventory isn’t likely to be duplicated in any area mall.
The store at MOCA carries a wide selection of art books and art supplies. There also are gifts selected with the current feature exhibit, “East/West: Visually Speaking.” Many selections were created by local artists, especially the work found in the store’s “Lab Gallery,” where patrons of the arts can find a bargain on a piece done by an (as yet) undiscovered talent.
There also are more traditional gifts like neckties and writing instruments, but all have an “art” theme.
The museum store at MOSH also sells “fun.” Pick up a do-it-yourself archaeology kit or just buy a bag of rocks. Dinosaurs are always popular, especially when the museum is featuring an exhibit like “Prehistoric Predators,” which is on display in the second-floor gallery.
“We have something for everyone, from the littlest kids to kids at heart of all ages, and the profits from the store support the museum. It’s a significant source of revenue,” said MOSH Director of Visitor Services John Rouge.
For store hours and more information about exhibits, visit www.themosh.org or www.mocajacksonville.org.
356-2466