In late June, 2005, Oprah Winfrey was visiting Paris and wanted to stop into Hermès, the famed 24 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré flagship, to buy some gifts, which included a watch for Tina Turner. But the store had closed for the night and, consequently, one of the world's most influential people was turned away. Birkin boycotts and transatlantic apologies ensued.
Ten days ago, former U.S. president Bill Clinton popped into Toronto for one of his corporate speeches and, like Oprah, wanted to return to New York with a few gifts. He set his sights on The Guild Shop, a small Yorkville boutique located near his hotel that exclusively features Canadian crafts.
The store permitted his security detail to do a sweep of the premises and, by early evening, Clinton arrived, posed for pictures and, most importantly, purchased some one-of-a-kind souvenirs of the non-maple-syrup variety.
These included wood pieces - a stick bowl by Jim Lorriman ( ) and a turned vase by John Grey Diamond - in addition to a keepsake from glass blower Ted Jolda ( ) and some Ojibwa and Inuit sculptures.
Aside from his entourage and high profile, Clinton is not unlike any other tourist who sees intrinsic value in Canadian craft. Canadians, meanwhile, often need reminding of just how unique our local artisans are.
Now is as good as time as any: 2007 has been declared the Year of the Craft by the Canadian Craft Federation and, of course, Canada Day is tomorrow.
But for all our new-found celebration of locally produced food and wine, craft is still perceived as lacking finesse. Explains freelance craft curator Rachel Gotlieb, "Craft has always been a dirty word; it reminds you so much of crafts like macramé."
Gotlieb, who also sits on the Ontario Craft Council's board of directors, notes that many organizations have started applying some PR spin; the American Craft Museum in New York, for example, has been renamed the American Museum of Design.
The separation of craft and design comes at a cost to the artists, she adds. And people often don't realize that they can collaborate with artists as their collection grows. "It's very nice to enjoy the personal relationship, which you can't do if you buy something at Pottery Barn or Ikea," Gotlieb says.
Not to mention the guarantee of uniqueness. Katherine McKellar, The Guild Shop's special project co-ordinator, who was present during Clinton's visit, says people are increasingly requesting pieces that are "distinctly Canadian and handmade." Eco shoppers can look forward to a sustainable craft show called Elemental Connections, beginning this fall at the OCC's Queen Street gallery.
This is not the first celebrity appearance at the store, which has been located in Yorkville for more than 35 years. Comedians seem to find a connection with craft: Robin Williams, John Cleese and Whoopi Goldberg are among past shoppers.
As for McKeller's dream shopper fantasy? David Suzuki. "I just value a lot of what he has to say and what he supports." Naturally, it has to be a homegrown boy.
For more information call The Guild Shop at 416-921-1721.
Amy Verner