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.

含羞草研究社淲e have vintage prints and also carvings, as well as new carvings,含羞草研究社� said Fuller, a member of the Snuneymuxw First Nation. 含羞草研究社淲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.含羞草研究社�

The gallery含羞草研究社檚 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.

含羞草研究社淎rt is a way to really bring cultures together, it really is. It含羞草研究社檚 the appreciation of art and it really helps everyone,含羞草研究社� he said.

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

含羞草研究社淚t has to be Indigenous and it has to benefit an Indigenous person, and that含羞草研究社檚 what I含羞草研究社檓 pretty adamant about,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淭his is the first Indigenous gallery in Parksville ever.含羞草研究社�

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

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

含羞草研究社淚 learnt a lot of skills but as I got older I didn含羞草研究社檛 have the time,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淚 found the camera was the easiest thing for me.含羞草研究社�

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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.

含羞草研究社淲hen they come in there they start getting introduced to Cree and Ojibwe art and different styles of art,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淎nd that含羞草研究社檚 what含羞草研究社檚 really exciting about it.含羞草研究社�

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

含羞草研究社淲e wanted to keep that quality, this consistency,含羞草研究社� 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含羞草研究社檚 got a good feeling and has been encouraged by the number of people stopping to look around and purchase art so far.

含羞草研究社淭his way, I can enjoy art and then it goes off to a new home, and that含羞草研究社檚 what I like,含羞草研究社� he said.

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

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 very important to us to have an official opening with a blessing of the land and the building,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檙e trying to organize that, but everything含羞草研究社檚 moving along very fast.含羞草研究社�

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

含羞草研究社淲e have a really good feeling about being here,含羞草研究社� Fuller said.