PRESS RELEASE
ARMENIAN GENERAL BENEVOLENT UNION
2495 E. Mountain St, Pasadena, CA 91104
Tel: (626) 794 7942
Fax: (626) 794 2622
Contact: Aleen Khanjian
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
AGBU TO EXHIBIT EMIL KAZAZ’S WORK IN THE FALL
"Every great work of art has two faces, one toward its own time and
one toward the future, toward eternity."–Daniel Barenboim.
As humans, we are faced with the daily realization of mortality. For
this reason, we appreciate the rare occurrences of immortality. Art is
one of them.
While many of us thirst for cultural outlets to stretch our minds and
increase our collective awareness, the Armenian General Benevolent
Union (AGBU) quenches that thirst by exposing us to the brilliance of
Artists who live among us. Through the years, AGBU in Southern
California has held memorable art exhibits. Most recently, in 2007,
AGBU allowed us to witness its perpetual effort to promote Armenian
culture and preserve our unique heritage throughout the world, through
a highly successful exhibition entitled "Nine Contemporary Artists
from Armenia." It was an incredible display of color, emotion, and
passion, inspired by nine unique `new generation’ artists from
Armenia.
This year, AGBU will bring you the internationally known, Los
Angeles-based, Armenian artist, Emil Kazaz. Once again, AGBU strives
not only to familiarize our minds, but to leave a lasting impression
on our souls by exhibiting the immortal handiwork of art-genius, Emil
Kazaz. As those who are familiar with Kazaz know, his unique
expression embodies a culmination of politics, mysticism, and
eroticism in a way that most sculptors and painters cannot do.
Emil Kazaz has achieved international critical recognition, including
the prestigious Lorenzo Medici medal from the Florence Biennale in
2003, as well as the Grande Lorenzo il Magnifico (Medici) Prize in
Sculpture from Florence Biennale 2007. He has had many successful and
highly acclaimed exhibitions in Europe, Asia, Russia, North and South
America, and just recently in New York City. Next fall, AGBU will
celebrate Emil Kazaz’s unique talent with a major exhibition and an
evening of tribute honoring the artist at the AGBU Alex Manoogian
Center in Pasadena, taking place from November 5-8, 2009.
This unique Emil Kazaz Exhibition is being organized with the close
cooperation of the Airian Dome of Fine Art Inc., home of the largest
Emil Kazaz collection, through its founder and president, Monet
Airian, who represents the artist worldwide. The exhibited artwork
will be available to the public at special prices to encourage sales
to raise funds for the AGBU to benefit its social, cultural and youth
oriented programs in Southern California. The portion of the sales
amount designated and provided as a donation to the AGBU will be
deductible for income, gift, and estate purposes.
Established in 1906, AGBU () is the world’s largest
non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City, AGBU
preserves and promotes the Armenian identity and heritage through
educational, cultural and humanitarian programs, annually serving some
400,000 Armenians on five continents. In Southern California, home of
over 750,000 American citizens of Armenian origin, AGBU is
headquartered in the City of Pasadena, and serves its membership and
the community, through four all-volunteer chapters, a community
center, two schools with over one thousand students, cultural, social
service and youth-oriented activities and the Generation Next
mentorship program.