THE DIRECTOR - Sergei Scalon

Sergei Scalon is at once soft-spoken and direct, with a gentle formality about him often lacking in other Russians. An occasional adjunct to the Russian Free Artists Association and devotee of the artistic community, Sergei, along with his wife Irina, became special envoys to the Arkangels. The pair were instrumental in securing permission to return the Arkangel portraits of Vinogradov and Zubkovskaya home to Canada from Russia in 1992.

Sergei took an immediate liking to Toronto during his short stay. He returned home to Russia alarmingly disillusioned with his life there in contrast. This period of his life became a door to another life for him. Revitalized by the possibilities he had experienced in Canada, he secured a high profile position managing Club Taleon, the most opulent nightclub in St. Petersburg, Russia.

A sincere and devoted gentleman, Sergei's portrait depicts the graceful strength in his comportment. The double set of wings show the duality in his conflicting devotion to both the academic and artistic world.

"It is a peaceful thing to be one succeeding."

--Gertrude Stein