SAM SAGHATELIAN AND FRIENDS IN ‘KNIGHTS AND HUNTERS’

AZG Armenian Daily
03/06/2009

Culture

Against the backdrop of gender politics, the ever-evolving roles of
men and women, and particularly the cultural underpinnings that inform
tradition and change, the ‘Knights and Hunters’ exhibition examines
our understanding of what could be described as the gentleman’s ethos
on the one hand, and the Don Juan complex on the other. Los Angeles –
Sam Saghatelian, the chief curator of Black Maria and a multi-faceted
artist, invited his fellow friends, Ken Garduno, Jason Hernandez,
Michael C. Hsiung to explore the complex interconnectedness of chivalry
and machismo. "Knights and Hunters," a new group exhibition will
open on Saturday, June 13, at 7 PM. "Against the backdrop of gender
politics, the ever-evolving roles of men and women, and particularly
the cultural underpinnings that inform tradition and change, the
‘Knights and Hunters’ exhibition examines our understanding of what
could be described as the gentleman’s ethos on the one hand, and the
Don Juan complex on the other," Saghatelian explained.

"As the works included in the exhibition shed light on the many
ironies of what it might mean to be a man in the contemporary
world, they reveal the comical, the shocking and not-so-shocking,
and sometimes the downright grotesque," Saghatelian continued. "So
it is that many of the works are tongue-in-cheek and unabashedly
over the top. But perhaps the most important thread running through
these works is that of a certain loving curiosity, and ultimately an
insistence on pointing at a common humanity beyond the politics and
stereotypes." "Knights and Hunters" will remain open through Friday,
July 11, 2009. Sam Saghatelian was born and raised in Armenia. He
worked as an architect until 1988. At the brink of the collapse of
the USSR and Armenia’s independence, Saghatelian began his journey as
an artist. He exhibited in the Armenian Pavilion at the 2001 Venice
Biennale and his works are part of the permanent collection of the
Armenian Museum of Contemporary Art. In 2003, Saghatelian moved to Los
Angeles to continue his journey as an artist. Since relocating in LA,
he has exhibited at APG Gallery in Atlanta, Black Maria Gallery in Los
Angeles, Articultural Gallery in Los Angeles, Harvest Gallery in Los
Angeles and will be showing at La Luz De Jesus in May of 2008. For
more information contact: Zara Zeitountsian, Black Maria Gallery,
323. 660 9393, email: info@blackmariagallery.com.