Vance Theoret was paid a 香蕉视频直播渂ackhanded compliment香蕉视频直播� last week when two of his sculptures were stolen from a Kelowna art gallery.
Theoret, 100 Mile House香蕉视频直播檚 resident soapstone carver, said the theft occurred around 2 a.m. Saturday morning at Gallery 421. When he called the gallery that weekend, co-owner Ken Moen jokingly told him 香蕉视频直播淚 sold a couple of your sculptures香蕉视频直播� before explaining what had happened.
香蕉视频直播淚 said to him 香蕉视频直播楾hat香蕉视频直播檚 not the way I like to sell my work,香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈 Theoret said. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 always a backhanded compliment when someone is willing to take the chance of getting caught to steal your work.香蕉视频直播�
While he香蕉视频直播檚 upset by the theft, Theoret said his loss is small compared with the artwork stolen from other artists. All told the thieves made off with about $70,000 worth of art, mostly bronze sculptures by his friend Vilem Zach from Calgary. The thieves busted into the gallery, located at 560 Raymer Avenue, using a yellow crowbar before escaping with 11 pieces of fine art.
Moen, who香蕉视频直播檚 owned Gallery 421 for three years, said the thieves pried the front door open with a crowbar and spent less than four minutes in the store. They took seven works belonging to Zach and fellow bronze sculptor Michael Hermesh, two of Theoret香蕉视频直播檚 soapstone carvings and some blown glass pieces by Jeff Holmwood.
香蕉视频直播淚t was very targeted. On their first trip into the gallery they got the pieces they were targeting at the back of the gallery. The second time in they went to the middle of the gallery and the third time in they grabbed pieces right by the front door,香蕉视频直播� Moen said. 香蕉视频直播淭hat alarm didn香蕉视频直播檛 phase them at all, they knew how quickly they were going to be in and out.香蕉视频直播�
Theoret said his two pieces are worth $700 and $400 respectively.
This isn香蕉视频直播檛 the first time Theoret香蕉视频直播檚 work has been stolen but he said it香蕉视频直播檚 still upsetting, especially in a town like Kelowna. Moen told him he香蕉视频直播檚 in the process of alerting all the secondary markets in Western Canada where the art could be resold.
香蕉视频直播淔or me, it香蕉视频直播檚 not traumatic as it would be for Ken and Kelly, the gallery owners, and for my friend Vilem, but sometimes this happens,香蕉视频直播� Theoret said.
Despite the theft, Moen said they feel lucky there was no vandalism in addition to the theft. No paintings were slashed with knives and no windows had to be replaced. He said they香蕉视频直播檒l add some more security cameras outside the store and reinforce the door to prevent further theft.
香蕉视频直播淲e wish Vance the best. It香蕉视频直播檚 unfortunate some of his pieces were stolen but we know he香蕉视频直播檒l be able to carve us some more,香蕉视频直播� Moen said.
Gallery owner Kelly Hanna told Black Press that Kelowna RCMP is currently looking for the two individuals. The first man is identified as a 5香蕉视频直播�10香蕉视频直播�, medium-build individual, who was wearing a grey hoodie, blue pants and white shoes. The other thief is being labeled as a 5香蕉视频直播�6香蕉视频直播� male, who was seen wearing a dark hoodie and black Adidas shoes.
Hanna says that the stolen art weighs a total of 315 pounds. Saturday香蕉视频直播檚 heist marks the second time in as many years that Gallery 421 has been the subject of such an incident.
patrick.davies@100milefreepress.net
Like us on Facebook and follow us on .
