Ahtsik Gallery was founded in 2008 by Master Carver Gordon Dick who operates Gordon Dick Studio on site. We represent the work of west coast artists who work in the traditional style of their culture. Our handmade art can be purchased or commissioned as custom pieces. We are located on Tseshaht First Nation lands in the temperate coastal rainforest of west coast Vancouver Island, right next to the city of Port Alberni.
Our community is part of the Alberni Valley at the head of the Alberni Inlet. The property is home to Ahtsik Gallery, Gordon Dick Studio and an outdoor carving shelter, each custom built from locally-sourced western red cedar. Our community is part of the Alberni Valley at the head of the Alberni Inlet and mouth of the Somass River.
Our community is part of the Alberni Valley at the head of the Alberni Inlet. The property is home to Ahtsik Gallery, Gordon Dick Studio and an outdoor carving shelter, each custom built from locally-sourced western red cedar. Our community is part of the Alberni Valley at the head of the Alberni Inlet and mouth of the Somass River.
Services
We carry fine art handmade by coastal First Nations artists including woodcarvings and jewellery. No pieces are mass produced. The majority of the works are created in the Nuu-chah-nulth style, all using traditional carving tools and techniques. Appreciation of art is often led by emotion and feeling.
The Pacific Northwest is home to dozens of distinct Nations each with a unique culture and traditional art form. Ahtsik Gallery primarily presents the work of Nuu-chah-nulth, Kwakiutl, Coast Salish and Nuxalk artists. There are fourteen Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations with approximately 10,000 members.
A finished work of art is the final stage of a long journey. Traditional woodcarving takes a specialized set of skills that involves cultural, technical and creative knowledge. Artists learn traditional knowledge from many sources, often from family, community members and peers.
Additional knowledge may come from specialized art schools, coastal carving events, formal and informal mentorships, and research into west coast art collections in museums.Preparing, engineering and cutting into the material takes expertise, precision and patience. Each cut of wood is unique and behaves in its own way.
Additional knowledge may come from specialized art schools, coastal carving events, formal and informal mentorships, and research into west coast art collections in museums.Preparing, engineering and cutting into the material takes expertise, precision and patience. Each cut of wood is unique and behaves in its own way.
There are several options for how to make a purchase, whether you've found just the right piece of art that speaks to you or whether you are commissioning a new creation from the studio. We typically invoice for carvings using our accounting software which accepts payments online. In the gallery/studio we accept cash, debit and credit.
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