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.

91裸聊视频淲e have vintage prints and also carvings, as well as new carvings,91裸聊视频� said Fuller, a member of the Snuneymuxw First Nation. 91裸聊视频淲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.91裸聊视频�

The gallery91裸聊视频檚 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.

91裸聊视频淎rt is a way to really bring cultures together, it really is. It91裸聊视频檚 the appreciation of art and it really helps everyone,91裸聊视频� he said.

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

91裸聊视频淚t has to be Indigenous and it has to benefit an Indigenous person, and that91裸聊视频檚 what I91裸聊视频檓 pretty adamant about,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淭his is the first Indigenous gallery in Parksville ever.91裸聊视频�

The gallery recently acquired rare piece 91裸聊视频� Seagull Mask by Sam Johnson, who worked in the traditional Kwakwaka91裸聊视频檞akw style using only hand-made tools, according to the Pentlatch Gallery.

91裸聊视频淧eople will see in this gallery some very rare pieces that you probably won91裸聊视频檛 find anywhere,91裸聊视频� said Fuller, who grew up in a house full of art and learned many skills such as silver work, ceramics and taxidermy.

91裸聊视频淚 learnt a lot of skills but as I got older I didn91裸聊视频檛 have the time,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淚 found the camera was the easiest thing for me.91裸聊视频�

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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.

91裸聊视频淲hen they come in there they start getting introduced to Cree and Ojibwe art and different styles of art,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淎nd that91裸聊视频檚 what91裸聊视频檚 really exciting about it.91裸聊视频�

Fuller was excited to partner with world-renowned artist Roy Henry Vickers 91裸聊视频� the gallery carries books and prints by Vickers and works with Vickers91裸聊视频� framer.

91裸聊视频淲e wanted to keep that quality, this consistency,91裸聊视频� 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 he91裸聊视频檚 got a good feeling and has been encouraged by the number of people stopping to look around and purchase art so far.

91裸聊视频淭his way, I can enjoy art and then it goes off to a new home, and that91裸聊视频檚 what I like,91裸聊视频� he said.

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

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 very important to us to have an official opening with a blessing of the land and the building,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e trying to organize that, but everything91裸聊视频檚 moving along very fast.91裸聊视频�

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

91裸聊视频淲e have a really good feeling about being here,91裸聊视频� Fuller said.