Lory in Ha! Ha! Land
The divine comedy of writer, actor, and producer Lory Tatoulian
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February 01, 2013
First Rising Talents Art Fair by AGBU YP Lebanon Draws Over 200 Guests
Exhibit Raises Close to $3,000 for Three AGBU Schools in Beirut
Over 200 guests came out for the AGBU Young Professionals of Lebanon’s (YP Lebanon) very first Rising Talents Art Fair last month, prompting the group to turn an inaugural event into an annual tradition. The exhibit, which featured the work of local Armenian and non-Armenian artists, brought in close to $3,000, which will benefit directly the three AGBU schools in the greater Beirut area.
For weeks, the city was abuzz with news of YP Lebanon’s art fair: the call for submissions drew dozens of applications, and RSVPs flooded in. On opening night, Thursday, December 13, 2012, guests crowded the popular downtown restaurant SUZ, where ten up-and-coming artists were spotlighted: Virgine Ashkharian, Krikor Avessian, Diane Ayoub, Norayr Boudakian, Maral Der Boghossian, Karen Klink, Angela Mahserejian Manouchakian, Boghos Naziguian, Antoine Saliba and Karine Sarkissian. Each presented three pieces in different styles and mediums, showcasing their work and selling the majority of their pieces. As YP Lebanon Coordinator Sarine Karajerjian commented, “We were so pleased with the great response of applicants, as our mission was two-fold: one, to encourage and promote the talents of local young artists who may not otherwise have had a platform for their work and two, to provide the Lebanese community with affordable art.”
Also on sale throughout the three-night fundraiser was a special collection of limited edition prints donated by John Guvder, the famed Lebanese artist. Guvder, who received the coveted Arshile Gorky medal from the Republic of Armenia on the same day the YP exhibit was unveiled, had much experience to share with the other featured artists. Now 92-years old, Guvder was born in Lebanon to a family of Armenian refugees. He studied in both Paris and Rome before establishing his own art institute in Beirut and later joining the city’s Académie Libanaise des Beaux-Arts (the Lebanese Academy of Fine Arts), where he still teaches today. Throughout the event, he engaged each of the participants, and later commented, “I was extremely happy to present my work to the local community and to see many young talents emerging in Lebanon. At my age, imparting my knowledge to youth makes me feel that I am in a continuous learning process.”
The YP Lebanon Rising Talents Art Fair was made possible by several generous sponsors: Arame Art Gallery, Chateau Khoury Wine, Printkom, Radio Sevan, SUZ and Mr. Raffi Tokatlian.
For more information about the AGBU Young Professionals, visit www.agbu.org/yp. To learn more about YP Lebanon and its activities, visit https://www.facebook.com/agbu.yp.9 or write yplebanon@agbu.org.lb.
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