A Quest for Acknowledgement
Anoush Baghdassarian on the power of oral testimony
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June 17, 2014
AGBU Lebanon Hosts Annual Art Exhibition Fundraiser
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AGBU benefactors Dr. Movses and Mrs. Elo Herkelian stand with members of the AGBU Lebanon Cultural Committee. From left to right: Anita Lebiar, AGBU Lebanon executive director; Araxi Tufenkjian; Sylva Fattal; Elo Herkelian; Seta Demirdjian, Cultural Committee chair; Movses Herkelian; Leda Keuchguerian; Maral Vartanian; Taline Bachian; and Houry Vanlian. -
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Paintings by Armenian-born artists line the walls of the AGBU Demirdjian Center in Beirut for the AGBU Lebanon Cultural Committee’s Art Exhibition 2014. -
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Gallery owner Dr. Movses Herkelian addresses guests on the opening night of the AGBU Lebanon Cultural Committee’s Art Exhibition 2014, a fundraiser for AGBU Lebanon Schools. Dr. Herkelian, who donated several pieces to the exhibit, is a past AGBU scholarship recipient, and he spoke of the importance of educational initiatives.
Proceeds Provide Direct Support to Local AGBU Schools
The AGBU Lebanon Cultural Committee’s Art Exhibition 2014 brought dozens of paintings by world-renowned artists to the AGBU Demirdjian Center in Beirut. The exhibition, the committee’s largest fundraiser of the year, also brought in over $50,000, which is now being directed to local AGBU Lebanon Schools.
The paintings, ranging from impressionism to cubism, surrealism to modern romanticism, and the abstract, were donated by Dr. Movses Herkelian, an art critic and owner of Noah’s Ark gallery in Beirut. The event marked AGBU Lebanon’s second partnership with Dr. Herkelian; in 2011, he also donated paintings to the AGBU Lebanon Cultural Committee’s Art Exhibition, which were sold to benefit the AGBU Lebanon Schools.
A past AGBU scholarship recipient, Dr. Herkelian has continuously pledged his support to AGBU’s educational initiatives to provide Armenian youth with the same opportunities he was given. Anita Lebiar, AGBU Lebanon’s executive director, acknowledged his generosity, commenting, “Our collaboration with Dr. Movses Herkelian and his family does not come as a coincidence. We share a commitment to showcasing Armenian talents and to investing in our children’s education. We are very grateful for the Herkelian family’s philanthropy and are so pleased that, together, we can give back to our community.”
Each piece lining the Center’s walls was signed by an Armenian-born artist who has received international acclaim. Painter Ruben Abovian holds the title of Honorable Artist of the Republic of Armenia and is a member of UNESCO’s International Association of Arts. David began his career as a teacher in a village in the Lori province and has since presented his work in Asia, Europe and the U.S.
Edik Pertian was discovered through a chance encounter with a gallery owner from Lebanon while selling his sketches at a Yerevan flea market. Vahram and Suren Vosganian each studied in Armenia and Russia and have attended numerous art expos around the globe. Yuroz painted two major murals for the United Nations that were turned into postage stamps that continue to circulate around the world.
In addition to guests from the local community, dozens of members of AGBU were present at the exhibition’s opening ceremony, and through its 11-day run. Attendees included Mr. Gerard Tufenkjian, chair of the AGBU Lebanon District; AGBU benefactors Mr. and Mrs. Sarkis and Seta Demirdjian and Mr. Gary Nazarian; and Mr. Vicken Tchertchian, chair of AGBU-AYA Lebanon.
To see more photos from the AGBU Lebanon Art Exhibition 2014, visit their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/AgbuLebanon.
To learn more about the AGBU Lebanon District, please email agbu@agbu.org.lb.
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