L'Age de Pierre

"Born in Saskatchewan to artist Adrienne Bouchard Langlois, we moved to Winnipeg in ‘74, where I grew up in a household in which art was both a source of joy and wonder and valued among the noblest of pursuits. Deep exposure to great works in Western Europe at an early age were the first seeds. I began dabbling in soapstone as a young man, quickly finding an affinity for the material, but not yet realizing that this would be my path. The decisive inspiration came while watching a PBS documentary about Isamu Noguchi. Moved to tears by the possibility of such a life, I began seeing myself as a sculptor from that moment.

Moving to Salt Spring Island, BC in ‘99, I did my first (small) “sculpture” within days of arrival. Through the Saturday Market, I soon began receiving invaluable encouragement and support from established artists whose work I’d already come to admire (Abraham Ruben, Morley Myers, Peter McFarlane…). Along the way, repairing a broken piece led to a series of technical pursuits that eventually became a host of techniques for laminating stone. These techniques allowed me to turn discarded scraps, my own as well as those of fellow sculptors, into treasure. Over time, Multistone has become my hallmark, gradually opening ever-widening avenues of design possibilities.

At about the same time I was first discovering/developing Multistone, I was invited by Judy Mitchell to show at her gallery on Salt Spring Island. Judy’s early nurturing support allowed me to scale up and survey the new landscape of this beginning career. Since then I’ve had the good fortune to be welcomed in many galleries, developing now cherished relationships over many years (including meeting Joan & Bill Mayberry some 20+ years ago).

Moving back to Winnipeg in 2024, it’s been a delight reconnecting with the City, finding my place in the arts community here, and rededicating myself to the work. I’ve been fortunate to set up a studio practice that optimizes both workflow and personal interactions in which each new project is a chance to learn and share."

- Roland Gatin