Maria Parenteau is owner of the Bird Rock Arts Gallery Studio, but in name only. The Brazilian expatriate said her space belongs just as much to the local artists, students, senior citizens and people in need of healing who come and create there. “The gallery is theirs,” she said. Parenteau, an artist herself whose work — much of it depicting her favorite subject, birds — lines the walls of the small but sunny gallery along La Jolla Boulevard, is a firm believer in the restorative power of making art. “Art is a healing process,” she said. “When you do art, you are releasing a scary thought or fear. I had this idea to open the studio to bring people together.” Among the workshops or classes offered at the gallery and bringing people together are those specifically tailored for women. “I have a passion to work with women,” said Parenteau, who, having grown up in Brazil, moved to La Jolla from Massachusetts four years ago. “If you help women, you help the whole family. Women need tending and befriending to relieve stress. The idea is to bring women together to support each other in difficult times.” It was while living in Brazil and teaching art classes that Parenteau discovered women felt comforted by the process of making art. She found the same to be true for the troubled teen-agers with whom she also worked. “Everything I did with them was with the intention of releasing them from pressure and giving them self-esteem and hope,” she said. “When they expressed themselves, the ugliness of their lives faded.” Parenteau describes her space as a “gallery/studio/co-op” at which she welcomes artists working in all media (including sculpture and jewelry-making), seniors, cancer patients and anyone looking to relieve stress through a safe, creative outlet. The cancer pa-tients “come here and they relieve their stress,” said Parenteau. “They talk to other people who are hurting. I’m not bringing healing to their bodies, but I’m comforting them.” Local artists pay to rent space to work at Parenteau’s gallery, and students are charged for classes, offered throughout the week from morning through evening. A recent look at the workshop schedule showed classes like “Surfboard Art,” “Junk Into Funk,” “Oil Paint Boot Camp,” “Mixed Media Organic Art” and “Vase Phase.” Almost all of Parenteau’s own paintings hanging inside the gallery are for sale, though one, which she fondly calls her “masterpiece,” is expressly not for sale. The avian theme is apparent. “I use images of birds to represent people in various life situations,” Parenteau said, pointing to different paintings designed to express humanity’s complexity. “I can tell a story” with the bird paintings, she said. Ask for a tour of these vibrant works — no two of which is alike — and Parenteau is happy to oblige. Her own work aside, Parenteau focuses on the primary mission of her gallery: to comfort. “Everybody needs love,” she said. “Everybody needs healing.” Bird Rock Arts Gallery Studio is located at 5785 La Jolla Blvd., Suite B. For more information, call (858) 999-0500 or visit www.birdrockarts.com.