July 2, 2025 • 25 mins
We speak with Director of Marketing and Communications at Vero Beach Museum of Art, Suzanne Seldes... and then we reach out to Executive Director of the Brevard Cultural Alliance, Catherine Esrock.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome to Arts Past on the air. It's a podcast.
It's a radio show and an Alexa skill presented by
Riverside Theater and Ballet Vero Beach Arts supporting the arts
in Florida. I'm Willie Miller and every week I get
to talk to people in the arts about the arts
on the Treasure Coast and beyond. It's going to be
such a busy summer for Ballet Vero Beach. Get ready
(00:26):
for Riverside Dance Festival with the La Contemporary Dance Company
August first and second at Riverside Theater. Subscriptions for next
season are available now, with single tickets on sale in November.
And are you up for a very special treat? The
dancers are back at the Vero Beach Museum of Art
for another grand performance November fifteenth. Learn all about it
(00:48):
online at Bala Vero Beach dot org. My guests today
Susanne Soldis and Pam londano Oh from Vero Beach Museum
of Art. Could that be that's correct? Willy, Good morning,
Good morning. How are you doing.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
We are well. I'm a little horse, but we're doing well.
We have a lot going on.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Well, yeah, but you know what it's almost the end
of June. Everything's supposed to slow down. Things people get
to take a rest, not.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Willie. Not at Veribe's Museum of Art. I must tell
you we are so excited. Our summer exhibition opens on
July twelfth to artists Annie Blaize, Jack and Getty's Levinson
were raised in Miami.
Speaker 3 (01:34):
Their contemporary artists.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
They collaborate their collaborative artists, so their work is done
as one and.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
Their work, which really.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Identifies and highlights the Florida waterways and flora and fauna
are reflected in their work, and it's going to be
an incredible summer exhibition.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
We're so excited about it.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
And Pam, who's here with us, has an in credible
slate of summer programming that goes along with it, so
we're excited to tell you all about it.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
Okay, Pam Lundna, what's your title.
Speaker 4 (02:09):
I'm the public programs Manager.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
Oh yeah, that's a big job.
Speaker 4 (02:12):
I would think it's a very fun one, being able
to plan events for the community at the museum.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
How far ahead do you work? Are you working on
next year already or are you still on this year?
Speaker 3 (02:23):
Yep?
Speaker 4 (02:24):
Right now, we're wrapping up details for most of the
twenty five twenty sixth season.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
Wow, looking ahead, Yes, what happens if something happens to
change those plans, are you able to back away from
something and reorganize.
Speaker 4 (02:43):
I would say we always, you know, make sure to
plan in a way that we're able to pivot as necessary.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
Is that something that happens in say art museums, something
that might be should be at the top of your
list of things to worry about.
Speaker 4 (03:01):
I mean, I think other than maybe the hurricanes or
some big emergencies, we're typically pretty prepared to handle those things.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
And we pivot pretty well in those emergencies too. Last year,
we closed for the hurricanes to keep everybody safe, and
then we opened for ten days absolutely free, so all
those folks who had so much on their mind can
just take respite at the museum. And Pam's team did
a whole bunch of extra special programming for those ten days.
So we really want to make sure that we connect
(03:31):
with all of our you know, our neighbors in the
community and throughout Indian River County and beyond, because that's
what we're here for.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
Okay, how long have you been with the museums them.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
I have been with the museum for about fifteen months, Willie,
and yesterday I was named deputy director.
Speaker 1 (03:49):
Wow. Congratulations, Wow.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
Yeah. So it's exciting times for us.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
There's so much going on and lots of support from
the community, and we want to put on a lot
of great, great programming and grow our collections as you've
been reporting about, and bring these great shows like a
Tangled Plot original shows. This is another original show curated
by Kitlyn Swindel who met these artists, fell in love
(04:14):
with their work, and this show may even travel beyond
Vierby's Museum of Art once it's done.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
How long does it take to pull together a show
like that? I guess Caitlyn could best tell us, but
I'm sure you know as well.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Sure Caitlyn certainly is the one who's best can tellest.
But from my observations of her work, she really does
a lot of research on the types of art that
she's looking for, the artists that she's looking for. In
this case, she creates she had a relationship with Annie
Blaijack and Getty's Levinson just by admiring a piece of
(04:50):
work and getting to know a collector who had their work,
and so they work together, and over a series of
many months they put together a checklist. She created an
exit of more than forty paintings and sculptures, thematically arranged
so that our members and our guests in the museum
can really get a unique experience, not only in the
(05:13):
type of work that they do, but in the way
that they do that work, and that they're Florida raised artists.
So that also gives a nice summer theme for this.
As we're out and about thinking about the seat turtles,
I'm hearing about that all day. So you get that
reflection seat turtles and alligators and flora and fauna all
(05:34):
throughout this exhibition. It's also a little fantastical and little
sci fi ish, Ye it is.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
Question. You're talking about multiple, many pieces of art. These
artists presumably do not have them sitting in their studio
ready to ship off somewhere. Do they have to be
gathered from different places.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
In this particular case, I do know that Anniengetti's have
a very large studio with lots of storage. I presume
they must have some other storage spaces. But I also
know that some of the pieces, some of their works
are held by individual collectors, and so we make arrangements
with them to have those on loan to the museum
(06:19):
so that they can help tell the story of a
tangled plot for us.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
Now, now you're going to have these in house, and
it's hurricane season. But how do you prepare the museum
for hurricane season?
Speaker 2 (06:33):
Well, we prepare the museum every day for any eventuality.
You know, we have important collections. We hold them. We
hold them so that they're available for multiple generations long
after I'm gone, to view and enjoy and learn from.
And so we always make sure that whether it's a
security issue or an environmental issue, that not only our
(06:57):
collection storage area, but especially our galleries except halls, they
all are held up to standard. One of the things
that we do in anticipation of hurricane season, however, is
our outdoor sculpture parks have a lot of beautiful and
interesting works in them, and during hurricane season it's customary
(07:17):
for us to take much of that inside for storage
or secure pieces so that in the event of you know,
big winds, there's no damage and obviously nothing gets thrown
and becomes a threat to something else. So, however, this
year we have actually de installed both our north and
(07:41):
South sculpture gardens completely with exception of Trevon's art, which
is that large orange sculpture that's toward the front of
the museum. And we did that because we are getting
ready to improve our campus in a number of ways,
and with that we needed to make some change and
those will go back up when we have made those
(08:04):
and finalized those campus renovations.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
Okay, can we talk about the quarterly publication which is fabulous.
I like getting it into the mail, But it goes
out differently in the summer, doesn't it.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
It does so.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
Of course Vere Beach Museum of Art is a not
for profit, but more importantly, we know that there's a
lot of folks who travel during the summer months or
the summer elsewhere, and so because of that, we create
our Summer Quarterly entirely online and host it through flipbook.
It's on the museum website. You can go to the
foot or there and see quarterly and get to the issue.
(08:38):
But we email it out to all of our members
and those who are also interested in what we do.
And this year's or we've got a lot of comments back.
I think you mentioned it before. This quarters. The Summer
Quarterly is just spectacular, beautiful imagery from a Tangled Plot preview.
As to what else is going on coming up in
(08:59):
the fall September, we have a Picasso exhibition. We've got
another curated exhibition of our permanent collections, artifacts and objects,
so there's a lot of great things in there. The
summer programming that Pam is talking about, we have so
many things and you can get an online at Vbmuseum
dot org.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
Okay, Pam, let's talk about summer programming. What's happening.
Speaker 4 (09:24):
So we're really excited to host a bunch of these
events related to Tangled Plot or inspired by. Starting with
the opening day of the exhibition, we're going to have
the artists with us leading a sketching in the gallery
workshop that's going to be from at eleven and at
one pm on July twelfth. We also have on July
(09:44):
twenty sixth, Florida Laura a lecturer with doctor Karen Neil.
She is a public storyteller and she's going to talk
about Florida myths and folklore and how that relates to
the exhibition. And then also later on in the year,
in August ninth, we have coastal connections. They'll be joining
us for our free Saturdays doing interactive activities for families,
(10:06):
showing them how seat turtles see the world. And on
September thirteenth, we have the Environmental Learning Center coming to
do a presentation on our Indian River lagoon and showing
off some of their reptile friends.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
Now do you have to be a museum member to participate?
Speaker 4 (10:23):
No, these are all entirely free for the community.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
And do you have to sign up in advance.
Speaker 4 (10:28):
Just show up on the second Saturdays every month we
have something going on.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
So it's really nice, Willie is the exhibition opening on
July twelfth is actually the second Saturday of the month,
So all of that includes sketching and meaning the artists
will be free and all of these other pieces, with
the exception of the lecture by Karen Neil which is
on July twenty sixth, That one is free with museum.
It's free to museum members and it is also free
(10:54):
with museum admission regular mission.
Speaker 3 (10:56):
Everything else is free on those Saturdays.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
Wow, I do suggest that everybody goes to the website
vbmuseum dot org. Correct, yes, Willie, thank you, That's where
you will get all the information. Click on the quarterly.
Click on the summer programming and you'll you're in Okay.
Thank you Susanne Seldas and Pamlndnald, thanks so much for
coming in.
Speaker 3 (11:18):
Good to see you.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
Vero Beach Museum of Art. And now we're going to
take a break and talk about Riverside Theater. They are
closed for the fourth of July weekend, but you can
check into the Riverside Theater's website to learn about the
coming season plus everything happening this summer. It's all about
Riverside Theater for kids. See Legally Blonde the musical, thrilled
(11:41):
to performances in the alumni showcase, and get out your visor,
garter and shades for Riverside Theaters Vegas nights. That's July seventeenth, eighteenth,
and nineteenth. This popular event puts the fun in a
fundraiser benefiting Riverside's youth tuition assistance program. About Everything Riverside
at Riversidetheater dot com.
Speaker 5 (12:04):
Ballet Vero Beach is leaping into its thirteenth season, and
you're invited to experience every breathtaking moment, from timeless classics
to bold new works. The company's upcoming season promises unforgettable
performances for the whole family, featuring performances at Riverside Theater,
VBHS Performing Arts Center and the Vero Beach Museum of Art.
There's something for everyone in the company's extraordinary lineup. Subscribe
(12:27):
now and enjoy exclusive perks all season long. Visit ballet
Vererobeach dot org to reserve your subscription today.
Speaker 6 (12:33):
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(12:53):
furniture experts, and have hundreds of styles of any patio
furniture you need, including a gallery of a American made
telescope for Lynn Gardens and Pollywood, all with no tariff Ever.
We specialize in fire bits, outdoor rugs, umbrellas and replacement cushions.
Right now we're having a summer sale with lots of
great markdowns and discounts on everything you need for your
(13:14):
Florida home, including all pictures, lamps and accessories. Half riese
Sunshine Furniture twelve ninety five US one in the public
Splasa Aero Beach. Don't forget to visit our outlet store
directly across the street, filled with lots of name ground
closeouts and sale item Come in now for our summer
sale and visit our website at Sunshine Furniture Casual dot com.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
And we're back with Arts Blast on the Air. I'm
Willie Miller and welcoming our second guest, Katherine es Rock. Katherine,
you and I have emailed so often I feel as
though I've known you. You are the executive director of
the Bred Cultural Alliance. Correct, that is correct? Okay, I
(13:55):
have to confess I do a lot of promoting of
the Brevarred Cultural Alliance as members, but I don't get
up there as often as I should. I'm going to
want you to explain to people why people should be
aware of what's going on in Brevard County and get
themselves up there this summer.
Speaker 7 (14:14):
Oh absolutely, I appreciate that it is the area that
we live in here on the space Post and Treasure
Past is a little tricky to navigate. It's really unique,
and it takes us a long time to get up
and down the coasts back and forth to things, but
I think it is so worth it. So I like
to tell people that, especially when people are new and
they've just moved here or they're not super familiar with
(14:37):
the area, that if you're looking for something to do
in Brevard County, you will find it no matter what
it is. If you want jazz and nightclubs, if you
want comedy clubs, local bookstores, fantastic theater, beautiful symphonies and bands,
really cool classy art, killer cool, funky art. No matter
(14:58):
what you're looking for, you're going to find it here.
It might just take a little bit of looking, and
it might take a little bit of driving, but it
is so worth it. In the end. We have just
an incredible amount of people and artists making really really
crazy cool things up here, and I think it is
worth drive up. Check out our website or any of
(15:20):
your satastic newsletters and your website. You've got so many
events listed from all across the Space Coast and Treasure Coast,
But it is worth taking a look online and making
a trip up to Brevard County. If you haven't been
here in a while, there's so much good stuff going on.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
Yes, absolutely, I mean I think probably many people in
at least Indian River County and maybe south of here.
I think of Bravarn County as the King Center and
space launches and h a lot of things. Oh surfing,
did I forget surfing? Okay that's not exactly arts, but
(15:57):
there are so many galleries, arts organizations, Strawberry Art League
for one, and yes, and theaters. You've got theaters, little theaters,
community theaters in Melbourne and uh lake, what the lake?
What are the lake?
Speaker 7 (16:19):
We've got the titus Ville Playhouse up and titus Ville
and they are, oh my gosh killer. They just got
last season, I guess this season recently a couple months ago.
They just got this big digital screen for part of
their sets so they can make these wild backdrops and
do quick changes of sets like you've never seen. And
(16:42):
sometimes they put real life sets on pop and change
up the background like it's through a window and it's
suddenly pouring down rain or snowing. Crazy, And they have
incredible talent that they pull from all over the place.
And locally, we've got the Hindever Center. I thought you
had Dominic on pretty recently. Oh my gosh. Every time
I go see a show there, I am just blown away.
We have season tickets for this Fear and I cannot
(17:03):
wait to go. You've got surf Fide Playhouse that they're
more community theater style, but whoa. They get to put
on some really really cool, smaller shows that you maybe
haven't heard of, and their theater is so much more intimate.
That is such a cool experience too. And the Cocoa
Village Playhouse is one of the oldest buildings in Bervard,
(17:23):
if not the oldest. I mean it is an old
and gorgeous what you think of when you think old
theater with plush red velvet everywhere. And their talent is
off the charts too. I mean, you just you can't
miss between those four bigger theaters that we've got little
ones sprinkled around to, you just can't miss. I mean,
every show is killer.
Speaker 1 (17:44):
How hard is that has to be hard for you
as the executive director of the Cultural Alliance to cover
such an extensive geographical area. I mean, down here, basically
we're Vero Beach and then get down to Fort Pears
and Stuart. But up there you are from the county
(18:05):
line all the way up. That's a how long is it?
How many miles is that?
Speaker 7 (18:10):
It is? Seventy two miles line.
Speaker 1 (18:14):
That's a lot of arts and culture, isn't it?
Speaker 7 (18:17):
Yes, it is. But it is a challenge. And it's
not just for us or for the arts. That's every industry.
That's one of the really interesting unique things about the
arts that sometimes as a benefit and sometimes there's a
little bit of a challenge, is that long unique geography.
But it just means that every city kind of has
its own feel and everyone kind of in their own neighborhoods,
(18:41):
and it's fun to get out of your neighborhood and
go see something different, and like you were saying, it's
a little bit more compact down your way. Before this job,
I was at the veruro Beach Museum of Art in
their education department and I loved it. So you can
bounce back and forth between Riverside Theater and the museum
and has yourself one cultural day, not even a block.
(19:01):
You just cross the streets and how lovely is that?
So you've got to make a little bit more of
a trek up here.
Speaker 5 (19:07):
But that's okay.
Speaker 1 (19:08):
But you've got so many musical organizations as well. I'm
thinking we're recording this for the Fourth of July, but
we'll be playing it for a while. But in Coco
is a Coco Park or Coco Village Park.
Speaker 7 (19:23):
I think Cocoa Village Park, Forth of July fireworks and concert.
Speaker 1 (19:28):
Yeah, so you have borrowed Symphony Orchestra.
Speaker 7 (19:31):
Yes, they are fabulous too. If you like symphony music,
Oh my gosh, every single concert they put on will
absolutely blow you away. And they've got classical, they've got pops,
they've got I mean, anything you could want, they've got
it going. Between them and the Space Coast Symphony Mobourn
Municipal Band, I mean you just again, you can't go wrong.
(19:52):
There's so many opportunities and someone's always having a concert.
There is always beautiful live music to go see.
Speaker 1 (19:58):
Yep, and very often come down here to Indian River
County as well. And we love them, we love them.
We just had let's see, it was Aaron Collins who
was here last weekend with the Patriotic Concert, and now
the fourth we have Chris Confessari and the Bavarded Symphony
(20:19):
Orchestra in the park. What else is coming up for
the summer.
Speaker 7 (20:25):
Oh, well, we've got lots of great art camps going
on for kids. I know it was filled up pretty quickly,
so I don't know. You know, there's lots of different
organizations that have their camps going on. But we've got
lots of good art camps up here all the time.
Let's see what else do we have this summer. I
think those are really the big things that are going on.
(20:45):
You don't know that we have any big festivals coming
up in the summer either, you know.
Speaker 1 (20:49):
What I forgot to mention. You have the King Center,
but there are so many churches up there that are
our host to concerts. I'm thinking of Sun Coast and
the what's the one on a one as a riverside
I believe. So. Yeah, So there's music of all kinds
(21:12):
for any taste in Brevard County. And then a long
time ago I wrote about jazz club in was it
Coco Cocoa Beach? Was it Hidie's?
Speaker 7 (21:23):
Yes, Heidi's They are crazy cool too.
Speaker 1 (21:27):
Wow, lots of good things for everybody up there. Well,
what's your what's your favorite thing to do? Catherine, you're
the executive director, so you're so aware of what's going on,
What's what's your favorite thing? If you actually get to
go out? I know how that is?
Speaker 7 (21:43):
Right right? Well? That is part of what made me
excited about starting this job, is the opportunity to get
to go see things, especially during the day. I can
count it as part of my job, my job to
be aware and to go see concerts and plays and
festivals at events to be able to tell other how
fantastic it is. I think my favorite things to do
(22:04):
here are probably I love the theaters. I love to
go see a musical or a play. And in my
other favorite thing, this is one that I totally think
falls under the category of the arts that people don't
think about too often, I think, is eating. I love
to go and eat at all the different restaurants around here,
(22:24):
and you cannot. It's hard to find bad suits here.
I mean, I really, I think I've had a handful
of meals and the whole time that I've lived here
and visited here that were not stellar. And we have
cuisines from all over the world, all kinds of weird
fusions and fun things. There is a new food hall
that just opens in Cocoa Beach, also right in the
(22:47):
middle of the downtown area. I haven't checked it out yet,
but I've heard it's awesome. But that's that is a new,
really exciting fun thing to go do around here.
Speaker 1 (22:55):
And I know there's plenty of good eating as well
as a great museum in mel That's pretty, as I said,
pretty much as far as I go most of the time.
But you're tempting me to make my way up the coast.
Speaker 7 (23:09):
You have to. I mean, there's so much good stuff
in Melbourne, but it's worth the extra maybe twenty minutes,
to get a little bit further and see all the
other good things we've got going on.
Speaker 1 (23:18):
What's happening at the Handeger Center? Do you talk to
dom the Do you know what's going on with the
Handiger Center this summer? I should have looked it up
before I asked.
Speaker 7 (23:28):
They have I know that. I don't know if it's
sober or not yet, but they had the Gloria Stefon
musical on recently that I've heard wonderful reviews. I didn't
get a chance to see it, and I've heard wonderful,
wonderful things, and I think it the I think in
August is when their season officially starts. Oh, I have
(23:50):
a ticket. I think it's hair the Hairspray. I think
it's Hairspray that's coming up. Like I said, we've got
season tickets. Yeah, Hairspray is coming up and starting in August.
So I'm very, very excited for that. That one's a classic.
Speaker 1 (24:02):
That's great that the season is starting in August. And
they're not the only one. I mean, Aaron Collins and
the Spaceco Symphony start their season in the summer too.
Pretty amazing. It's compared to how things were ten or fifteen,
twenty years ago, when there was nothing going on in
the summer. We are in a hot spot of cultural arts, entertainment,
(24:25):
you name.
Speaker 7 (24:25):
It, you really are. And it is maybe a little
bit of a blessing and a curse because there's so
much going on that there's no way you can get
to all of it. No one you can see all
of it. And sometimes I'll see something part of it
go oh, I really want to go to that, and
it's like, well that was last weekend saying it, I
missed it, and it's like, well, I'll have to book
mark them and keep an eye out for their next
(24:47):
thing they have going on. So it's great to have
the variety, but it is a lot of stuff going
on for a big, big county.
Speaker 1 (24:56):
Okay, Catherine, I am so glad we've had a chance
to talk. We're going to do this again. We've run
out of time now, so I'll thank you for being here,
taking your time, and I'll see you up in Pervard County.
Speaker 7 (25:08):
All right, sounds good. Let me know when you're up there.
I'd be happy to go to any event with you.
Speaker 1 (25:13):
Okay, thanks a lot, bye now.
Speaker 7 (25:15):
Thank you, bye bye.
Speaker 1 (25:17):
By guest katherinees Rock, Executive director of the Revard Cultural Alliance.
Thanks to Catherine and to Suzanne Seldas, and thanks as
always to you for joining us again this week for
Arts Blast on the Air podcast radio show and Alexis Skill,
all presented by a Riverside Theater in Ballet, Vero Beach,
(25:38):
covering the arts online and an Arts Blast. Join us
again next week for another edition of Arts Blast on
the Air. I'm Willie Miller. Thanks for listening.
Welcome to Arts Past on the air. It's a podcast.
It's a radio show and an Alexa skill presented by
Riverside Theater and Ballet Vero Beach Arts supporting the arts
in Florida. I'm Willie Miller and every week I get
to talk to people in the arts about the arts
on the Treasure Coast and beyond. It's going to be
such a busy summer for Ballet Vero Beach. Get ready
(00:26):
for Riverside Dance Festival with the La Contemporary Dance Company
August first and second at Riverside Theater. Subscriptions for next
season are available now, with single tickets on sale in November.
And are you up for a very special treat? The
dancers are back at the Vero Beach Museum of Art
for another grand performance November fifteenth. Learn all about it
(00:48):
online at Bala Vero Beach dot org. My guests today
Susanne Soldis and Pam londano Oh from Vero Beach Museum
of Art. Could that be that's correct? Willy, Good morning,
Good morning. How are you doing.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
We are well. I'm a little horse, but we're doing well.
We have a lot going on.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Well, yeah, but you know what it's almost the end
of June. Everything's supposed to slow down. Things people get
to take a rest, not.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Willie. Not at Veribe's Museum of Art. I must tell
you we are so excited. Our summer exhibition opens on
July twelfth to artists Annie Blaize, Jack and Getty's Levinson
were raised in Miami.
Speaker 3 (01:34):
Their contemporary artists.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
They collaborate their collaborative artists, so their work is done
as one and.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
Their work, which really.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Identifies and highlights the Florida waterways and flora and fauna
are reflected in their work, and it's going to be
an incredible summer exhibition.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
We're so excited about it.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
And Pam, who's here with us, has an in credible
slate of summer programming that goes along with it, so
we're excited to tell you all about it.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
Okay, Pam Lundna, what's your title.
Speaker 4 (02:09):
I'm the public programs Manager.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
Oh yeah, that's a big job.
Speaker 4 (02:12):
I would think it's a very fun one, being able
to plan events for the community at the museum.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
How far ahead do you work? Are you working on
next year already or are you still on this year?
Speaker 3 (02:23):
Yep?
Speaker 4 (02:24):
Right now, we're wrapping up details for most of the
twenty five twenty sixth season.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
Wow, looking ahead, Yes, what happens if something happens to
change those plans, are you able to back away from
something and reorganize.
Speaker 4 (02:43):
I would say we always, you know, make sure to
plan in a way that we're able to pivot as necessary.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
Is that something that happens in say art museums, something
that might be should be at the top of your
list of things to worry about.
Speaker 4 (03:01):
I mean, I think other than maybe the hurricanes or
some big emergencies, we're typically pretty prepared to handle those things.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
And we pivot pretty well in those emergencies too. Last year,
we closed for the hurricanes to keep everybody safe, and
then we opened for ten days absolutely free, so all
those folks who had so much on their mind can
just take respite at the museum. And Pam's team did
a whole bunch of extra special programming for those ten days.
So we really want to make sure that we connect
(03:31):
with all of our you know, our neighbors in the
community and throughout Indian River County and beyond, because that's
what we're here for.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
Okay, how long have you been with the museums them.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
I have been with the museum for about fifteen months, Willie,
and yesterday I was named deputy director.
Speaker 1 (03:49):
Wow. Congratulations, Wow.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
Yeah. So it's exciting times for us.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
There's so much going on and lots of support from
the community, and we want to put on a lot
of great, great programming and grow our collections as you've
been reporting about, and bring these great shows like a
Tangled Plot original shows. This is another original show curated
by Kitlyn Swindel who met these artists, fell in love
(04:14):
with their work, and this show may even travel beyond
Vierby's Museum of Art once it's done.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
How long does it take to pull together a show
like that? I guess Caitlyn could best tell us, but
I'm sure you know as well.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Sure Caitlyn certainly is the one who's best can tellest.
But from my observations of her work, she really does
a lot of research on the types of art that
she's looking for, the artists that she's looking for. In
this case, she creates she had a relationship with Annie
Blaijack and Getty's Levinson just by admiring a piece of
(04:50):
work and getting to know a collector who had their work,
and so they work together, and over a series of
many months they put together a checklist. She created an
exit of more than forty paintings and sculptures, thematically arranged
so that our members and our guests in the museum
can really get a unique experience, not only in the
(05:13):
type of work that they do, but in the way
that they do that work, and that they're Florida raised artists.
So that also gives a nice summer theme for this.
As we're out and about thinking about the seat turtles,
I'm hearing about that all day. So you get that
reflection seat turtles and alligators and flora and fauna all
(05:34):
throughout this exhibition. It's also a little fantastical and little
sci fi ish, Ye it is.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
Question. You're talking about multiple, many pieces of art. These
artists presumably do not have them sitting in their studio
ready to ship off somewhere. Do they have to be
gathered from different places.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
In this particular case, I do know that Anniengetti's have
a very large studio with lots of storage. I presume
they must have some other storage spaces. But I also
know that some of the pieces, some of their works
are held by individual collectors, and so we make arrangements
with them to have those on loan to the museum
(06:19):
so that they can help tell the story of a
tangled plot for us.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
Now, now you're going to have these in house, and
it's hurricane season. But how do you prepare the museum
for hurricane season?
Speaker 2 (06:33):
Well, we prepare the museum every day for any eventuality.
You know, we have important collections. We hold them. We
hold them so that they're available for multiple generations long
after I'm gone, to view and enjoy and learn from.
And so we always make sure that whether it's a
security issue or an environmental issue, that not only our
(06:57):
collection storage area, but especially our galleries except halls, they
all are held up to standard. One of the things
that we do in anticipation of hurricane season, however, is
our outdoor sculpture parks have a lot of beautiful and
interesting works in them, and during hurricane season it's customary
(07:17):
for us to take much of that inside for storage
or secure pieces so that in the event of you know,
big winds, there's no damage and obviously nothing gets thrown
and becomes a threat to something else. So, however, this
year we have actually de installed both our north and
(07:41):
South sculpture gardens completely with exception of Trevon's art, which
is that large orange sculpture that's toward the front of
the museum. And we did that because we are getting
ready to improve our campus in a number of ways,
and with that we needed to make some change and
those will go back up when we have made those
(08:04):
and finalized those campus renovations.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
Okay, can we talk about the quarterly publication which is fabulous.
I like getting it into the mail, But it goes
out differently in the summer, doesn't it.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
It does so.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
Of course Vere Beach Museum of Art is a not
for profit, but more importantly, we know that there's a
lot of folks who travel during the summer months or
the summer elsewhere, and so because of that, we create
our Summer Quarterly entirely online and host it through flipbook.
It's on the museum website. You can go to the
foot or there and see quarterly and get to the issue.
(08:38):
But we email it out to all of our members
and those who are also interested in what we do.
And this year's or we've got a lot of comments back.
I think you mentioned it before. This quarters. The Summer
Quarterly is just spectacular, beautiful imagery from a Tangled Plot preview.
As to what else is going on coming up in
(08:59):
the fall September, we have a Picasso exhibition. We've got
another curated exhibition of our permanent collections, artifacts and objects,
so there's a lot of great things in there. The
summer programming that Pam is talking about, we have so
many things and you can get an online at Vbmuseum
dot org.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
Okay, Pam, let's talk about summer programming. What's happening.
Speaker 4 (09:24):
So we're really excited to host a bunch of these
events related to Tangled Plot or inspired by. Starting with
the opening day of the exhibition, we're going to have
the artists with us leading a sketching in the gallery
workshop that's going to be from at eleven and at
one pm on July twelfth. We also have on July
(09:44):
twenty sixth, Florida Laura a lecturer with doctor Karen Neil.
She is a public storyteller and she's going to talk
about Florida myths and folklore and how that relates to
the exhibition. And then also later on in the year,
in August ninth, we have coastal connections. They'll be joining
us for our free Saturdays doing interactive activities for families,
(10:06):
showing them how seat turtles see the world. And on
September thirteenth, we have the Environmental Learning Center coming to
do a presentation on our Indian River lagoon and showing
off some of their reptile friends.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
Now do you have to be a museum member to participate?
Speaker 4 (10:23):
No, these are all entirely free for the community.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
And do you have to sign up in advance.
Speaker 4 (10:28):
Just show up on the second Saturdays every month we
have something going on.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
So it's really nice, Willie is the exhibition opening on
July twelfth is actually the second Saturday of the month,
So all of that includes sketching and meaning the artists
will be free and all of these other pieces, with
the exception of the lecture by Karen Neil which is
on July twenty sixth, That one is free with museum.
It's free to museum members and it is also free
(10:54):
with museum admission regular mission.
Speaker 3 (10:56):
Everything else is free on those Saturdays.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
Wow, I do suggest that everybody goes to the website
vbmuseum dot org. Correct, yes, Willie, thank you, That's where
you will get all the information. Click on the quarterly.
Click on the summer programming and you'll you're in Okay.
Thank you Susanne Seldas and Pamlndnald, thanks so much for
coming in.
Speaker 3 (11:18):
Good to see you.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
Vero Beach Museum of Art. And now we're going to
take a break and talk about Riverside Theater. They are
closed for the fourth of July weekend, but you can
check into the Riverside Theater's website to learn about the
coming season plus everything happening this summer. It's all about
Riverside Theater for kids. See Legally Blonde the musical, thrilled
(11:41):
to performances in the alumni showcase, and get out your visor,
garter and shades for Riverside Theaters Vegas nights. That's July seventeenth, eighteenth,
and nineteenth. This popular event puts the fun in a
fundraiser benefiting Riverside's youth tuition assistance program. About Everything Riverside
at Riversidetheater dot com.
Speaker 5 (12:04):
Ballet Vero Beach is leaping into its thirteenth season, and
you're invited to experience every breathtaking moment, from timeless classics
to bold new works. The company's upcoming season promises unforgettable
performances for the whole family, featuring performances at Riverside Theater,
VBHS Performing Arts Center and the Vero Beach Museum of Art.
There's something for everyone in the company's extraordinary lineup. Subscribe
(12:27):
now and enjoy exclusive perks all season long. Visit ballet
Vererobeach dot org to reserve your subscription today.
Speaker 6 (12:33):
At Sunshine Furniture, our thirty five thousand square foot showroom
is filled with the largest selection of in stock, Tara
free coastal furniture on the Treasure Codes, dining in bedroom sets,
occasional tables, sofas, sleeper sofas, love seats and chairs in
the latest styles and colors from Tommy Bahama, Lexington Hooker,
four Seasons, Brax and Color and Capri for the outdoor
(12:53):
furniture experts, and have hundreds of styles of any patio
furniture you need, including a gallery of a American made
telescope for Lynn Gardens and Pollywood, all with no tariff Ever.
We specialize in fire bits, outdoor rugs, umbrellas and replacement cushions.
Right now we're having a summer sale with lots of
great markdowns and discounts on everything you need for your
(13:14):
Florida home, including all pictures, lamps and accessories. Half riese
Sunshine Furniture twelve ninety five US one in the public
Splasa Aero Beach. Don't forget to visit our outlet store
directly across the street, filled with lots of name ground
closeouts and sale item Come in now for our summer
sale and visit our website at Sunshine Furniture Casual dot com.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
And we're back with Arts Blast on the Air. I'm
Willie Miller and welcoming our second guest, Katherine es Rock. Katherine,
you and I have emailed so often I feel as
though I've known you. You are the executive director of
the Bred Cultural Alliance. Correct, that is correct? Okay, I
(13:55):
have to confess I do a lot of promoting of
the Brevarred Cultural Alliance as members, but I don't get
up there as often as I should. I'm going to
want you to explain to people why people should be
aware of what's going on in Brevard County and get
themselves up there this summer.
Speaker 7 (14:14):
Oh absolutely, I appreciate that it is the area that
we live in here on the space Post and Treasure
Past is a little tricky to navigate. It's really unique,
and it takes us a long time to get up
and down the coasts back and forth to things, but
I think it is so worth it. So I like
to tell people that, especially when people are new and
they've just moved here or they're not super familiar with
(14:37):
the area, that if you're looking for something to do
in Brevard County, you will find it no matter what
it is. If you want jazz and nightclubs, if you
want comedy clubs, local bookstores, fantastic theater, beautiful symphonies and bands,
really cool classy art, killer cool, funky art. No matter
(14:58):
what you're looking for, you're going to find it here.
It might just take a little bit of looking, and
it might take a little bit of driving, but it
is so worth it. In the end. We have just
an incredible amount of people and artists making really really
crazy cool things up here, and I think it is
worth drive up. Check out our website or any of
(15:20):
your satastic newsletters and your website. You've got so many
events listed from all across the Space Coast and Treasure Coast,
But it is worth taking a look online and making
a trip up to Brevard County. If you haven't been
here in a while, there's so much good stuff going on.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
Yes, absolutely, I mean I think probably many people in
at least Indian River County and maybe south of here.
I think of Bravarn County as the King Center and
space launches and h a lot of things. Oh surfing,
did I forget surfing? Okay that's not exactly arts, but
(15:57):
there are so many galleries, arts organizations, Strawberry Art League
for one, and yes, and theaters. You've got theaters, little theaters,
community theaters in Melbourne and uh lake, what the lake?
What are the lake?
Speaker 7 (16:19):
We've got the titus Ville Playhouse up and titus Ville
and they are, oh my gosh killer. They just got
last season, I guess this season recently a couple months ago.
They just got this big digital screen for part of
their sets so they can make these wild backdrops and
do quick changes of sets like you've never seen. And
(16:42):
sometimes they put real life sets on pop and change
up the background like it's through a window and it's
suddenly pouring down rain or snowing. Crazy, And they have
incredible talent that they pull from all over the place.
And locally, we've got the Hindever Center. I thought you
had Dominic on pretty recently. Oh my gosh. Every time
I go see a show there, I am just blown away.
We have season tickets for this Fear and I cannot
(17:03):
wait to go. You've got surf Fide Playhouse that they're
more community theater style, but whoa. They get to put
on some really really cool, smaller shows that you maybe
haven't heard of, and their theater is so much more intimate.
That is such a cool experience too. And the Cocoa
Village Playhouse is one of the oldest buildings in Bervard,
(17:23):
if not the oldest. I mean it is an old
and gorgeous what you think of when you think old
theater with plush red velvet everywhere. And their talent is
off the charts too. I mean, you just you can't
miss between those four bigger theaters that we've got little
ones sprinkled around to, you just can't miss. I mean,
every show is killer.
Speaker 1 (17:44):
How hard is that has to be hard for you
as the executive director of the Cultural Alliance to cover
such an extensive geographical area. I mean, down here, basically
we're Vero Beach and then get down to Fort Pears
and Stuart. But up there you are from the county
(18:05):
line all the way up. That's a how long is it?
How many miles is that?
Speaker 7 (18:10):
It is? Seventy two miles line.
Speaker 1 (18:14):
That's a lot of arts and culture, isn't it?
Speaker 7 (18:17):
Yes, it is. But it is a challenge. And it's
not just for us or for the arts. That's every industry.
That's one of the really interesting unique things about the
arts that sometimes as a benefit and sometimes there's a
little bit of a challenge, is that long unique geography.
But it just means that every city kind of has
its own feel and everyone kind of in their own neighborhoods,
(18:41):
and it's fun to get out of your neighborhood and
go see something different, and like you were saying, it's
a little bit more compact down your way. Before this job,
I was at the veruro Beach Museum of Art in
their education department and I loved it. So you can
bounce back and forth between Riverside Theater and the museum
and has yourself one cultural day, not even a block.
(19:01):
You just cross the streets and how lovely is that?
So you've got to make a little bit more of
a trek up here.
Speaker 5 (19:07):
But that's okay.
Speaker 1 (19:08):
But you've got so many musical organizations as well. I'm
thinking we're recording this for the Fourth of July, but
we'll be playing it for a while. But in Coco
is a Coco Park or Coco Village Park.
Speaker 7 (19:23):
I think Cocoa Village Park, Forth of July fireworks and concert.
Speaker 1 (19:28):
Yeah, so you have borrowed Symphony Orchestra.
Speaker 7 (19:31):
Yes, they are fabulous too. If you like symphony music,
Oh my gosh, every single concert they put on will
absolutely blow you away. And they've got classical, they've got pops,
they've got I mean, anything you could want, they've got
it going. Between them and the Space Coast Symphony Mobourn
Municipal Band, I mean you just again, you can't go wrong.
(19:52):
There's so many opportunities and someone's always having a concert.
There is always beautiful live music to go see.
Speaker 1 (19:58):
Yep, and very often come down here to Indian River
County as well. And we love them, we love them.
We just had let's see, it was Aaron Collins who
was here last weekend with the Patriotic Concert, and now
the fourth we have Chris Confessari and the Bavarded Symphony
(20:19):
Orchestra in the park. What else is coming up for
the summer.
Speaker 7 (20:25):
Oh, well, we've got lots of great art camps going
on for kids. I know it was filled up pretty quickly,
so I don't know. You know, there's lots of different
organizations that have their camps going on. But we've got
lots of good art camps up here all the time.
Let's see what else do we have this summer. I
think those are really the big things that are going on.
(20:45):
You don't know that we have any big festivals coming
up in the summer either, you know.
Speaker 1 (20:49):
What I forgot to mention. You have the King Center,
but there are so many churches up there that are
our host to concerts. I'm thinking of Sun Coast and
the what's the one on a one as a riverside
I believe. So. Yeah, So there's music of all kinds
(21:12):
for any taste in Brevard County. And then a long
time ago I wrote about jazz club in was it
Coco Cocoa Beach? Was it Hidie's?
Speaker 7 (21:23):
Yes, Heidi's They are crazy cool too.
Speaker 1 (21:27):
Wow, lots of good things for everybody up there. Well,
what's your what's your favorite thing to do? Catherine, you're
the executive director, so you're so aware of what's going on,
What's what's your favorite thing? If you actually get to
go out? I know how that is?
Speaker 7 (21:43):
Right right? Well? That is part of what made me
excited about starting this job, is the opportunity to get
to go see things, especially during the day. I can
count it as part of my job, my job to
be aware and to go see concerts and plays and
festivals at events to be able to tell other how
fantastic it is. I think my favorite things to do
(22:04):
here are probably I love the theaters. I love to
go see a musical or a play. And in my
other favorite thing, this is one that I totally think
falls under the category of the arts that people don't
think about too often, I think, is eating. I love
to go and eat at all the different restaurants around here,
(22:24):
and you cannot. It's hard to find bad suits here.
I mean, I really, I think I've had a handful
of meals and the whole time that I've lived here
and visited here that were not stellar. And we have
cuisines from all over the world, all kinds of weird
fusions and fun things. There is a new food hall
that just opens in Cocoa Beach, also right in the
(22:47):
middle of the downtown area. I haven't checked it out yet,
but I've heard it's awesome. But that's that is a new,
really exciting fun thing to go do around here.
Speaker 1 (22:55):
And I know there's plenty of good eating as well
as a great museum in mel That's pretty, as I said,
pretty much as far as I go most of the time.
But you're tempting me to make my way up the coast.
Speaker 7 (23:09):
You have to. I mean, there's so much good stuff
in Melbourne, but it's worth the extra maybe twenty minutes,
to get a little bit further and see all the
other good things we've got going on.
Speaker 1 (23:18):
What's happening at the Handeger Center? Do you talk to
dom the Do you know what's going on with the
Handiger Center this summer? I should have looked it up
before I asked.
Speaker 7 (23:28):
They have I know that. I don't know if it's
sober or not yet, but they had the Gloria Stefon
musical on recently that I've heard wonderful reviews. I didn't
get a chance to see it, and I've heard wonderful,
wonderful things, and I think it the I think in
August is when their season officially starts. Oh, I have
(23:50):
a ticket. I think it's hair the Hairspray. I think
it's Hairspray that's coming up. Like I said, we've got
season tickets. Yeah, Hairspray is coming up and starting in August.
So I'm very, very excited for that. That one's a classic.
Speaker 1 (24:02):
That's great that the season is starting in August. And
they're not the only one. I mean, Aaron Collins and
the Spaceco Symphony start their season in the summer too.
Pretty amazing. It's compared to how things were ten or fifteen,
twenty years ago, when there was nothing going on in
the summer. We are in a hot spot of cultural arts, entertainment,
(24:25):
you name.
Speaker 7 (24:25):
It, you really are. And it is maybe a little
bit of a blessing and a curse because there's so
much going on that there's no way you can get
to all of it. No one you can see all
of it. And sometimes I'll see something part of it
go oh, I really want to go to that, and
it's like, well that was last weekend saying it, I
missed it, and it's like, well, I'll have to book
mark them and keep an eye out for their next
(24:47):
thing they have going on. So it's great to have
the variety, but it is a lot of stuff going
on for a big, big county.
Speaker 1 (24:56):
Okay, Catherine, I am so glad we've had a chance
to talk. We're going to do this again. We've run
out of time now, so I'll thank you for being here,
taking your time, and I'll see you up in Pervard County.
Speaker 7 (25:08):
All right, sounds good. Let me know when you're up there.
I'd be happy to go to any event with you.
Speaker 1 (25:13):
Okay, thanks a lot, bye now.
Speaker 7 (25:15):
Thank you, bye bye.
Speaker 1 (25:17):
By guest katherinees Rock, Executive director of the Revard Cultural Alliance.
Thanks to Catherine and to Suzanne Seldas, and thanks as
always to you for joining us again this week for
Arts Blast on the Air podcast radio show and Alexis Skill,
all presented by a Riverside Theater in Ballet, Vero Beach,
(25:38):
covering the arts online and an Arts Blast. Join us
again next week for another edition of Arts Blast on
the Air. I'm Willie Miller. Thanks for listening.
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