The journey that led to Perry Gong opening Blue Seas Gallery on Granville Island goes back a long way. He travelled to Africa in 1998 as an importer of pearls from China, Japan and the Philippines. “I supplied jewellery shops in East Africa, like Kenya and Tanzania. The business started growing and eventually people started asking me to make some particular designs. So I got into making jewellery for them.”
After arriving in Vancouver, Perry's idea was to open a jewellery store. But once he moved into his storefront he felt that the walls would be a great space for local artists to showcase their work. “I incorporated some paintings and also photography,” he says. “I happened to know a few artists and they started bringing in artwork. Now the shop is full.”
