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.

乌鸦传媒淲e have vintage prints and also carvings, as well as new carvings,乌鸦传媒� said Fuller, a member of the Snuneymuxw First Nation. 乌鸦传媒淲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.乌鸦传媒�

The gallery乌鸦传媒檚 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.

乌鸦传媒淎rt is a way to really bring cultures together, it really is. It乌鸦传媒檚 the appreciation of art and it really helps everyone,乌鸦传媒� he said.

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

乌鸦传媒淚t has to be Indigenous and it has to benefit an Indigenous person, and that乌鸦传媒檚 what I乌鸦传媒檓 pretty adamant about,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淭his is the first Indigenous gallery in Parksville ever.乌鸦传媒�

The gallery recently acquired rare piece 乌鸦传媒� Seagull Mask by Sam Johnson, who worked in the traditional Kwakwaka乌鸦传媒檞akw style using only hand-made tools, according to the Pentlatch Gallery.

乌鸦传媒淧eople will see in this gallery some very rare pieces that you probably won乌鸦传媒檛 find anywhere,乌鸦传媒� said Fuller, who grew up in a house full of art and learned many skills such as silver work, ceramics and taxidermy.

乌鸦传媒淚 learnt a lot of skills but as I got older I didn乌鸦传媒檛 have the time,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淚 found the camera was the easiest thing for me.乌鸦传媒�

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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.

乌鸦传媒淲hen they come in there they start getting introduced to Cree and Ojibwe art and different styles of art,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淎nd that乌鸦传媒檚 what乌鸦传媒檚 really exciting about it.乌鸦传媒�

Fuller was excited to partner with world-renowned artist Roy Henry Vickers 乌鸦传媒� the gallery carries books and prints by Vickers and works with Vickers乌鸦传媒� framer.

乌鸦传媒淲e wanted to keep that quality, this consistency,乌鸦传媒� 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乌鸦传媒檚 got a good feeling and has been encouraged by the number of people stopping to look around and purchase art so far.

乌鸦传媒淭his way, I can enjoy art and then it goes off to a new home, and that乌鸦传媒檚 what I like,乌鸦传媒� he said.

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

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 very important to us to have an official opening with a blessing of the land and the building,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檙e trying to organize that, but everything乌鸦传媒檚 moving along very fast.乌鸦传媒�

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

乌鸦传媒淲e have a really good feeling about being here,乌鸦传媒� Fuller said.