Local Traders Open For Business

SHOWCASE OF INTERNATIONAL WARES

Over the past few years, Ann Arbor's young population with its culturally expanding taste has become increasingly attractive to persons dealing in imported goods. For capitalistic as well as cultural purposes, entrepreneurs of foreign arts and crafts bring to Ann Arbor a varied selection of artistic treasures. These items range from artifacts handcrafted by natives living far from civilization, to faddish items mass-produced by machines in foreign industry. Buyer, beware of merchants' claims of low price and top quality—shop around!

Terming itself "Folk Art Gallery" BAOBAB (123 W. Washington) offers one of the most diverse local collections of Third World imports, ranging from South America to Africa, and carries some rare, centuries old work by pre-Colombian period Indians as well. The emphasis is on art. and thus no clothing is sold there. Available items include Latin American jewelry and weavings; Peruvian gourds; Makonde sculptures from Tanzania: Afghani rugs; and various wall hangings such as those from Africa's Senufo tribes, which consist of black-dyed animal and symbols on woven white cloth. The store is run by a brother-sister team—Peter Koepke and Paula Koepke, and Bill Zolkowski, three travellers who finance their travels through import sales locally. Well versed in the various cultures represented. Peter is quick to relate the history and significance of many of the works in his store. The Nenufo hangings, mentioned above, for example, bear figures which were once on hunting clothes, intended to bring native hunters luck and protection. Also, check out the African sculptures, meticulously carved in ebony wood, and not too available in this area.

CLOTH OF GOLD (611 Church), 1 1/2 years old and just recently remodeled is representative of the typical A2 foreign import store. Pottery, jewelry, weavings, clothing and other handicrafts are prevalent amidst a friendly, artistic, and pseudo-cultural atmosphere. Here, the imports are primarily Mexican, Colombian, and Indian, and are personally selected by the owner Steve Walters and associates on frequent trips to these countries. There is some fine turquoise jewelry available, and Indian shirts sell well. Expected in a few months are Wicker chairs from India. The store also carries handicrafts produced in this country, and several of the staff are artists selling their own products.

FABUNIQUE (323 E. William) also has a wide selection of imported clothes and fabrics, with handbags, exotic jewelry and jewelry boxes brought in as a sidelight. The management recently came upon a wealth of Peruvian blankets, an item they don't usually carry. Hand-embroidered shirts and blouses are direct from India, where a buyer ventures twice yearly to cop goods.

At FOREIGN MATTER (215 S. State, upstairs) owner Jeremy Raymond's understanding and love for Central American peasant culture is the inspiration behind his creation of this shop, the walls of which even capture the ethnic flavor. He personally buys most of his items from peasants and Indians in Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Colombia, and other nearby lands, and is ready to discuss their culture and archeology with anyone. His hand knitted Mexican sweaters sell for less than at other import stores, and he carries loom-knit blankets and tapestries. Other interesting items are jewelry and a truly unique hammock.

IMAD'S (309 E. Liberty) has an impressive selection of clothing, along with Middle Eastern jewelry and handicraft. Here you can find the most exquisitely carved chess pieces in town, guaranteed to impress. Also locally unique to Imad's are a few pieces of Ivory jewelry. Shoppers should also check out the low-priced, over-stocked selection of leather handbags.

LITTLE THINGS (215 S. State) is the chic boutique for the campus freak. They have the best in custom made mail order imports.

MIDDLE EARTH (1209 E. University) is firmly rooted in Ann Arbor. It opened eight years ago as a head shop carrying papers and the like. Owner Cynthia Shevel has expanded operations in recent years and the store now carries a good amount of Latin American and European cultural imports. There is a bit of everything here, and Shevel believes the prices are reasonable in relation to the quality of products. She deals mainly through import companies in the States, and claims that this method insures finer quality in the selection offered. Shevel is also the owner of three stores over al 213 State St; The Great American Cover-Up—rugs, Bead Bad; and Get Frocked—import clothing.)

PERSIAN HOUSE OF IMPORTS (320 E. Liberty) Ali Amiri imports more than just exquisite handicraft in his well-stocked palace. When he imports handmade sheepskin coals, family-made tapestries, Persian rugs and awe-inspiring small gifts and collectors items. Ali brings with him the art and civilization of the Iranian people. It's worth a visit here to immerse yourself in the majesty of Persian culture, with Mr. Amiri happy to explain the significance of each item. It's like a trip to Iran, but less expensive. Be sure to say, "I'm just here to look."

Owner George Julian of THE WORLD IS YOURS (407 N. Fifth, above Kerrytown) readily confesses that his store doesn't really offer the world—not yet—anyway. Currently presenting mainly choice Central and Latin American imports of all types, as well as some Haitian wood carvings, Julian hopes to import a wider range of selections in the future. A native of California, Julian opened this store in July, and states that he intends to bring cultural artifacts to the public at reasonable rates. Currently obtaining pieces both thru a middle person and by personal travels, he hopes to do most of his own transactions in the future and thus offer lower prices and sustain himself on high sales volume. His specialty, Mexican and Peruvian hand-woven woolen blanket-rugs at $58 is worth checking out.

TURKISH ARTS AND GIFTS (215 E. Liberty), the management has brought together a conglomeration of interesting gifts, not necessarily all from Turkey. There is an abundance of small stone and metal gifts, ranging from ashtrays to sculpture. They also carry a few clothing items, including hand-knitted socks and gloves, and Turkish slippers, and feature a large variety of jewelry items.

THE WOODSHED (121 W. Washington) opened rather recently, and specializes mainly in Indian craft—not the Asian kind but the native variety. Run by George McCue, of Indian heritage, and Jack McDonald, from Tennessee, the store also offers a small selection of American antiques and handcrafted chairs from down south. The Indian goods include prints, jewelry, dolls, beads, snow shoes, moccasins, pipe tobacco, vests, and baskets, produced by North American Indians of the Iroquois tribe in Ontario, and by members of the Mohawk Tribe. Prices are inexpensive, and while these items aren't necessarily representative of a foreign culture, they nevertheless are tributes to a fine and proud people who have maintained a culture in a land which was once theirs.

Most customers will find many imported hand produced goods expensive, compared say, to American machine-made items. But remember, imported items are in themselves enriching for they are filled with the spirit of creativity, and represent the expression of one's soul, and in turn impart this on to consumers in this country, where conformity and mass production has become the norm.

-Marty Stern

-Rich Fox

(From top to bottom) A painted Peruvian gourd from Baobab, a dangling neckpiece from the Persian House of Imports, and South American wall-hangings from Foreign Matter are just a few of the crafts to be found in Ann Arbor. Photo by Stephen Graham.