Attendees at the Basquiat x Warhol exhibit at Brant Foundation in New York
As we celebrated the birth of Christ, and in the spirit of charity, a fundraiser was organized by the Armenian Missionary Association of America NY/NJ Orphan & Child Care Committee to raise critical funds for families displaced from Artsakh. The AMAA continues to advance its mission to support these families, help restore their normal lives, and meet their long-term needs. A private, curated museum tour of the exhibit, which featured artwork by Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat, was held on December 13 at the Brant Foundation in New York City.
Art enthusiasts, old friends and new acquaintances — many traveling by a chartered bus from the Armenian Presbyterian Church in Paramus, NJ — gathered at the Brant Foundation to view the unprecedented, private exhibition that displayed the collaborative art of Warhol and Basquiat, led by Contemporary Art Advisor Aileen Agopian, and the Brant Foundation’s Docent, Mario Fasani. Agopian’s authoritative input about Warhol and Basquiat, their place and impact on contemporary art, informed those present and enhanced their appreciation of the two icons.
Guests viewing the private exhibition featuring the collaborative art of Warhol and Basquiat
Fasani spoke in detail about Warhol’s emphasis on consumerism, his celebration of pop culture, and elevating everyday items like lemons, apples, soda bottles, and soup cans. Warhol painted mundane items to depersonalize himself from his art, Fasani noted. He also spoke about Haitian American, Brooklyn-born artist Basquiat’s expressionism and highlighted his extraordinary collaboration with Warhol, where the two expressed themselves creatively on the same canvas at times, and “reforestation of each other’s art” at other times, as shown in this special exhibit. The artists used mediums such as silk screen ink, acrylic, synthetic polymer paint, watercolor, and oil stick on linen, canvas, wood panels, and even punching bags.
After being treated to an exceptional experience, the guests had the opportunity to pose questions and be privy to Fasani’s and Agopian’s expert elucidation.
According to the Brant Foundation, the “Basquiat x Warhol, is an exhibition of works from the artists’ influential collaboration in the early eighties. Curated by Dr. Dieter Buchhart and Peter M. Brant in collaboration with Dr. Anna Karina Hofbauer, this is the first time this iconic collaboration has been the subject of a major New York exhibition in over twenty-five years.” Peter Brant is one of the most important collectors in New York. He began collecting contemporary art at 19, focusing on and supporting young emerging artists, often upon the recommendation of eminent art dealer since the 1960s, Leo Castelli.
AMAA NY/NJ Orphan & Child Care Committee Chairs Vicki Hovanessian and Seta Nalbandian
Those in attendance included members from the NY/NJ Evangelical community as well as the NY/ NJ Armenian Relief Society, the Tekeyan Cultural Association, the ADL, the daughters of Vartan, the Diocese, the Prelacy, and guests from California, Colorado, and Chicago.
After the tour, the attendees gathered at Yara Lebanese restaurant in New York City, in a convivial atmosphere of fellowship. The festive dinner of Middle Eastern delicacies was preceded by a thoughtful prayer filled with expressions of gratitude by Jennifer Telfeyan-LaRoe.
True to her magnanimous nature, Vicki Hovanessian spoke of the impetus for the event and had a kind word to say about each guest. The attendees echoed co-chair Seta Nalbandian’s remarks about chairlady Hovanessian’s phenomenal contributions and myriad accomplishments, amid further testimonials and appreciative applause.
AMAA NY/NJ Orphan & Child Care Committee members
An impromptu birthday celebration for committee member Dr. Celeste Telfeyan Helvacian was a much-appreciated gesture before everyone departed the venue with hearts filled with the spirit of giving and a sense of benevolence.
Founded in 1918, the Armenian Missionary Association of America serves the spiritual, educational, and social needs of Armenian communities in 24 countries around the world including Armenia and Artsakh. For additional information, you may visit the website.