E2 • SCRIPPS TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS • SATURDAY, JULY 5, 2008 • F

PAGE 2 (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1).

 BEHIND THE SCENES

That's because

they are installing the "Ec-

stas~y" exhibition in the

screened and roped-off

Schumann Gallery.

museums in Connecticut,

Missouri and New York.

"The work requires a va-

riety of skifi sets, and pos-

es many physical and in-

teflectual challenges," he

said. "You have to have a

good sense of aesthetics so

that you capture what the

curator and the artist have

in mind. The greatest re-

ward is to see the exhibit-

tiôn come together."

Von Ende is a newcomer

to preparator work. He has

been trained at the museum. For

most exhibitions, that in-

cludes unpacking and

packing the pieces, paint-

ing the gallery walls, and

hanging and lighting the

art.

Growth has been a dis-

tinguishing characteristic

since the day 30 years ago

when a handful of people

gathered at the home of

George and Jean Arm-

strong to discuss their

dream of a museum/art

center. The result was the

formation of the Alliance

for the Arts, later renamed

the Center for the Arts,

which joined with the Ve-

ro Beach Art Club to raise

funds for a building. That

center - the forerunner of

today's museum - opened

its doors in 1986.

After little more than a

decade, demands on its

the building. More than

twice that amount was

raised and, by 1999, the

center's size had been dou-

bled. Three years later, the

facility assumed its cur-

rent name.

Today, the museum's

continuing growth 1./~j~ 1-);fl I~,

space demands. "We have

taken huge leaps in the

past few years," said Ge-

deon. "Membership has hit

a record of more than

6,000. We have outgrown

our 247-seat auditorium.

"We need more space for

storage, specifically for our

collection and exhibitions

area. We also need cus-

tom-designed space to

bring us in line with pro-

fessional practice. Frankly,

the biggest challenge we

face is the size of our facili-

ty."

 ... that's a thing

of beauty.

Photo by FRANK KIMMEL • Correspondent

Vero Beach Museum of Art conservator Jim Liccione spray paints "The End of the

Day," an aluminum sculpture by Jane Manus, on the loading dock as part of the

museum's ongoing restoration program. The piece will be returned to its permanent

place in the sculpture garden.