Gallery Z Hosts ‘Armenian Artists: 101 Years’ Exhibit in April

PROVIDENCE, R.I.—Gallery Z hosts the “Armenian Artists: 101 Years” exhibit, featuring artist Emma Grigoryan, from Thurs., April 7 through Sat. April 30. The opening reception will be held on Thurs., April 21, 5-9 p.m.

One year after the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide, Armenian artists continue to flourish as the Armenian people continue to survive. Last year at this time, the gallery featured an extensive commemorative multimedia exhibit of not only many works of art by a broad selection of well-known Armenian artists, but also archival material and historical propaganda affiches and posters, theatrical readings, poetry recitations, live music and theatre, documentary film screenings, artist talks, lectures, and continuous video footage. This large undertaking was curated by owner Berge Zobian and was extremely well attended by both non-Armenian and Armenian members of the community.

Art works by numerous, prominent Armenian and Armenian-American artists—including featured artist Emma Grigoryan—will be on exhibit. Born and raised in Gyumri, Armenia, Grigoryan attended the notable Panos Tenemesian School of Art in Yerevan and is a graduate of the Yerevan Fine Arts and Theatrical institute. She became a member of the Union of fine Artists in Armenia in 1971.

Her paintings have been exhibited in both group and solo shows in New York, Paris, Moscow, Toronto, Boston, New Mexico, Belgium, Beirut, Iraq, Armenia, and Yugoslavia. Grigoryan currently lives in Sunnyside, Queens, N.Y.

“On her canvases, paints turn to color, a world of hope and vibration. … The viewer will see from the early savage beauty of Armenia to today’s sophisticated and refined world…a pubescence of color, line, and rhythm,” says Rafael Petrosyan.

To her canvases, writes Henrik Budaghian, Grigoryan “imparts not only her art and talent but all her being, the rich palette of her soul, her feelings, her pain and joy.”

Gallery Z also displays an ever-changing, extensive, and diverse selection in salon style of original fine art works (paintings, photographs, drawings, mixed media, glass, sculptures, assemblages, etchings, and lithographs) from its deep stable of almost 400 fine artists—locally, nationally, or internationally renowned—along with fine ceramics and pottery, jewelry, and Armenian and international handicrafts.

The adjacent “Italy” room expands the vibrant local Federal Hill Italian cultural atmosphere with “Dreamy Venice,” filled with luminous, handmade, small Murano glass gifts (paperweights, ornaments, vessels, and perfume bottles) and Murano glass jewelry (pendants, necklaces, bracelets, rings, earrings, watches, and hair clips), all personally chosen and imported from Venice by Gallery Associate Linda Kamajian in a sparkling rainbow of colors. These are set amidst fine art paintings and photographs related to Italy or by some of Gallery Z’s established Italian-American fine artists.

Now in its 15^th year, Gallery Z offers an intimate setting and provides a center for experiencing fine art in a historic Providence neighborhood. Gallery Z is a tax-free zone. Hours are from Wednesday to Saturday, 12-8 p.m., and Sunday, 12-6 p.m., or by appointment. On the third Thursday of each month year round, Gallery Z hosts a reception from 5-9 p.m.

Source: Armenian Weekly Mid-West