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By chance, my father was visiting me in Armenia at the time of our group's excursion to Gyumri so he accompanied us to the Aesthetic Center. We were both astounded by the level of talent exhibited by the school's young artists and by the way that the artwork so drastically contrasted Gyumri's dismal appearance. The art center was filled with hope and inspiration, and thus, an idea was born there.
With the help of the Birthright Armenia staff in both Yerevan and the US, I was able to gather nearly 50 pieces of artwork from the school in Gyumri and transport them to Sacramento. I prepared and framed each piece for an exhibition that would be held at our family's cafe, Coffee Works. The exhibition opened in March of 2006, and the community's response to the art from Gyumri was overwhelming. More than half of the artworks sold on the opening day of the show. The outcome of the show far exceeded my expectations, as nearly all of the artwork eventually sold (including large paintings, paper plate drawings, and small and medium-sized carpet weavings) and people also made blank donations to the cause. We raised over $5,600 and decided to put all of the money into creating a computer and internet room in the Gyumri Aesthetic Center.
The funds raised by the art show provided the school with four brand new computers, along with a printer/copier/scanner machine and furnishings for the room including a new roof, paint job, carpeting, desks, chairs and of course, frames for the children's art to be displayed on the walls. The computer room's official opening was held on August 12, 2006 with many current Birthright Armenia volunteers present. The newly opened computer room is a resource for the students; it can be used to develop graphic design and other artistic technical skills. Also, the internet has endless potential as a learning tool for children. My aspiration for the show and the resulting computer center is to help cultivate confidence and individual ambition in the students, which is necessary for the future well-being of Armenian youth.
Due to the overwhelming response the show received, I was driven to continue and expand this arts exchange project. In an attempt to celebrate the talents of children from as many areas of Armenia as possible, I applied for a grant from Birthright Armenia's Next Step Grant Fund. Being awarded the grant has given me the opportunity to visit various schools around the country in an effort to encourage youth to utilize their art potential.
I am therefore spending the majority of my 8 weeks in Armenia this summer working to put together a second art show which will be held in New York City. (Although I am originally from Sacramento, California, I am now living in New York, pursuing my masters in International Affairs and working part-time for AGBU). I have chosen three art schools to participate in the show; one from each of the following cities: Vanadzor, Stepanvan, and Sissian. Each school is providing approximately 20 pieces of artwork, so that the amount of works will total around 60. I have been working closely with the Naregatsi Art Institute in Yerevan to gather the artwork and stay connected to the three schools. Naregatsi has a beautiful office space in the center of Yerevan and will be hosting a first-round art exhibition at their Institute on the 27th of August. On this day, all of the artwork will be on display for members of the community to view. Also some of the artists and faculty will be in attendance. The artwork will not be for sale at the show in Yerevan; it will instead serve as a celebration of the children's work.
Organizing a benefit art show unfortunately has no guarantees. All I can hope for is that the artwork and the cause will be well-received in New York, and that attendees of the show are able to connect with the art and feel certain that their contributions will really make a difference to the kids here in Armenia. I hope to raise at least $10,000 so that, even after the proceeds are divided between the three schools, each school can afford to implement a program that aids in the development of the students in their quest for knowledge, professional experience, and/or entrepreneurship activities. As such, the aim of this project is not simply to provide a few schools with a small heap of money, but to facilitate cooperation between Armenians in the diaspora and the homeland. The collaboration is mutually beneficial; the children in Armenia benefit directly from the exchange between the two closely connected groups, and awareness about Armenia's economic struggles is raised in the US among both members of the Armenian diaspora and non-Armenians.
When I first visited Armenia in 2001, I observed the country from a relatively passive tourist lens. However, it was when I decided to return as a volunteer for Birthright Armenia and the Armenian Volunteer Corps (AVC) that I realized my potential and desire to contribute more actively to Armenia's future. Although I have no formal artistic background, I find children's artwork in Armenia to be truly inspirational. This is because children are so expressive and uninhibited with their art, and through it, they find ways to convey their hopes, experiences, fears and dreams. As Armenians, we should encourage these expressions in order to demonstrate our faith in our strong, talented and intelligent youth who are the future of our country. It is my belief that art is one of the best ways to foster change, development, and hope, and that is the ultimate long-term goal of the Artworks Armenia project.
Tamar Shahabian (USA)
AVC volunteer and BR/DH alumnus (2005)
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