Bitchin’ Kitsch

sara forsyth

There’s something about “collecting” that lends itself to images of atrophied bodies bent over crusty Papilionoidea, or fussy Antiques Roadshow types in little red bow ties.
 
Jayson Melanson, thankfully, doesn’t fit into those two oh-so-very accurate categories. The Montréal native runs Lost and Found, a boutique specializing in unique pieces for the customer who takes pride in his or her taste — a true individual. As Melanson says, “It’s fashionable to be yourself.”

For someone who has been a collector his whole life, Melanson shows a lot of restraint. Lost and Found feels spacious and bright (which I’m sure has nothing to do with the floor-to-ceiling windows in the store front). The jewelry, accessories, and doodads are confined to the extremities, leaving lots of space for spiralling racks of local wares, like hand-painted shirts by Mitchell Wiebe and T-shirts designed by the artists at Co. & Co.

Melanson carries the latest offerings from other local independents as well. Lost and Found hosts shows for emerging artists — Sojourner Truth’s touching collages are on display for the next few months — and you’ll find a great selection of local tunes for sale, too.

“The idea of the store is music, art, and fashion,” says Melanson. “They’ve always fed off each other and they’re all my passions. You can’t go wrong with having them all in one place.”

Somehow he manages to make each piece seem special. Melanson’s collectibles are carefully and evenly displayed. Lost and Found invokes the feeling of a treasure shop as opposed to a junk shop — precisely what he wanted to convey. “When people walk in here, I want them to feel like they found something,” Melanson says. “It has atmosphere. You can see something here. You can listen to something here.”

Thumbs up.

Lost and Found: 2383 Agricola Street, Halifax
(902.446.5986, www.myspace.com/lostandfoundstore)
Tuesday to Sunday from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.