Vance Theoret & Scott MacKenzie
to
The Avens Gallery 101-710 Main Street, Canmore, Alberta T1W 0B9

Vance Theoret, "Blue in His Canoe," 2019
soapstone, 8" x 16" x 9"
Vance Theoret & Scott MacKenzie
New works and artist demo 11am - 3pm Saturday, September 7
Vance Theoret is a stone carver of Mohawk/Metis descent, and a longterm resident of 100 Mile House, British Columbia. He has been working in stone, primarily in soapstone and alabaster, for 30 years. Although Vance sculpts a wide selection of wild animals, the bear has always been, and continues to be, his favourite subject matter.
Vance Theoret is a man of few words, as are many who work with stone. But when he does get talking it takes little time to feel his passion for the stone that he works with! Ancient memory speaks to him as he connects with each stone. Using a 'direct carve' approach, he lets the stone reveal itself. The second impression takes the rough image and defines it into a clean, solid sculpture. "I let the stone tell me what it wants to be. The results are far more exciting than if I forced my ideas on my material." Vance's work will touch you on a very primal level—from his methods, to the way his work portrays the physical presence of the stone, to the wide range of resulting emotions provoked.

Scott MacKenzie, "the Three Sisters," 2019
oil on canvas, 30" x 40"
Scott MacKenzie lives and works in beautiful Calgary, Alberta Canada. Scott has been fortunate to travel to many parts of the world, experiencing the sights and sounds of diverse cultures and geography through the years, including North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and South America. His works have been strongly influenced living next to the Rocky Mountains and prairies. Scott’s paintings focus on bold subjects, using a strong balance of colour and contemporary design. His goal is to capture their spirit and character, continually providing a compelling story. Many of his paintings feature powerful subjects such as mountains, lone trees, and rocky coastlines.
"As a contemporary landscape painter, my goal is to convey not only the scene but the experience of being present in some of the most spectacular settings the world has to offer. I am fortunate to live on the doorsteps of the remarkable Rocky Mountains, and am passionate about capturing the power and grace they exhibit throughout the year. I have also had the opportunity to travel and live in other stunning locations, and my work is heavily influenced by remote lakes, forests and oceans.
While many of my works feature moments in time, reflecting them can be a slow and deliberate process. Working with oils, I usually utilize many layers of paint, developing each piece over weeks and sometimes months in the studio. Form and balance are critical for me, and I am always looking to present landscapes in a contemporary and compelling manner.
I believe the most important quality of art is to evoke an emotional response, and think it is the responsibility of all artists to create something that is captivating and timeless." - Scott MacKenzie