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| Volume 2, Issue 11 |
Museums Offer Unique Holiday Shopping
“Oh, the weather outside is frightful…”
Actually, in San Diego it’s quite delightful. 'Tis that time of year to begin your holiday shopping for family, friends, coworkers and clients. Why not combine shopping with a cultural experience at one of the areas great museums?
The San Diego Museum Council has more than 30 member museums with gift shops, where you can find all kinds of gift items, including clothing, jewelry, toys, craft projects, art books, educational books, and art objects from all over the world as well as items from current exhibitions. Discover one stop shopping in Balboa Park with over 18 museums to choose from.
Many of these gift shops feature eco-friendly and sustainable items that support organizations around the world. Here is just a sampling of what you might find at a museum gift shop near you:
San Diego Museum of Art Check out the Escama Studio handbags, made of 100% post-consumer recycled aluminum pull tabs. They are made by the women of Cia do Lacre and As Panteras do Lacre in Brasilia, Brazil. The women formed a co-op and set prices for the goods and all production is in their control. You can also find Pretty Bird Jewelry, by Teishia Mathews, which is locally made and sourced hardstone, ceramic and Lucite stretchy bracelets.
San Diego Museum of Man Find Acholi Beads here, Made by Acholi women in the slums of Kampala who have come from the IDP camps in Northern Uganda (camps for the internally displaced). These paper beads are made from discarded magazines, cut into strips, wound around a piece of wire, then lacquered. Each piece is original; no two are exactly the same. San Diego Historical Society The San Diego Historical Society offers four decorated trees loaded with ornaments and decor. New this year are Byer's Collectibles (historical value) and a returning favorite, Southwestern Nativities (representative of Fr. Serra and the Serra museum). Maritime Museum of San Diego Look for unique nautically related gifts and books, such as scrimshaw earrings and pendants, done on fossilized mammoth bone.
San Diego Natural History Museum Handmade baskets from Peru make a great gift. These colorful, one-of-a-kind baskets from the Amazon rainforest help the community residents of Esperanza in Peru while preserving the rich biodiversity of their region.
Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego Look for the Duck Mirror, designed by award-winning designer David Dear. The Duck Mirror is a pewter egg shaped mirror on duck feet. Designer David Dear is a tinkerer, inventor and humorist, and is known for dreaming up practical design products with a touch of whimsy.
To find our more information on museums in the San Diego area, visit www.balboapark.org/shop/museums-attractions.php
Many of the websites have gift items available for purchase online. It’s a win-win opportunity for your holiday shopping. Enjoy museum exhibits, find a unique gift and support a museum at the same time!
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