The new Pentlatch Gallery in Parksville is showcasing Indigenous artwork from across Canada.

Owner and curator Gerald Fuller says the gallery, located at 552 Pioneer Cr., includes art pieces by a broad mixture of well-known and less well-known artists.

害羞草研究所淲e have vintage prints and also carvings, as well as new carvings,害羞草研究所� said Fuller, a member of the Snuneymuxw First Nation. 害羞草研究所淲e really have a welcoming mix of art forms and purchase price, so the person coming in here can spend $2 or they can spend thousands of dollars, but they get to see it all.害羞草研究所�

The gallery害羞草研究所檚 name comes from the Pentlatch people, the original inhabitants of the region. Acknowledging the Pentlatch people through the naming of the gallery helps raise awareness about their history, struggles and achievements, Fuller said.

害羞草研究所淎rt is a way to really bring cultures together, it really is. It害羞草研究所檚 the appreciation of art and it really helps everyone,害羞草研究所� he said.

Fuller finds all the art and says he looks for both original pieces and limited edition prints.

害羞草研究所淚t has to be Indigenous and it has to benefit an Indigenous person, and that害羞草研究所檚 what I害羞草研究所檓 pretty adamant about,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淭his is the first Indigenous gallery in Parksville ever.害羞草研究所�

The gallery recently acquired rare piece 害羞草研究所� Seagull Mask by Sam Johnson, who worked in the traditional Kwakwaka害羞草研究所檞akw style using only hand-made tools, according to the Pentlatch Gallery.

害羞草研究所淧eople will see in this gallery some very rare pieces that you probably won害羞草研究所檛 find anywhere,害羞草研究所� said Fuller, who grew up in a house full of art and learned many skills such as silver work, ceramics and taxidermy.

害羞草研究所淚 learnt a lot of skills but as I got older I didn害羞草研究所檛 have the time,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚 found the camera was the easiest thing for me.害羞草研究所�

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Fuller said that when people who live on the West Coast think of Indigenous art, they often think of the Coastal style.

害羞草研究所淲hen they come in there they start getting introduced to Cree and Ojibwe art and different styles of art,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淎nd that害羞草研究所檚 what害羞草研究所檚 really exciting about it.害羞草研究所�

Fuller was excited to partner with world-renowned artist Roy Henry Vickers 害羞草研究所� the gallery carries books and prints by Vickers and works with Vickers害羞草研究所� framer.

害羞草研究所淲e wanted to keep that quality, this consistency,害羞草研究所� Fuller said.

The gallery recently hired its first full-time employee and based on the first week open, Fuller anticipates he could end up hiring a few part-timers.

The Pentlatch Gallery is also providing work for people with the knowledge and skills to restore art.

Opening the gallery is a gamble, Fuller said, but he害羞草研究所檚 got a good feeling and has been encouraged by the number of people stopping to look around and purchase art so far.

害羞草研究所淭his way, I can enjoy art and then it goes off to a new home, and that害羞草研究所檚 what I like,害羞草研究所� he said.

They had a soft launch recently, which was well-attended by the neighbourhood. A full launch is in the works, Fuller added.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 very important to us to have an official opening with a blessing of the land and the building,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e trying to organize that, but everything害羞草研究所檚 moving along very fast.害羞草研究所�

In the meantime, the gallery is open Wednesday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

害羞草研究所淲e have a really good feeling about being here,害羞草研究所� Fuller said.