Author: Kanayan Tamar

EMIL KAZAZ ‘ONE MAN SHOW’ AT LA ART SHOW

Tuesday, January 8th, 2013

Artist Emil Kazaz

LOS ANGELES-The Airian Dome of Fine Art (ADoFA) and KAZAZ Gallery
announced the much anticipated opening of exclusive solo-exhibition
“EMIL KAZAZ – One Man Show” to be unveiled at the annual LA Art Show
2013, the most diverse art fair in the world, on January 23, at 7
p.m., at the Los Angeles Convention Center, South Hall, Booth 344-445.

While Paris has the Salon, Los Angles has the LA Art Show, history
will be made, be a part of it, influence it, shape it and why not let
it shape you. Let us take a few hours away from the Ordinary and step
into the fascinating world of art, where boundaries are broken without
shedding blood or having victims, where the beauty and the hideous
somehow magically become synonyms, where no harmony is needed to feel
in peace with oneself and the Universe. First time in eighteen years
of the show history, amongst more than hundred and twenty prominent
global galleries, ADoFA and KAZAZ Gallery will exclusively exhibit the
unrivaled artworks of Emil Kazaz, as one and only represented artist
of both galleries. The management of the galleries, the exclusive
worldwide representative of Emil Kazaz since 2005, cordially invites
the art loving public, art students, collectors, dealers, galleries
and museums to visit the fabulous, one of the most fascinating and
influential events of the year and enjoy the atypical exhibition of
Emil Kazaz’s inimitable bronze sculptures, numinous oil paintings,
meticulous drawings and mixed media along with the rest of the
artworks the participating galleries have to offer.

Allow the master to take you to a world where Judith and Holofernes
are reincarnated through a modern lens, feel the morbid eroticism of
his eternal heroes and heroines, relate to them, judge them, criticize
them, get inspired and why not even agitated. Allow the senses to look
beyond the everyday and reflect what is truly inside each and every
one of us. Allow yourself what has today become a luxury, admire art,
acquire it, share it and pass it on through generations to come. The
life of Art depends on its tradition, preservation and appreciation.

So it is also our great pleasure to inform you that the Master himself
has consciously chosen to step away from his world of mysticism and
magic for very practical reasons, to organize and aid art for
children, children for art program. For five days, leading galleries
from around the world showcase their latest acquisitions at the annual
LA Art Show-there’s something for everyone here, from art history
majors to avant-garde gallery owners. A ‘Fair-within-a-Fair,’ each
section is sharply focused to respect the specific tastes of
collectors and the broad sensibilities of the global gallery
community, showcasing the highest caliber galleries enhanced by
exceptional programming and special exhibitions. While joining us for
an evening of creativity and philanthropy, where the LA Art Show
brings worldwide attention to the Los Angeles art scene, our Opening
Gala Night Premiere Party will embrace Jubilee Celebration of Emil
Kazaz’s 60th Birthday and the 35th Anniversary of his continuous
triumph and ceaseless creation. Emil Kazaz himself, along with the
gallery staff, will welcome the visitors to the Historic and
Traditional Contemporary section’s Booth 344-455 for Book Signing,
“Meet the Artist – Get the Autograph” and unforgettable Red Carpet
photos to make memories last infinitely.

Life without art is a life not worth living. Let us come together for
an enchanting evening of high art, appreciation, dialogue and a rare
chance to meet the genius who has definitely left his mark on the art
by reviving elements of the past, has paved the golden avenues to the
future and most importantly has tapped into the subconscious of the
observer, stirring emotions beyond any depth or perspective
imaginable. The guests of Gala Night will be the first to preview art
from the highest caliber galleries, connect with LA’s top collectors,
dealers, patrons and benefactors for an event to support bringing kids
to art and art to kids. The generosity of the invitees has the power
to deliver creative inspiration and joy to medically fragile children
and transport students to the magical world of a preeminent museum.

For the price of a Gala ticket to the must-attend event of the year,
the honorable Gala Guests will enjoy culinary, visual, and cultural
delights, specialty beverages courtesy of L.A.’s finest restaurants,
support this year’s beneficiary and a child will be transformed by the
power of art.

The 18th Annual Los Angeles Art Show is one of the oldest and longest
running venues for historic, contemporary, modern and traditional art
in the country. Over fifty thousand culture hounds and art buffs flock
to the LA Art Show each year, which offers five days of exhibits.

Designed with the serious collector in mind, the show is entirely
unique in the art world, providing attendees with a complete art
experience through an expansive breadth of galleries, which bring
together works of contemporary, historic, and print genres. Moreover,
the show will provide a large platform for the visitors and exhibitors
to meet and discuss the magic of art and achieve quality professional
and emotional bonding. The 2012 show hosted more than hundred and
twenty high-end galleries from around the globe and drew more than
fifty thousand visitors. Some of the early artworks of Emil Kazaz were
featured in the Modern and Contemporary Section and turned out to be
one of the highlights of the entire LA Art Show 2012. This year, in
the Historic and Traditional Contemporary Section of LA Art Show 2013,
the management of ADoFA and KAZAZ Gallery, the exclusive worldwide
representative of Emil Kazaz since 2005, will showcase the new era of
the Master’s latest awarded works, his new bronze sculptures and oil
paintings which have never been exhibited before. Airian Dome of Fine
Art and Kazaz Gallery will offer its guests a rare glimpse into the
world of timeless classical, as well as contemporary elements and
subjects.

This year’s show is divided into three separate sections: Modern &
Contemporary section; the Historic & Traditional Contemporary section;
and the Los Angeles IFPDA Fine Print Fair. The Modern & Contemporary
Section ranges from legends of the past such as Pablo Picasso and
Salvatore Dali to the art stars of today such as Damien Hirst and
David Bailey. Exhibitors include Paul Stolper Contemporary Art,
Cernuda Arte, FL; Jonathan Novak Contemporary Art, CA; Latin American
Masters; Denis Bloch Fine Arts, CA and Timothy Yarger Fine Arts, CA.

The Historic & Traditional Contemporary section groups galleries that
focus on historic works with their contemporary counterparts that
embrace traditional techniques. This section features more than fifty
top galleries showcasing representational works from across time
periods featuring the works of Degas, Renoir, Picasso, Dali, Rodin,
Van Gough, Jan van Beers, Jesie Arms Botke, Jules Dupre, Henrie
Lebasque, Franz Bischoff, Allison Skinner, Malcolm T. Liepke, Francis
Livingston, Vladimir Sorin, Emil Kazaz, to name but a few. It includes
George Stern Fine Art, CA; Willow Gallery, UK; Redfern Gallery, CA;
Galerie Michael, CA; Schiller & Bodo, NY and China-based Trustwin
Gallery, Airian Dome of Fine Art, CA and Kazaz Gallery, CA. The LA
IFPDA Fine Print Fair spans many different styles and eras including
Old Masters, German Expressionist, Antique and modern Japanese, 18th
and 19th century European, 19th-century American, American
Regionalist, Latin-American, and Modern Works to Contemporary
Masterworks and new editions. Print dealers include The Verne
Collection, OH; Roger Genser-The Prints & The Pauper, CA: Tobey C.

Moss Gallery, CA; Joel R. Bergquist Fine Arts, CA.

Five Days, Three Distinct Sections and One Incredible Destination
The city of Los Angeles, long recognized as the entertainment capital
of the world is now taking it’s place as a cultural Mecca, boasting
over 300 museums, dozens of distinct ethnic communities, a paradise of
perfect weather and one of the world’s largest economies. The LA Art
Show is strategically located at the city’s epicenter where the worlds
of music, sports, art and theater converge at the highest level. Our
home, the Award winning Los Angeles Convention Center is the region’s
most technologically advanced, architecturally pleasing, and
functionally superb venues. “The city of Los Angeles has established
itself over the last 20 years as one of the most important art centers
in the United States and the LA Art Show has been an important factor
in making this happen,” stated Kim Martindale, the General Manager of
the show for 17 consecutive years, “we believe that the show will
flourish under the direction of the Palm Beach Show Group.” “The Los
Angeles Art Show is uniquely diverse and is certainly one of the most
interesting shows in the world,” stated Scott Diament, CEO of the Palm
Beach Show Group. “Our extensive marketing efforts will make an
immense impact on the reach and participation associated with this
show. We believe we possess all of the elements to take something as
great as the LA Art Show and make it exceptional. We would like to
thank FADA for developing a world-class event with such a magnetic and
international draw. We are confident that under our direction this
show will be taken to the next level.”

Art has a rich past and the LA Art Show proudly provides the proper
setting for collectors to purchase, view rare examples of historic
works and discover contemporary pieces that embrace traditional
techniques. This new perspective on traditional and historic works
fills a noticeable gap in the existing art market. From 18th century
European to contemporary realism – from California plain air to the
Hudson River School, the Historic and Traditional Contemporary section
presents varied yet complementary genres and celebrates artists who
continue to explore respected regional styles. As the largest art fair
in the West, it will present the art world’s limitless range featuring
exhibitors who appreciate the past, embrace the present and forecast
the future. This West Coast’s most comprehensive art experience is
always a must visit for local collectors. It features a wide variety
of art styles across many different price points. The galleries will
showcase artworks ranging from Rembrandt to Ruscha and beyond;
painting, sculpture, works on paper, photography and video. This
year’s event will also be the debut of Dialogs LA, a series of curated
lectures at the show featuring gallerist Irving Blum, Collector &
Chair of MOCA’s Acquisitions Committee Blake Byrne, one of Art &
Antiques top hundred collectors Clifford Einstein, and author Don
Thompson among others, Dialogs LA start January 22 and run through
Sunday, January 27. This aspiring event will feature universal
galleries and programming, including lectures, tours, special
exhibits, and must-attend after parties. The LA Art Show kicks-off
with an Opening Night Premiere Party hosted by Ali Larter and Hayes
MacArthur benefiting The Art of Elysium and the J. Paul Getty
Education Department on January 23. After taking in some of the best
art from all around world, check out views of LA’s iconic architecture
from the rooftop bars Downtown.

The LA Art Show will also present a special exhibition organized by
National Base for International Culture Trade (NBFICT) under the
commission and guidance of the China Ministry of Culture and Shanghai
Municipal Culture Radio and Television Bureau. China: FUSION showcases
emerging artists from Mainland China and highlights the artists’
fusion of East and West culture through content and form. Los Angeles
Art Show programming is included with show admission.

GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS CAN TRAVEL TO NAGORNO-KARABAKH BY AIR

Factinfo
Thu, 01/10/2013 – 14:30

On January 10, Government approved the issuance of certificates for
the purchase of hearing equipments of European production, the value
pricing procedures, and the state certification form of the purchase
of those equipments.According to it, the hearing device purchase
price is set at 80.000 AMD for 2013.

State officials received an opportunity to travel to Nagorno-Karabakh
from Armenia trips with airway.

Another set of amendments prescribe that public utility numbers will
be given to foreign citizens and stateless persons, providing normal
operation of personal income tax and pension payments accounting
systems.

Government with the changes and amendments made in its previous
decision, regulated the work experience of the servants of Armenian
Apostolic Church prior to January 1, 1992.

SCHENGEN ZONE COUNTRIES CITIZENS CAN VISIT ARMENIA WITHOUT A VISA STARTED JANUARY 10

10:41, 10 January, 2013

YEREVAN, JANUARY 10, ARMENPRESS: Citizens both from EU member 27 states
and non-member states, namely (Schengen Acquis )four countries Iceland,
Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland may visit Armenia without a visa
started January 10. The decision was made during Armenian Government’s
October 4, 2012 session, Armenpress reports.

The decision stipulates facilitation of entry visa for European
countries states. It is expected that the abolition of the visa regime
for the citizens from those countries will have a simulative effect
on the development of tourism, which in its turn will create more
favorable conditions for the establishment of active contact amid
the people. More favorable political and economic environment will
be formed in the frame of the cooperation amid EU member states.

Visa facilitation is mainly done by reciprocity principle

Armenia and the EU signed visa facilitation agreement in Brussels
on December 17. The Agreement on visa regime facilitation with EU
considers the facilitation of getting entrance visa to the Schengen
Area countries for the citizens of the Republic of Armenia. Visa
regime facilitation comprises certain groups of the citizens of the
Republic of Armenia. Particularly among them are members of official
delegations, scientists, students, journalists, athletes and artists
etc. Also the sides are considering reduction of the visa price to
EURO 35.

The positive experience by other countries served a good example for it

The agreement makes it easier and cheaper for citizens of Armenia,
in particular those who travel most, to acquire short-stay visas
allowing them to travel to and freely throughout the EU. A short-stay
visa is a visa for an intended stay of no more than 90 days per period
of 180 days.

ARMENIA: A WAY TO MAKE ABORTION SAFER

January 9, 2013 – 2:10pm, by Ingrida Platais
Armenia
EurasiaNet’s Weekly Digest
Armenian Politics
Health
Reproductive Rights
EurasiaNet Commentary

In Armenia, abortion is widely available, but women continue to undergo
riskier means of terminating unwanted pregnancies. A major problem
is that a well-established alternative method, which is recommended
by the international medical community, is underutilized.

There are two methods of abortion available in Armenia. The most
commonly known method is a surgical procedure performed in a clinic or
a hospital. But this option carries some risk for women. In Armenia,
most surgical procedures are performed using outdated protocols and
older model aspirators. Women are also administered general anesthesia,
and providers are not trained in current cervical priming techniques
appropriate for later first- and second- trimester abortions

Another option is medical abortion, using two drugs, mifepristone
and misoprostol, to terminate unwanted pregnancy. This method has
been proven to be safe and acceptable. The combination of these two
drugs produces an effectiveness rate of up to 98 percent for abortions
occurring up to nine weeks after the most recent menstrual period,
according to a World Health Organization (WHO) technical and policy
guidance published in 2012.

In countries where mifepristone is not available, women have been using
misoprostol alone to induce abortions since it first became available
for the treatment of peptic ulcers in the 1980s. The first documented
case study was conducted in Brazil, where in the late 1980s and 90s
women seeking abortions were able to purchase misoprostol at pharmacies
without restrictions. Today, in many Latin America countries, where
stringent anti-abortion laws restrict women’s access to abortion
in a clinic, misoprostol is a widely available option for women who
otherwise would be forced to seek more risky abortions.

Although misoprostol alone is not as effective when used without
mifepristone, it is still from 75 percent to 90 percent effective in
terminating pregnancy.

In late October, EurasiaNet.org reported that a significant number
of Armenian women appear to be turning to pharmacies for misoprostol
in order to conduct ‘do-it-yourself’ procedures. There is no evidence
that shows women are unable to abort at home safely. Research conducted
by Gynuity Health Projects has shown that women are able to follow
instructions, and prefer medical abortion in the home for reasons of
privacy and comfort.

The WHO and the government of Armenia have endorsed the home use
of misoprostol in their official guidelines. In 2010, the Republic
of Armenia’s Ministry of Health issued abortion guidelines, titled
“Clinical Guideline on Organizing and Providing Health Care on Medical
Abortion,” which recommend a mifepristone and misoprostol regimen for
first trimester abortion, and includes home use of misoprostol. If
substantial numbers of Armenian women are truly attempting to end
their pregnancies without consulting a doctor (as the EurasiaNet
article notes – no official data exists), then efforts need to be
made to educate women and pharmacists about the correct regimen,
and the importance of consulting a doctor before taking action.

A recent survey on abortion practices in Armenia indicates that some
health-care providers were aware of medical methods of abortion and
were making mifepristone and misoprostol available to women before
abortion pills were officially available. Medical abortion using the
two-drug regimen became available in Armenia in 2007. Unfortunately,
access to this method today is not as wide as it could be, and there
are no comprehensive national education campaigns in Armenia to inform
women about medical abortion using mifepristone and misoprostol.

Medical abortion is a safe, alternative method to surgical abortion
regardless of whether a woman administers pills at home, or in a
hospital. It is important that providers are trained in evidence-based
clinical guidelines and that they are able to provide abortion services
that respect women’s dignity, privacy, and choice.

Editor’s note: Ingrida Platais is Research Program Coordinator at
Gynuity Health Projects.

SACRED OBJECTS FROM THE ARMENIAN CHURCHES OF CONSTANTINOPLE TOPIC OF FRESNO STATE LECTURE

Tuesday, January 8th, 2013

Dove: Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople

FRESNO-Dr. Ronald Marchese will discuss his recent research in
Constantinople/Istanbul with a talk on “Treasures of Faith: Sacred
Objects from the Armenian Churches of Constantinople and What They
Tell Us About Armenian Society and Culture” at 7:30 p.m. on Monday,
January 28.

This Leon S. Peters Foundation Lecture will be held in the University
Business Center, Alice Peters Auditorium, Room 191, on the Fresno State
campus and is part of the Armenian Studies Program Spring 2013 Lecture
Series. The lecture is funded in part by the Associated Students,
Inc. at Fresno State.

Dr. Marchese is professor of ancient history and archaeology at
the University of Minnesota, Duluth and has spent the last several
years documenting the rich cultural history of the Armenians in
Constantinople, by studying the works of arts that the Armenians
produced. He will accompany his talk with slides of some of the
artwork that he has catalogued.

Over the course of hundreds of years Armenian society and culture
developed in Constantinople after the founding of the Armenian
Patriarchate in the city in 1461. Although a traditional date, it is
clearly evident that a substantial number of Armenians from eastern
Anatolia had established themselves in the city long before this date.

Most went unnoticed in the pages of history due to the fact
that they were absorbed within Byzantine material and political
culture. Simply stated they became “Byzantine” in nature. After the
mid-fifteenth century and especially after the establishment of their
own patriarchate and “patrik” this “invisibility” disappears.

Encouraged to immigrate “to the city” (to istan-polis) the Armenian
population increased substantially as witnessed by the steady growth
of neighborhoods and churches to match the population increase. By the
mid-18th city to the mid nineteenth century-1750-1850-approximately
half of all Armenian churches in the city were founded. Some were
in close proximity to others in densely concentrated areas near the
Patriarchate, especially in Kumkapi, Yenikapi, Samataya, and Beyoglu.

Associated with this increase in population was the rise of an Armenian
“aristocracy” -the amira class. Many of these individuals financed
church construction and are well-known in both Ottoman and Patriarchal
records. The issue here is not who these people were, a powerful group
of wealthy entrepreneurs, merchants and bankers, who gave clout to
their group, but rather those who worked hard, accumulated modest
amounts of wealth and were faithful church goers who participated
in the affairs of their congregation and neighborhood-the emerging
“petty bourgeois.” Who were they and what they did has barely been
recorded. It was their contributions to their respective churches
that is brought to light in his current research and is illustrated
in this presentation.

Dr. Marchese received his PhD from New York University and has a
distinguished career in archaeology, having conducted research at the
Plataiai Archaeological Excavation in Greece and at Tel Dor in Israel.

He is the author of numerous articles and book chapters in the field.

He is an alumnus of California State University, Fresno.

He is the author, together with Marlene Breu, of Splendor and
Spectacle: The Armenian Orthodox Church Textile Collections of Istanbul
(Citlembik Ltd., Istanbul, 2010). He has authored several other books
on art and weaving.

The lecture is free and open to the public.

Parking: Parking rules have changed for the university. Parking is
available in Lots A or J on campus, only if a free parking pass is
obtained by using parking code 273305 in any of the campus kiosks.

For more information on the lecture please contact the Armenian
Studies Program at 559-278-2669.

ARMENIAN RELIGIOUS LEADER: MINORITIES IN IRAN ARE FREE TO PERFORM RITUALS

Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 1044575

TABRIZ, EAST AZARBAIJAN, JAN 9, IRNA – HEAD OF THE ARMENIAN DIOCESE
GRIGOR CHIFTCHIAN SAID HERE WEDNESDAY THAT RELIGIOUS MINORITIES,
INCLUDING ARMENIANS, RESIDING IN IRAN FACE NO RESTRICTION IN PERFORMING
THEIR RELIGIOUS RITUALS.

Armenian religious leader: minorities in Iran are free to perform
rituals

Exclusively talking to IRNA, Chiftchian said this is an indication
to their full freedom in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

He reiterated that the Islamic Iran attaches great importance to
all religions.

Referring to his one-year stay in Tabriz, capital of the northwestern
province of East Azarbaijan, Chiftchian said he never felt lonely
during the period.

THANKS TO MFA EFFORTS FIRST GROUP OF ARMENIANS HAS RETURNED FROM EGYPT

21:37, 9 January, 2013

YEREVAN, JANUARY 9, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
is carrying out works to return Armenian tourists from Egypt.

As Tigran Balayan, spokesman of Armenian MFA said in the interview
with Armenpress that thanks to the efforts of the Ministry first
group of Armenian citizens has returned to motherland.

The issue is that Air Cairo Air Company has declared that tourism
company Festa Tour hasn’t transferred the money of the transportation
of Armenian tourists.

At the same time Tourism Company assures that the whole sum has been
transferred therefore there were some problems with bank and the deal
has failed.

About 130 citizens of Armenia were waiting for their return in Sharm
el-Sheikh.

TURKS HAMPER ARMENIAN PLATFORM’S SUCCESS IN “EUROPAS” AWARDS

January 9, 2013 – 19:05 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Turkey’s participant in Europe’s annual awards
for tech startups (Europas) has launched DDoS attacks on Armenian
iMall.eu social e-commerce platform, listed in the top five out of
more than 600 participating startups from all around Europe.

“The attacks have been well perpetrated, with IP addresses of different
countries used,” the platform founder Martin Avetisyan said.

People’s Choice is awarded based on voting through Facebook “Like”s,
and the deadline for the contest is 11 January 2013.

iMall.eu is the first social e-commerce platform which brings European
shopping and style guides to emerging markets. Aggregating over 10
million inventories across all major fashion designer brands such
as Alexander McQueen, Burberry, Christian Louboutin, Gucci, Prada,
Valentino, Yves Saint Laurent: and high end department stores like
Harrods, Selfridges, Bloomingdales, Fifth Saks Avenue,, iMall.eu
provides seamless cross-border shipping via couriers from the very
source in Milan, London, Paris and other fashion capitals. iMall
already operates in 12 countries, powered by local fashion communities,
prominent bloggers and trendsetter who engage and guide their followers
on the best style trends in the world of luxury.

PERIOD OF THREE PRESIDENTS SHOULD BE OVER TO BREAK DEADLOCK

Aysor.am
January 09, 2012

What a strange thing that none of the parties with political experience
and programs is running in the election. In general, it is a strange
pre-election period, Chairman of Democratic Party of Armenia Aram
Sargsyan said at a meeting with reporters today.

In his words, many presidential deputies think that the only thing
the president has to do is to sit down and rule the country. “If we
go on like this, we are going to get what we have now. The whole
society should be persistent in their demands. The period of the
three presidents should be over in order to break the deadlock”.

Aram Sargsyan discussed the decisions of Armenian National Congress
(HAK) and Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) not to run in the election.

According to him, if HAK had the same status as five years ago,
it would certainly run in the election. As regards BHK, Sargsyan
expressed an opinion that the leader of that party has preferred
keeping his property to running in the presidential election.

TODAY, 18:07

Nagorno-Karabakh Republic will become party to negotiations – Armenian
Rule of Law Party

news.am
January 05, 2013 | 15:12

In a conversation with Armenian News-NEWS.am, the head of the
parliamentary faction of Armenian Rule of Law Party Heghine Bisharyan
said that if before the representatives of international organizations
discussed the Karabakh issue only with Armenia and Azerbaijan, today
they also consider the opinion of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic,
noting that the visits of international delegations to Nagorno
Karabakh were very important.

According to Bisharyan holding parliamentary and presidential
elections is a process of becoming an independent state, and it gives
the representatives of the international community an opportunity to
visit the country.

`In this regard, the Nagorno Karabakh Republic has progressed much,
and it is thanks to this progress the international community has an
interest in resolving the issue,’ Bisharyan said.

On the issue of participation of Nagorno Karabakh as the third party
in settlement of the Karabakh conflict, Bisharyan stressed that she
considers unacceptable the settlement without the participation of
Karabakh in the negotiations.

`Time will come and the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic will become party to
the negotiations,’ she noted.