ART
spur development of Riverside Park as a cultural center.
Joan Pickel was president of the Vero Beach Theatre Guild,
which staged its plays in the leaky, creaky auditorium of
Vero Beach High School’s original complex on 19th Street.
Those buildings were torn down years ago and replaced by
108
the Freshman Learning
Center.
Even though the
tower project died, one
part of the Pickels’
dream did become reality:
Riverside Park is a
vibrant cultural hub, the
site of Riverside
Theatre, Riverside
Children’s Theatre and
the Vero Beach Museum
of Art. Veterans
Memorial Island, with
no tourist attractions
other than a sidewalk
and benches, became a
peaceful sanctuary honoring
local servicemen
who died in combat.
Conrad Pickel
continued working in
stained glass until his
The head artist at the Conrad Pickel Studio, Lyn Durham, whose own face is
reflected in a mirror on her work area, works on painting the glass that will
then be fired in their kiln. When the piece is completed it will be placed in
the Faith United Methodist Church in Boynton Beach.
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Conrad Pickel
Miguel Patilla works on drawing out patterns onto faceted glass at the Conrad Pickel Studio in Vero Beach.