The Taubman Museum of Art in downtown Roanoke has tried a number of incarnations at its gift shop – located just to the left when you enter the building from Salem Avenue. For a direction on where to turn with the newest iteration, they just looked across the street to Tink’s Place (115 Salem Avenue). That’s where owner Ninette White operates her home décor and gift boutique. White calls herself a “pro-antiquer” who believes in one-of-a-kind pieces. She is also a mixed-media assemblage artist who likes to feature local artisans.
“Every time I looked across the street I kept seeing that this museum had great traffic and everyone would come in [to Tink’s Place – Tink was a childhood nickname for her that stuck] and say, ‘have you seen this exhibit?’”
White says she loves the art museum and the fact that the architecture is so different. Then the sidewalk art show, an annual fundraising event staged by the Taubman, also got her attention. “These were my people … it seems like they really got my store.”
Taubman Museum executive director Della Watkins started recruiting White to establish a shop at the museum, which eventually led to Tink’s at the Taubman. A ribbon cutting in late September marked the grand opening. White says part of her mission is to support local artists and artisans. At least four now have items for sale in her venue at the museum. She also feels Tink’s at the Taubman and Tink’s Place across the street can help feed customers to the other location.
“[Tink’s] is the perfect partner,” says Watkins, “an individual that is not only an artist herself but she is gathering local [and] national artisans and really has a good sensibility about art and exhibitions and merchandising.”
Watkins likes the focus on artisans at Tink’s and promises that those offerings “will keep changing.” That’s one way to make sure people return to the Taubman.
By Gene Marrano
