Cafesjian Museum of Modern Art
This evening was the groundbreaking for a huge new art museum in Armenia, at the top of the Cascade steps. The museum will house a cool and ecclectic collection of art from around the world - including some of the best glass art around. Here are a couple of the statues that were unveiled this evening.
The first one (by Botero) is probably going to cause the most excitement, since this "Gladiator" has his bulbulag showing :-)
The next two I am posting are of rabbits. The lone rabbit spins on it's base which is cool, but I think I like the other one best... I forget who was the sculptor of these.
There were a few other unveilings, but these were my favorites.
Madlene did a great job organizing this huge event, which was attended by Cafesjian, Kocharian, Oskanian, Demirchian, Ambassadors, a US Senator and many others...
The first one (by Botero) is probably going to cause the most excitement, since this "Gladiator" has his bulbulag showing :-)
The next two I am posting are of rabbits. The lone rabbit spins on it's base which is cool, but I think I like the other one best... I forget who was the sculptor of these.
There were a few other unveilings, but these were my favorites.
Madlene did a great job organizing this huge event, which was attended by Cafesjian, Kocharian, Oskanian, Demirchian, Ambassadors, a US Senator and many others...
posted by Raffi K. at 11:09 PM
19 Comments:
I like the "dancing" rabbits too... cute!
It's nice to have sculptures in Yerevan that are different than the conventional Armenian style like the Komitas or Arno Babajanian sculptures near the Opera House.
Conventional Arno statue?
How is Madlene doing? not posting reg. on this blog.
Madelene Is probably busy organizing such cool events as this..!
I was so impressed when I visisted the cascade with my non armenian friend in march. He was absolutely gobsmacked by it also... and when I told him about the museum that topped it off.
good job!
So much exciting things being built in Armenia right now. By 2007 this city is going to be insane!
The museum at Cascade (yes Madlene, and Arthur, are doing an awesome job organizing the events taking place there); Northern Avenue; dozens of new residential buildings; the government is putting pressure on half built buildings in the city as well; the new airport terminal; oh yes ... McDonald's; and so much more.
I LOVE the Gladiator! Botero has awesome works, and it's such a blessing to have them here in Armenia. If I'm not mistaken, the museum will also have a couple of Picasso's works.
Nice real nice!
Would you say in the near future we will be building factories to employ our people? I hope we hope? let's hope?
Mi vomn
Well, it would be cool for Madlene to share this event with her own colorful words and thoughts. We miss you fellow Westwood Bruin! Yerevan is becoming a groovy party-town, maybe even a Las Vegas/Atlantic City of the southern Caucuses. I know a lot of Armenians from the US will be vacationing there this summer. It will be fun, wild and out of control, great for the local disco, cafés and Armenian bar businesses. It’s great that we have a independent nation we can freely party in.
Nice pics... can you make them clickable?... the Cascade is within walking distance from our apt and I'm just hoping the construction will be done quickly... and hope all the half-built houses around it will be cleaned up.
let's hope that Yerevan doesn't become Las Vegas and Atlantic City of the South Caucasus. While partying is great, like someone else in this list said, sustainable development is more important. Speaking of which, I hope the throngs of Diasporans vacationing here this year, will take the time to explore some of the less mainstream opportunitites (entertaining and non) while in Armenia. Madlene deserves a great big hurra for the enormous job she's done the last 2 months.
Come on Alex, why so serious? Sustainable development--movelopment it’s YEREVAN VACATION TIME and that means drinks at Opera Most tourists are in and out in a flash dropping loads of much needed global currency. I say put on your dancing shoes and party likes it’s 1999!!wheww,,,1999!
yes, true..but i also invite you to come back in december, january, february, and see what happens when reality sets in, when tourists are not dropping a bundle, and there are not jobs around, becasue in the summer we didn't think about how we were going to make sure that the riches of the summer outlast the season itself. difference in perspectives, i supppose.
Bravo Alex,
There's a poem in french entitled:
La cigale et la fourmi, its about the ant and the singing grasshopper who sings all summer while the ant collects food for the winter. When the grasshopper comes knocking on the ants door for food in winter, the ant asks:"what were you doing in the summer." the grasshopper replies: "I was singing". well the ant says: If you were singing in the summer then maybe you can dance now!!
I would always love to see our people happy singing & dancing but always be prepared for the tough times. Lets start building factories and create jobs for the village people remember, Hayasdan is not only Yerevan its also about the villagers and those who want to work and stay in Hayasdan.
And yes I do compliment you Madlene for the sculptures really nice. Congratulations!
Mi Vomn
Bravo for everything Alex said.
BTW: Re. the cafes at the Opera, firstly the constructions are illegal and secodnly they are owned by government officials and their relatives who do not pay most of the taxes they are meant to from those businesses. So, when you talk about spending your money there ask yourself if it's really benefitting the country that much.
On the other hand, do come to Armenia and enjoy yourself but bear in mind that sustainable development is the most important requirement for the country today. Travel around the country a little, spend your money there and enjoy yourself a whole lot more.
Of course, if you want to prop up corrupt government officials and the oligarchs that's your choice but don't be surprised if and when violence erupts during the October local elections as the ARF-D warns and that we just ahd a little taste of last weekend:
Local Poll Marred By Violence, Fraud Charges
http://www.armenialiberty.org/armeniareport/report/en/2005/05/EFB6C538-6A8D-4AFF-AEE3-F2FE2CAFD6E0.ASP
Choose to buy locally produced things when in Armenia. There is still trickle down effect that's beneficial for everyone.
Consider buying Kilikia beer over Kotayk so that more tax gets into the state budget
btw - I've posted the top 300 taxpayers in Armenia so far this year. It's quite interesting to see who is, and who isn't paying much taxes...
http://www.armeniapedia.org/index.php?title=Taxpayers_in_Armenia
I think that this taxpayers list is really quite useful although of course, it doesn't indicate who should be paying what and isn't. Nevertheless, it's a start and welcomed.
Incidentally, Emil Danielyan recently wrote an article for the Jamestown Foundation on this subject and of course, Gagik Tsarukian -- oligarch, MP, owner of Kotayk and perhaps the richest man in Armenia -- figures prominently in it.
http://www.jamestown.org/edm/article.php?article_id=2369722
Where is Madlene, Lena, Nicol?
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