Cafesjian center for the Arts welcomes...

Thanks to the Armenian-American businessman and philanthropist Gerard Cafesjian and the Cafesjian center for the Arts, the former Soviet monument in the center of Yerevan, Cascade has been renovated and will now be open to the public as one of the world’s prominent contemporary art centers.

The monument occupies 13,000 square meters including a Visitor Center, Museum Store, Special Events Auditorium and an exhibition hall occupying 1,100 square meters’ space.

The Cafesjian Sculpture garden adds a unique harmony to the monument. It is located at the base of the Cascade demonstrating one of the world’s most amazing collections of monumental sculpture.

Such world known designers as Fernando Botero, Lynn Chadwick, Jaume Plensa, and Barry Flanagan have taken the responsibility of designing the garden’s unhampered walkways, long vistas, and formal paintings.

Works by an international array of glass artists, including Czech artist Jaromir Rybak, the Japanese artist Tadashi Sumi, and the Swedish artist Bertil Vallien will be demonstrated. The exhibition will also include Mr. Cafesjian’s comprehensive collection of contemporary art.

The lovers of Arshil Gorky art are welcomed to admire the demonstration of works of the hero of Abstract Expressionism , as an art critic once called Arshil Gorky. 7 paintings and 16 drawings are exhibited from L. Cafesjian’s Collection of Arshil Gorky paintings.

On view is an eclectic collection ranking from a 28-foot model of a ship on board which Mr. Cafesjian served in the Pacific during World War II, to a unique model N Ford Runabout and a working model of Wabash steam locomotive.

A hall titled Yesterday and Today represents 50 photographs of George Harrison, Eric Clapton, The Beatles, and Pattie Boyd herself. The famous New York architectural studio Diller Scofidio+Renfo exhibits Swarovski “Light Socks”

The Center’s full-blooded exhibition schedule contains a distinct program of visiting lecturers, classic films, concerts and various educational programs, specially for adults and children.

This wonderful and unique event will be open to the public Saturday evening, November 7^th and will be accompanied by an impressive firework just near the Cascade monument at 10:30 pm. On Sunday, November 8^th Armenians and guests from different parts of the world are welcomed to admire the renovation that has taken place inside the Cascade and also to admire exhibitions, lectures, book-signing and events. On this and only on this day The Cafesjian Center of the Artists will be free to the public.

Cascade Transformed Into Contemporary Art Center

Yerevan, Armenia, 26 October 2009 – The Cafesjian Center for the Arts is proud to announce that after seven years of renovation the Cascade – a former Soviet monument in the center of Yerevan – has been completely transformed into one of the world’s outstanding contemporary art centers. Virtually every aspect of this 13,000 square meter monument has been transformed, and it now houses a Visitor Center, Museum Store, Special Events Auditorium and over 1,100 square meters of exhibition space. The center bears the name of its principal benefactor Gerard L. Cafesjian.

Located at the base of the Cascade is the Cafesjian Sculpture Garden, which presents one of the finest collections of monumental sculpture found anywhere in the world. The Garden’s unobstructed walkways, long vistas, and formal plantings have been specially designed to provide a modern setting for large-scale sculpture by such internationally recognized figures as Fernando Botero, Lynn Chadwick, Jaume Plensa, and Barry Flanagan.
Inspired by the vision of its founder, Mr. Gerard L. Cafesjian, the Center offers a wide variety of exhibitions, many of which are derived from Mr. Cafesjian’s own extensive collection of contemporary art.

Particularly noteworthy is a Persian installation by Dale Chihuly, a leading figure of avante-garde glass art. On exhibition in the same gallery are works by an international array of glass artists, including the noted Czech artist Jaromír Rybák, the Japanese artist Tadashi Sumi, and the Swedish artist Bertil Vallien. A large-screen media projection area provides a unique place for informational videos and for the work of video artists living in Armenia and abroad.

• The Gerard L. Cafesjian Collection has one of the largest collections of glass found in any museum, and its collection of work by the Czech glass artists Stanislav Libenský (1921–2002) and Jaroslava Brychtová is undoubtedly one of the finest in the world. The exhibition For Armenia demonstrates the abstract power of Libenský Brychtová’s work, making clear why they are viewed as the single most influential force in the world of glass today.

• Also on view in the center is the first major exhibition of original work in Armenia by Arshile Gorky, an artist once described by a critic of the time as a “hero of Abstract Expressionism.” Arshile Gorky: Selections from the Gerard L. Cafesjian Collection exhibits 16 drawings and 7 paintings by the man who would become known as the most monumental presence in American twentieth-century art.

Another gallery in the center demonstrates Gerard L. Cafesjian’s passion for collecting areas lying outside the arena of contemporary art. His varied interests are on continuous display in an exhibition entitled In the Mind of the Collector. On view is an eclectic collection ranging from a 28-foot model of a ship upon which Mr. Cafesjian served in the

• Pacific during World War II, to a rare 1906 Model N Ford Runabout, and a working model of a Wabash steam locomotive.

• Pattie Boyd: Yesterday and Today lends an intimate view into the lives of George Harrison, Eric Clapton, The Beatles, and Pattie Boyd herself. This unique body of 50 photographs represents 40 years of work and has garnered attention from art critics internationally.

• In a gallery specially constructed for large-scale glass work, the center exhibits an installation of Swarovski “Light Socks” by the well-known New York architectural studio Diller Scofidio + Renfro. Accompanying this piece in the same gallery is the monumental work Sitting Tatoo IV by Jaume Plensa and the glass piece Column #39 by Howard Ben Tre. Immediately adjacent to this gallery is the center’s Special Events Auditorium, which exhibits at its entrance a stunning Dale Chihuly Pergula Ceiling.

A diverse program of visiting lecturers, classic films, concerts, and numerous educational programs for adults and children augment the Center’s vigorous exhibition schedule.

The Cafesjian Center for the Arts Grand Opening Celebration will begin on the evening of Saturday, November 7th, with a spectacular fireworks display near the Cascade monument at 10:30pm. On Sunday, November 8th, the Center invites the public to view all the renovations that have taken place inside the Cascade and to enjoy its outstanding schedule of exhibitions, lecturers, book-signings, and events. For this one day only, the Cafesjian Center for the Arts will be open to the public with no admission fee.

Masculinity: breaking stereotypes

Armenian society can be described as a patriarchal one and men are viewed here as powerful and leading figure. Masculinity has exact shapes and perception and it is highly important to fit into this frames.

This is the core reason that “Public Information and Need of Knowledge” NGO decided to start “Masculinity: breaking stereotypes” project.

Within the bounds of the project was organized an exhibition which took place on 17 of October at Yerevan State Institute of Theatre and Cinematography.Presentation

Both professional artists and non professionals took part in the exhibition where they presented their perceptions about how the “real man” should be and which are the main stereotypes that exist in our reality. Participants were from Armenia, Georgia, Belarus, Slovakia and USA.

Men viewed as an utility beeing- a teapotDuring the exhibition the artists presented photos, graphic art, paintings and also short movies. The art works related to different spheres where stereotypes of masculinity are emphasized and appear to be an obstacle in daily life. In their works participants captured ideas about how man can be masculine and implement different roles that are not supposed to be done by an Armenian man, how understanding of who can touch whom, how and why disturb doctors in their work, harmony between men and women and how it is important to value sameness and not differences and etc.

The exhibition started with the presentation of the current project of the orIt is more important to value what men and women have in common instead of emphasizing differences.ganization and after that 2 short movies. Performance of art works was presented for the guests with the explanation of artists. Guests were asked to vote for the best art works and the 3 winners were granted according to the votes received from them and professional jury.

Those who weren’t present at the exhibition have a chance to see the electronic version of it in “Public Information and Need of Knowledge” NGO’s official website.

Swiss curator Hans Ulrich Obrist, the most powerful figure in the contemporary art world

AFP recently reported that the British journal ArtReview made its annual competition of the most influential personages in the world of contemporary art (Power 100 list).

The last year’s leader Damien Hirst lost 50 positions.

Swiss curator Hans Ulricjh Obrist has been named the most powerful figure in the contemporary art world. Obrist is the co director of exhibitions and programs and director of international projects at London’s Serpentine Gallery.

According to Guardian newspaper Obrist is ‘not so much a curator as a human whirlwind.’ Guardian found it important to mention that it was the first time in eight years that a curator rather than an artist or a museum director topped the annual list. Last year Obrist took the 35th place.

Profilic British collector Charles Saatchi who helped to develop careers of such artists as Hirst and Tracey Emin upgraded from number 14 to number 72 this year.

Hirt’s company Science that topped the list of last year, this year downgraded to 48th because of recession and the drop in prices of art works.

The director of the “Museum of Modern art (MoMA) in New York comes second in the list, while the director of London’s Tate, Nicholas Serota, is the third.

The top 20 of the ArtReview Power 100:

1. Hans Ulrich Obrist

2. Glenn D Lowry

3. Sir Nicholas Serota

4. Daniel Birnbaum

5. Larry Gagosian

6. Francois Pinault

7. Eli Broad

8. Anton Vidokle, Julieta Aranda and Brian Kuan Wood

9. Iwona Blazwick

10. Bruce Nauman

11. Iwan Wirth

12. David Zwirner

13. Jeff Koons

14. Jay Jopling

15. Marian Goodman

16. Agnes Gund

17. Takashi Murakami

18. Alfred Pacquement

19. Fischli and Weiss

20. Mike Kelley

16 masterpieces stolen in California

Boston Globe recently informed that 13 pictures were stolen from a fashionable health resort Pebble Beach in California. Among these pictures were the masterpieces of Rembrandt, Henri Matisse, Paul Jackson Pollock.

The pictures pertained to Angelo Benjamin Amadio and to Ralph Kennaugh, collectors who had rented a house in Pebble Beach. The collection also included works of Edgar Degas, Renuar and Van Gogh.

In 2002 the stolen collection was valued at $27 million. Today only Pollock already costs from $20 to $80 million.

The thieves stole 30 works of art, 16 of which are expensive pictures of famous artists. Now the owners offer $1 million for getting back the pictures and $5 million for giving information that will help not only to return the works but also to catch the thieves.

It is supposed that the theft was realized by professional thieves as far as only few people knew about Amadio and Kennaugh’s collection. The thieves took no reproductions though among them were very qualitative ones.

This is already the second shocking theft of art works in California during the last period. In the beginning of September 11 works of Endy Uorchhol’s collection were stolen in Los Angles.

Back from New York to Moscow

The gallery “Our painters” holds the exhibition of works of “Russian Americans” organized by the initiative of the journal ART+AUCTION RUSSIA. All the 40 art works of the painters that worked in the US in the first half of the 20th century are represented by the gallery and by private collectors from Moscow and Petersburg. Some of the collectors preferred not to go into details and did not tell their names.

The owner of the gallery Natalia Kurnikova as well as Boris and Marina Molchanovs also agreed to exhibit the works they pertained. By the way, Marina Molchanova is the director of the gallery “Elizium.” This gallery is also actively promoting artists of Russian diaspore.

The interest to the art of Russian emigration arose just in the last two-three decades. This theme managed to become timely and actual not only for researchers but also for art collectors.

Today the price of some pictures of Feshin and Rarikh rolls over $1 million. Boris Grigoriev’s canvas “The shepherd in the mountains” was sold in Sotheby’s auction in November of 2008 for unprecedented $3,7 million.

Thanks to the purchases of Russian collectors the works of art of “Russian American” painters are being brought back to their motherland and are coming out of the shade.

Let’s hope that new auction records are expected for the heroes of the gallery “Our painters”