Photographer Amie Le Blanc and multidisciplinary artist Keith Randall present an exhibition delving into the profound connection to land and the nuanced sense of belonging. Amie’s authentic vision captures shared joy in appreciating nature’s fleeting moments, while Keith’s layered artworks, influenced by Post Minimalism and Pop Art, explore the complex interplay of human behavior across cultures. United by their roles as educators at New Westminster Secondary School, Amie and Keith’s collaboration reflects a shared passion for art, education, and the evolving journey of self-discovery. Join us on a visual odyssey where the autochthonous and allochthonous converge, inviting contemplation on identity and place.
The gallery is open on Tuesdays to Fridays at 1-4pm, during performances, or by appointment. To make an appointment, call 604.517.5900.
Artist Statements:
Amie Le Blanc
As artists and educators of similar mind and values, Keith Randall and I have come together for a collaborative exhibition of our most personal works. Keith has been a mentor of mine since I began teaching in 2017, and I’ve come to admire his approach to engaging with the world and staying true to his artistic practice. In having the opportunity to work alongside Keith, I’ve come to realise the incredible importance of staying authentic to one’s purpose and core values. This exhibition is an opportunity for me to ‘show off’ the simple moments in nature that bring me the purest form of joy – something I often hid in art school and later as a freelancer because it didn’t fit the clean, sophisticated typecast of ‘photographer’ that I thought I needed to be.
Growing up in Pemberton, I was obsessed with horses. My childhood bedroom was covered in unicorn and horse posters. I lucked out when my mom gifted me a handful of riding lessons, but horses always came with a warning tag for being ‘dangerous’ and ‘expensive’ – so I quietly envied friends who had horses in their backyards and I loved them from afar. As I grew older, I ditched the country aesthetic because I felt like an imposter. Many of the people leaning into the country vibe actually grew up on farms or barrel raced, and I didn’t. I loved computers, skiing and art – I didn’t fit the mould for country living, so I tucked it away and focused on becoming a freelance photographer.
One summer though, I took up a spontaneous offer from a friend to photograph a free-roaming herd of horses behind his house on the unceded territory of the Lílwat nation. It was pure magic climbing through ditches and running away from bulls, to pet the noses of foals and stay cautiously back from the head of the hierarchy. I felt like I’d gotten to experience the environment of Lìlwat Nation, of Mount Currie and Pemberton, in a way I hadn’t experienced since I was little – being completely immersed in the moment and all my senses at once.
The work I’m showing in this exhibition showcases those magically simplistic moments I wish I could sink into and never leave. It’s a casual drive down the road or cut through a field, watching horses galloping at golden hour – with that specific evening breeze and fresh scent of grass and horse sweat. It’s the horse snorts as they see you coming, and the flick of a tail to ward off flies. The sting on your bare legs after walking through tall grass. I’m hoping my work ignites those memories from childhood, whether you lived in the countryside or not, when you paused to absorb as much of the evening magic into your body as you could.
Keith Randall
I work in layers, using a range of mediums that interest me. The layers are significant to the meaning in the artwork. The choice of medium, most recently pencils, is connected to lived experiences in my work as an educator and my personal life.
The themes in my artwork stem from my own life lessons and observations of our mutual behaviour as humans, regardless of our background and culture. The eternal question of nature and nurture, which prevails throughout time and governs our past present and future, fascinates me. Humans impact on each other, as many societies try to find an equitable way to exist as one race, urges me to be creative and react artistically to this complicated and multi layered political puzzle.
My influences in art history are varied, but the physical form my work currently takes is steeped in the work of Post Minimalism, Pop Art and Conceptual Text Based Art. I am excited to share the exhibition with my colleague and friend Amie Le Blanc, who continues to inspire me as we collaborate on educational work for our students at the High School and for her passion and professional integrity as a photographer.
