"Two Turtle Art Gallery Larger Showcase to Display Work of Six Nations Artist"

OHSWEKEN - If Arnold Jacobs could choose between selling art and creating it he would have a paint brush in his hand and a smile on his face.

But the only things he has painted lately are walls. He has been busy moving his Two Turtle art gallery.

The old gallery was located in a corner of the Iroquois Village Centre on Chiefswood Road and was "hardly bigger than the washroom."

The new one is in a different area of the plaza - in a room three times larger.

Mr. Jacobs says the new location should offer the space he needs - for now - to display the work of Six Nations artists.

He first opened a gallery in his home five years ago.

"There was no place locally that people could show their work, and with all the talent here we needed one," Mr. Jacob said.

Last year, he moved the gallery from his house to the small office in the plaza. His home is out of the way, so not many people went to see the work.

Mr. Jacobs has been painting seriously since 1976, though he has always been interested in art. In elementary school, he recalls having to paint the scenes for the Christmas play every year.

He went on to a career in graphic design with a Hamilton printing firm, but found the work was not creative enough.

He left that job, first to work on his art and then to open the gallery.

"I'd rather somebody else had opened a gallery and I could just produce," the tall, soft-spoken man said with a chuckle and a slight shake of his head.

Since no one else is interested, he continues to take it on himself.

He expects to start with pieces from about four painters and more than 20 carvers from the Six Nations. Eventually, the work of native artists from other areas may be included.

"You want to help your own people first."

Jerry Jonathan is one of the carvers who will be showing his work at the Two Turtle gallery. He welcomes the new showplace because there are so many talented artists in the area.

He says having a gallery in the community also helps younger artists who are trying to build a reputation.

Mr. Jacobs says one of his goals is to help younger artists, but he has many other plans for the gallery.

He wants to put on a show of women artists later this year.

He's also thinking about having a photography exhibition.

Later, perhaps, a new building could be constructed to house the gallery and other things of interest to tourists.

"You have to take chances," says Mr. Jacobs. "You can't be afraid to try and better things."