I recently posted about the wonderful exhibition that is currently on at the AGO, called Mystical Landscapes. Today I thought I’d give you a look at the lovely gift shop that the gallery has set up to accompany the show.
To back up a bit, this exhibition includes works from great masters we know and love, Van Gogh, Monet and Gauguin, and many we’ve never heard of because the paintings have never before left the countries of their origin. In all, 37 artists from 14 countries are represented, in 90 paintings and 20 drawings, created over the 50 year span from 1880 to 1930. Each reflects the artist’s desire to capture the spiritual presence they sensed out of doors — in woods, on mountain tops and in the night sky.
The paintings in the exhibit were chosen because they demonstrate or promote feelings of calmness, relaxation, wonder and optimism and many of the items selected for the shop aim to do the same thing.
While looking around I had the good fortune of meeting the AGO’s Assistant Merchandiser, Kierin, who was part of the team who made the shop happen. She told me a bit about the concept.
The large wooden boxes in which the items are displayed are meant to bring to mind the packing crates that paintings travel in when being transported. The colour scheme was picked directly from one of the paintings in the show, Claude Monet’s Water Lilies, Reflections of Weeping Willows.
Things are divided into the same categories that the art is in the exhibition : Zen, Spiritual, Nature, Environment, Meditate and Cosmos. Additionally, there is a section containing gifts for children that are somehow related to the message of the show.
↑ Gifts for children ↑
↑ There are two paintings by Van Gogh in the show ↑
Included are some wonderful paintings by Canadian artists, Emily Carr, Tom Thompson and Lawren Harris, falling within the categories Nature and Environment.
There are many items aimed to give a sense of well being …
↑ Those “chunks” in the front are pieces of great smelling soap, called SoapRocks. ↑
There are eight paintings by Monet in the show, and a fine arrangements of gifts in the shop reflecting that, displayed within the Zen crate …
↑ The AGO partnered with the local company Pluck Teas to offer tea blends that compliment the exhibition. Here is a tranquil blend. ↑
↑ There is also a Pacific Coast Blend that contains ingredients grown across Canada found in the crate with the Emily Carr things. ↑
These pendants by Moonglow are really neat. You’re invited to look in the book for any date from the past that is special to you and find the phase the moon was in on that date. Then you select the corresponding pendant and wear it to commemorate your special date …
↑ Books about some of the artists in the show. ↑
↑ Jewellery and scarves. There are also printed socks that men will enjoy. ↑
Mystical Landscapes is a ticketed show that will be showing at the AGO until January 29th, 2017. It’s a beautiful exhibit that I hope you can see yourself, however if you are unable to, you can still access the gift shop from the main gallery. Note that general admission is free on Wednesday evenings, when ticket prices for Mystical Landscapes are offered at a reduced rate.
Thanks for checking out my post. I hope you have a good weekend.
xo loulou
