PRESTONSBURG — The Magoffin Art Gallery on the Prestonsburg Campus of Big Sandy Community and Technical College currently features a museum-quality display of Native American artifacts and information, including a number of relics that are part of a collection belonging to Prestonsburg resident Marty Hicks.

Hicks’ father, the late Newton May, was a licensed engineer and surveyor for the West Virginia Gas Company, and during his 47-year career, May collected an enormous number of arrowheads and other Native American tools while working in the field. May eventually purchased other authentic artifacts, including a rifle and Aztec statues, both of which are on display. May’s collection has been featured in numerous articles and documentaries over the years.

“My father would be so proud to know I have taken up his interest in Native American culture and history,” Hicks said. “This was a thrill for me to be able to share his love with others.”

The exhibit, created to celebrate National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month, also features dolls from the collection of Rebecca Estep, of Staffordsville, who also helped to identify the origin of many of the items on display, artifacts from Father Bob Damron, of St. Martha’s Church, Native American crafts created by Tom and Nancy Bormes, of Printer, items from Paula Thompson, a professor at the Pikeville Campus of Big Sandy Community and Technical College, items from Theresa Milon, professor of psychology, and under the direction of Nancy Johnson, provost, Dr. John Shiber, professor of biology, Elaine Shiber and Tim Sizemore, art instructor.

The exhibit, which opened on Nov. 3, will run until Nov. 20. The doors open at 10 a.m. and close at 4 p.m. A reception will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 18, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.