Art and the lowly coffee bean

Page 2

The greyness of a typical rainy winter day in Vancouver quickly dissipates after one tastes a fresh piece of bannock offered at a little shop in the city's downtown.

As owner of a new business amid the corporate coffee-selling competition, Darryl Alexcee hopes to perk up the java-crazed west end. Darryl's Coffee and Native Art Shop offers more than just a shot of caffeine-induced warmth. His customers are invited to relax and admire a variety of crafts and prints displayed within the cozy 50-square-metre setting.

"My main staple will be art for the tourists and the locals who live here," Alexcee said about the future goals of his newly established business. "I see all these tourists that come into Vancouver and want to buy First Nations art and a lot of them get fooled because it isn't original."

Enticed by the signs promoting bannock that isn't very easy to find in the downtown core, customers might be surprised when they see the multitude of handmade jewelry upon entering Alexcee's store.

Even after the purchase of a beverage and light snack, they will notice the artwork tends to dominate the interior at Darryl's. Cream and milk dispensers are on a glass unit with smaller items of art and clothing for sale.

"I've utilized all the space from the coffee counter to the tables to the display cases," said Alexcee of his 11-seat establishment.

Open since Dec. 8, the shop is on the corner of Davie and Burrard.

With the heavy pedestrian traffic flow from high-rise hotels and condominiums in the immediate area, Alexcee believes his store gives First Nation craftsmen's work high visibility without the high gallery mark-ups.

Alexcee said he continues to seek out different pieces of art and wants to earn a reputation as a fair promoter of artists. All of the goods on display have been purchased from artists at wholesale prices, and he explained that once a price has been set for an item that will never change.

"When I deal with Native artists I tell them what I will sell it for, that includes rent and insurance, and that price will not jump once they're gone because then I wouldn't be fair with my own people," Alexcee said.

He added that in larger galleries, it is not unusual for the retail price to be 400-to-500 per cent of the purchase price of a piece.

"First Nations artists are not truly compensated for all their hard work when they deal with other galleries and art shops."

Pleased with his location, Alexcee does regret his opening date was later than he preferred. Had he opened in October or November, he would have capitalized on the Christmas shopping season. Post-holidays, word-of-mouth of his business is just starting to spread through the Aboriginal community. Alexcee knows many of his clientele by name. By spring, he anticipates a new group of customers will come in to enjoy Aboriginal fares and wares.

"All the tourists march up and down Burrard and Davie streets, and I'm going to catch their attention ... hopefully," said Alexcee.

Artists may contact Darryl's Coffee and Native Art Shop at (604) 689-5354.