New Indigenous art space opens its doors in snpintktn with first exhibition

A new sqilxw artist-run centre has opened its doors in snpintktn (Penticton) — realizing a decades-long dream for a group of local Indigenous creatives.

A grand opening ceremony for sənullustən was held by the art organization Ullus Collective on Tuesday, unveiling the space located in the Carriage House at the Penticton & District Community Arts Council.

The introduction of sənullustən expands Ullus Collective’s capacity to provide meeting, rehearsal, and studio space for Indigenous artists, along with a small venue area for professional solo or group exhibitions and workshops.

“Ullus” translates from the nsyilxcən language to “a gathering of people for a common purpose.” The name sənullustən, translating to “the place of Ullus” or simply “a place to gather.” 

Greg Gabriel, chief of the Penticton Indian Band, spoke at the centre’s opening, stressing the need to create more space to showcase Indigenous artists in the syilx Okanagan Nation.

“It’s important that we have every opportunity to showcase all our Indigenous artists and artisans and especially when it comes to telling stories about our history and who we are as syilx people,” he said.

‘sənullustən has always been part of our vision’

Victoria Jaenig (qwəɬxanaʔ), the artistic director for Ullus Collective, spoke about the journey that led to creating the new centre.

“sənullustən has always been part of our vision,” said Jaenig, who is also a performing artist. 

“Prior, I felt that there was a lack of access that went across all of the other disciplines.”

Initially, when Ullus Collective was founded in 1981 with siblings Jeannette Armstrong, Richard Armstrong, and the late August Armstrong, the focus was solely on video and audio. 

The collective saw a shift in 2012 when Jaenig inherited the organization and made the decision to expand its initial scope to include other artistic disciplines such as visual arts, performing and storytelling.  

Then, in October 2023, the Penticton Arts Council granted Ullus Collective the use of their Carriage House, providing a dedicated venue for Indigenous projects, programs and exhibitions.  

The historic Carriage House, which is attached to the Penticton & District Community Arts Council, was once used as a family home (Lier House) and a nurses’ residence.

Tristan Boisvert, managing director for Penticton & District Community Arts Council, said this is an important moment towards fulfilling the council’s obligation to serve all communities in the city and its surrounding district.

“We believe in the Indigenization of space and making tangible steps towards reconciliation,” he said.

When Jaenig was approached by Boisvert about utilizing the Carriage House, it culminated a longtime dream — and she founded sənullustən alongside fellow artists Levi George, Richard Armstrong, and Mariel Belanger.

“I remember feeling overwhelmed and shocked because I was looking for a studio space for years and when Tristan approached me I was surprised and then very excited,” said Jaenig.

The centre is now a cultural hub and the 38-square-metre, reimagined space within the Carriage House is thoughtfully divided into two distinct areas. 

The first area is a dedicated creation zone — for sewing, painting, and multimedia exploration. The second area is for accommodating small group gatherings of up to 20 people for meetings, art exhibitions, or as a rehearsal space and for performance artists and musicians.

Cleansing the space for creative expression

Before the official move into the new studio, the Ullus Collective team recognized the importance of establishing a safe and sacred space for artistic vulnerability.

So a small ceremony was conducted to cleanse the space, acknowledging the diverse energies that had inhabited it over the years.

“We wanted to do things in a good way before we invited artists in our space because when we create artworks, we’re going into a vulnerable part of ourselves, and our art comes from a place beyond the physical self,” Jaenig explains. 

The first the exhibition “Inca kn yutəlx – This is me / I am yutəlx” features the body of work by syilx and Secwépemc artist, Franchesca Raven Bell, a member of the Osoyoos Indian Band, and is now open for viewing.

The centre is currently open Tuesdays and Saturdays or by appointment.

---

Editor’s note: Athena Bonneau is a member of PIB and has a family connection to this story as she is the granddaughter of Jeannette Armstrong, one of the original founders of Ullus Collective. 

Correction: This story has been updated to fix a misspelling of Victoria Jaenig’s name. We apologize for the error.