Vance Theoret was paid a 91裸聊视频渂ackhanded compliment91裸聊视频� last week when two of his sculptures were stolen from a Kelowna art gallery.
Theoret, 100 Mile House91裸聊视频檚 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 91裸聊视频淚 sold a couple of your sculptures91裸聊视频� before explaining what had happened.
91裸聊视频淚 said to him 91裸聊视频楾hat91裸聊视频檚 not the way I like to sell my work,91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� Theoret said. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 always a backhanded compliment when someone is willing to take the chance of getting caught to steal your work.91裸聊视频�
While he91裸聊视频檚 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, who91裸聊视频檚 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 Theoret91裸聊视频檚 soapstone carvings and some blown glass pieces by Jeff Holmwood.
91裸聊视频淚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,91裸聊视频� Moen said. 91裸聊视频淭hat alarm didn91裸聊视频檛 phase them at all, they knew how quickly they were going to be in and out.91裸聊视频�
Theoret said his two pieces are worth $700 and $400 respectively.
This isn91裸聊视频檛 the first time Theoret91裸聊视频檚 work has been stolen but he said it91裸聊视频檚 still upsetting, especially in a town like Kelowna. Moen told him he91裸聊视频檚 in the process of alerting all the secondary markets in Western Canada where the art could be resold.
91裸聊视频淔or me, it91裸聊视频檚 not traumatic as it would be for Ken and Kelly, the gallery owners, and for my friend Vilem, but sometimes this happens,91裸聊视频� 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 they91裸聊视频檒l add some more security cameras outside the store and reinforce the door to prevent further theft.
91裸聊视频淲e wish Vance the best. It91裸聊视频檚 unfortunate some of his pieces were stolen but we know he91裸聊视频檒l be able to carve us some more,91裸聊视频� 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 591裸聊视频�1091裸聊视频�, medium-build individual, who was wearing a grey hoodie, blue pants and white shoes. The other thief is being labeled as a 591裸聊视频�691裸聊视频� male, who was seen wearing a dark hoodie and black Adidas shoes.
Hanna says that the stolen art weighs a total of 315 pounds. Saturday91裸聊视频檚 heist marks the second time in as many years that Gallery 421 has been the subject of such an incident.
patrick.davies@100milefreepress.net
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