PRESS RELEASE
ArtWorks Armenia
443 East 88th Street
New York, NY 10128
March 15, 2007
Contact: Tamara Shahabian
Tel: 916.949.9545

New York Art Exhibition to Benefit Armenia’s Children

NEW YORK, NY- ArtWorks Armenia, a new non-profit organization, will
host a benefit art exhibition in New York City that will run from
March 30 to April 30, 2007. The opening night event kicks off on
Friday, March 30th at 7:00 pm and will feature select paintings of
primary and secondary school children from Armenia and Karabakh.

In addition to the art sale, silent auction and raffle, the exhibit
will feature a musical performance by the fresh Armenian voices of the
YY Sisters, as well as light appetizers and an open bar. All proceeds
from the exhibit will directly benefit rural Armenian schools from
where the artwork originates.

ArtWorks Armenia was founded by Tamara Shahabian, a graduate student
studying International Affairs at the New School in Manhattan. While
working as a volunteer in Armenia, Tamara was disheartened by the
difficult economic conditions and lack of opportunities in the land of
her ancestors but found hope in the country’s children, especially in
the creativity and optimism of their artwork. `The children’s artwork
from Armenia displays both the talent of the young artists as well as
their vision of their struggling but hopeful country. It is important
to show their work to Armenians and non-Armenians alike in order to
raise awareness about the situation in Armenia and the potential for
its future,’ said Shahabian.

After returning to the United States in 2005, Tamara hosted her first
benefit exhibition in California, raising over $6000 for a school in
Gyumri. The money was used to renovate a classroom in the school and
turn it into a computer center for local kids.

This year’s show in New York will feature paintings donated from
schools in the towns of Vanadzor, Sisian, Stepanavan and Shushi. With
a grant from the Birthright Armenia Alumni Fund covering the overhead
costs of the project, all proceeds and donations generated from the
exhibit will be channeled back to the four schools in Armenia, for use
in a variety of projects aimed at assisting students in their
academic, artistic, cultural and vocational goals.

The exhibition is open to the public and welcomes anyone interested in
supporting talented children living in difficult rural conditions in
Armenia. The show will take place at the Village Quill Gallery in
Tribeca, New York.

For more information or to preview the pre-sale catalog of paintings,
contact Tamara Shahabian at 916.949.9545 or ts@artworksarmenia.org, or
visit the website at

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress