MAKE GIFT-GIVING A REAL WORK OF ART
house treasure troves of impressive gifts
At this busy time of year, you might think of museums and galleries only as refuges from bad weather or the in-laws. But think again: Most have terrific gifts shops overflowing with gift ideas ranging from calendars and coffee mugs to jewelry, clothing and precious works of art, many of them also available online. We took a look at some of the museum and galleries across Canada, and here are just a few of the goodies we found.
Montreal Museum of Fine Arts M Boutique and Bookstore, www.mbam.qc.ca
Whether you are in search of a chic San Lorenzo briefcase ($50.95), funky Neo Rosanna Contadini necklace ($88.95), blocky Mondrian breakfast tray ($115.95) or art-inspired greeting cards ($21.95), this gallery gift shop seems to have it all. It’s a particularly great place to find educational toys for kids, such as the Touch Cube ($19.95) or Edubaby cards ($11.99). And right now, the MMFA is featuring an Impressionist exhibit, so the M Boutique is the place to find Monet’s Water Lilies coffee mugs ($28.95 for a set of two) or a Degas Ballerina music box ($82.95).
National Gallery of Canada Bookstore, Ottawa, www.gallery.ca
Who hasn’t fallen in love with National Gallery’s extensive collection of original paintings by iconic Canadian artists? Now you can take home a memento from the touring exhibition — Painting Canada. Tom Thomson’s famous painting, The Jack Pine, is depicted on a fine bone china mug ($19.95).
Other great gift ideas include Magnetic Colour Cubes that allow you to create countless patterns and designs ($18) or the Photo Mobile Clip, a perfect way to display all the holiday cards that would otherwise just clutter up your mantelpiece ($9.95). And the simple but beautiful Loop Candelabra, inspired by the Fibonacci Curve, is a great way to brighten any decor ($33.95).
Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, www.rom.on.ca
The ROM houses a vast collection of artifacts in a grand old neo-Byzantine building adorned with a beautiful new crystal-shaped extension. It also has a shop with no end of terrific gift ideas. Historians will love the reproduction Roman Gallic helmet made of 18-gauge steel with horsehair officer’s crest ($299.99) or the scale model of a section of a Roman forum ($79.97).
Those who prefer more contemporary design will appreciate the ROM Crystal hourglass shape stool ($179.99), ROM Signature Cerutti 1881 chrome-plated ballpoint pen ($89.99), Riedel Martini Crystal Glass ($16.99) — and the ROM Napkin Notebook, a reference to architect Daniel Libeskind, who drew his first sketches of the ROM’s Crystal expansion on a napkin ($9.99).
The Rooms, St. John’s, NL, www.therooms.ca
Towering high above the city’s famous Jellybean Row, The Rooms is a gallery with a difference. The same can be said for its vibrant gift shop, which in addition to all the local products, exhibit-inspired gifts and Newfie memorabilia, is the exclusive retailer for Republic of Doyle merchandise. You’ll find tees, toques, ball caps and bar glasses commemorating the hit CBC-TV show.
Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, moa.ubc.ca
Perched on the cliffs overlooking the Strait of Georgia, MOA is a breathtaking mu- seum space that celebrates world arts and cultures, especially those of indigenous peoples. Its gift shop is an unbeatable place to find jewelry and artwork.
Right now, the museum is featuring a special exhibit on Peru, so you can find a silver Peruvian necklace ($160), pin pendant ($60) or a retablo, an ornate little box filled with religious or folk scenes ($300). And, of course, MOA always features sculptures and paintings by West Coast First Nations artists such as the spectacular Bumble Bee Mask by Nuu-chahnulth carver Tom Patterson ($4,000).
Royal Tyrrell Museum, Drumheller, Alta., www.tyrrellmuseum.com
Kids of all ages will love the dino-inspired gifts at this museum of paleontology in the Alberta Badlands. The littlest ones will love the soft, plush Wish Pets woolly mammoth ($15.95) or triceratops ($13.95), while big kids will get a kick out of the glow-in-the dark dino T-shirt ($19.95). Or how about a game of Dinosaur Bingo ($17.95) or Dino-opoly ($34.99)?
You can even find dino-footprint salad tossers ($19.95), commemorative plate ($75) or prehistoric-themed Christmas ornaments ($12.95). Let’s just say the selection here is dino-mite!
Art Gallery of Alberta ShopAGA, Edmonton, www.youraga.ca
Alberta’s stunning new gallery, a swooping, threedimensional ribbon of steel designed by architect Randall Stout, has become a real destination for those who love contemporary art.
And ShopAGA, the gallery’s lively gift store, has lots of fun, youthful ideas for just about everyone on your list. There are, for instance, jigsaw puzzles inspired by famous works of art ($23 to $29), the pretty Rock Flower Paper tote bags ($13 to $28), pop-inspired Marimekko potholders ($13), Bark Decor hand-printed circle scarves ($48 to $64) and the funkychic Tokyo Bay Watches ($96 to $130).