As a child, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts director Alex Nyerges remembers his happiest art-museum visit — the one where he entertained himself with a sticker book while wandering the galleries. His dream? To create a similar experience for kids coming to the VMFA. Two years after bringing communications-design expert Libby Causey-Hicks on board, Nyerges has realized his dream in ArtSpotters at the Museum, a 16-page, full-color sticker book illustrated by award-winning Richmond artist Robert Meganck. It follows the story of kids who are part of the ArtSpotters club and are assigned a job at the museum. With more than 70 stickers, 44 of which depict art from the museum, children "get to reinstall the gallery and put pieces wherever they want," Hicks says. The mascot for the ArtSpotters is Tag, a dog whose name is a reference to the Mellon family, generous donors to the VMFA. ("Tag" was the last word uttered by Richard Mellon to his brother, Andrew, as he passed away.) The $8.95 book is available at the VMFA's gift shop.
