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Shopping for Antiques, Collectibles and
Wearable Native Art in BC and Washington State
by Muguette Goufrani

Since launching Africa Travel magazine, our lives at Air Highways of the World have changed dramatically and in a very positive way. We're now traveling on month long trips and meeting hordes of new people, of every race and culture. From day one, we have been wearing a variety of African designed clothing and jewelry items. However, three years ago, I decided to turn the tables. Just prior to the first of two major trips to Ethiopia via London, Paris and Rome, I wanted to prove that Canada has some strikingly unique fashions of its own. Down the street a few blocks, in Vancouver's Historic Gastown, I found the ideal answer. In the window of a boutique close to The Landing, a beret and scarf of Haida design in red and black caught my eye.That was the first purchase of wearable native art; a matching cape is next on the agenda.

These bold, native Canadian designs create favorable comment wherever we go, at home or abroad. This experience has encouraged us to showcase more and more of the wonderful, highly original products in our magazines and web sites.

A world class marketplace awaits the discriminating shopper on Water Street and other areas of Vancouver and Victoria, not just in wearable goods, but in exciting, one-of-a-kind collectors items, carved from stone and indigenous woods. Haida masks and totem poles are prominent and most fetch an attractive price from Alaska-bound cruise passengers. Inuit art from Canada's far north is another winner. Our editor Jerry Bird and I presented carvings of polar bears and salmon to several African Tourism Ministers at a recent Congress on behalf of the magazine and the gifts were greatly appreciated for their originality.

On the same note, our management from Air Highways enjoyed several hours, by invitation, at Trudy Van Dop's charming studio location , a vintage mansion in New Westminster, BC's original capital on the Fraser River. From what we saw and experienced that day, our publishers are proud to feature her latest catalogue of BC Arts, Culture and Heritage.

BC Arts Guide: Enjoy West Coast Artists, Jewelry, Ethnic Creations, Unique Fashions and Wearable Native Art? Our editorial team had the privilege of visiting Trudy Van Dop Studios at 421 Richmond Street in New Westminster for an Open House and an opportunity to meet the people behind this unique marketing concept. The charming old New Westminster mansion,gardens, and impressive variety of BC art and sculpture add up to a very unique display. The Art Guide to British Columbia is a full colour, 64-page guide to over 200 art galleries, museums, studios, gardens, heritage and cultural sites in the province of BC. Listings include colour photos of the artist's work, a short description of the people behind the art and each participant's complete contact information including phone numbers and web site addresses.

With the Art Guide in hand, tourists and BC residents have an indispensable road map to the most talented, well-known…and not-so-well-known artists in the world! The easy-to-use, colour-coded format identifies BC's five main regions, and offers Art Guide users plenty of options for creating their own self-directed art tours, be it an afternoon adventure or an extended getaway.

"Whether you've always lived in BC, or you're visiting for the first time, the Art Guide promises many wonderful surprises," says Trudy Van Dop, the guide's publisher, "BC has so much artistic talent to be proud of, and we're (Van Dop & Associates) proud to offer the only comprehensive, year-round art guide of its kind…plus it's FREE," she adds.

There are two new features for 2002: a Gardens section featuring not-to-be-missed gardens, and information on the Art Guide's 1st Annual Cultural Crawl. The Cultural Crawl is a four-day celebration of the arts and culture in BC, hosted by Art Guide participants, and held over the BC Day long weekend, August 2 to 5, 2002.Pick up an Art Guide to BC free of charge at any BCAA Office, Tourist Information Centre, onboard BC Ferries, and at numerous hotels throughout the province.

The Art Guide's web site at www.art-bc.com contains everything in the guide, plus an updated list of special events, workshops, theatres and exhibitions.

For more information, please contact:
Trudy Van Dop, Van Dop & Associates
604-521-6288 Fax: 604-540-1062
E-mail: tvandop@telus.net

Much more to come in this section, including features on Native Art and Wearable Art. Artwork by George Littlechild (right) is from a story we wrote in Air Highways Magazine featuring the "Artists for Kids"