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YERETZIAN BOOK CAPTURES BEAUTY OF ORNATE INITIALS
ARTS | FEBRUARY 17, 2014 2:50 PM
GLENDALE -- It was a full house at the Glendale Central Library
auditorium on Wednesday, February 5, as Abril Bookstore and Publishing
presented the book release celebration of artist Seeroon Yeretzian's
new publication dedicated to the Armenian ornate initials, Seeroon
Darer, a book celebrating her 25 years of research and mastery of
the medieval Armenian art of the illuminated manuscripts and ornate
letters.
After an opening prayer by Archbishops Hovnan Derderian and Moushegh
Mardirosian and a welcoming by Glendale City Councilman Ara Najarian,
the program began with the artist's son, Arno Yeretzian, who presented
a remarkable multimedia introduction to what could be found in this
lavish new volume. Included in the segment were two video clips
showing artist Seeroon Yeretzian in action while painting two of her
masterpieces. This brought the house to tears as they witnessed the
artist -- who has recently been diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease
-- in her prime, painting this difficult art of gradations and fine
lines with such ease and finesse.
Both archbishops presented Seeroon with congratulatory scrolls and lead
a special prayer for her. Seeroon, in turn, presented both of them with
gifts of her own of two of her famous peacocks, stating the following,
"Peacocks are usually found on top of Khorans. They are the protectors
of Heaven. They have all the colors like rainbows and they represent
the sun, which is the source of life on earth. Peacocks are symbolic
of Pride in Armenian unity and brotherhood that I wish for our nation
Armenia to have."
Vatche Mankerian, the well-known pianist who just recently received
a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Southern
California, presented a beautiful speech in Armenian conveying his
deep respect and admiration of Seeroon Yeretzian's work and for
her amazing role in continuing this ancient old tradition of the
illuminated Armenian arts and bringing it to the current generation.
He followed by performing on piano a few pieces by Arno Babajanian
and Komitas.
Aram Samuelian, brother of Bedros Samuelian, who sponsored the book
from Lebanon, congratulated Seeroon for her work. The final speaker
of the night was Harry Mesrobian, the art director and designer of
the book. Mesrobian was the person who ignited Seeroon's passion for
this art form, as he walked inside of the old Abril Bookstore one
day in 1988, picked up a book presenting the art of the Medieval
Armenian manuscripts and asked, "Has Anybody ever done a complete
alphabet using these ornate letters?" Harry gave a very heartfelt
and amazing speech signifying Seeroon's artistic excellence and her
crucial role in bringing this art to the modern age. Harry has shared
the same office as Seeroon for 25 years and has seen her develop her
huge line of art dedicated to this art. This has been an honor for
him to witness and to be inspired by.
Elizabeth Grigorian, the Armenian outreach coordinator of the Glendale
Public Library, presented Seeroon Yeretzian with numerous commendations
by different governmental representatives including assemblyman Mike
Gatto and Rep. Adam Schiff (D). This followed with a final speech by
Seeroon Yeretzian, read by her son, Arno Yeretzian.
Seeroon Yeretzian expressed how doing this worked changed her life
forever. She urged the audience to stop staring at iPhone or computer
screens and to wake up and be in the moment. She encouraged them,
especially women, to continue this art form as a source of peace,
meditation, and medication. The evening was concluded with a kinetson
ceremony, a tradition that her late husband, Harout Yeretzian had
introduced to the Los Angeles community more than 30 years ago,
where wine is poured onto the pages of the book as a symbolic blessing.
Seeroon Darer is a true labor of love by Seeroon Yeretzian. Borne onto
the pages of Armenian illuminated manuscripts during the Middle Ages,
the Armenian ornate initials come to life once again in the 21st
century through her hand. This book presents a once-in-a-lifetime
accomplishment dedicated to revealing the intrinsic beauty of
these mystical letters. The volume presents a treasure of aesthetic
expression, rich colors and majestic elegance with over 850 Armenian
ornate initials, 248 of which are original designs by the artist
herself, all accompanied by illuminations, ornamentations and poignant
insights.
- See more at:
http://www.mirrorspectator.com/2014/02/17/yeretzian-book-captures-beauty-of-ornate-initials/#sthash.Q3C5ZnBU.dpuf
ARTS | FEBRUARY 17, 2014 2:50 PM
GLENDALE -- It was a full house at the Glendale Central Library
auditorium on Wednesday, February 5, as Abril Bookstore and Publishing
presented the book release celebration of artist Seeroon Yeretzian's
new publication dedicated to the Armenian ornate initials, Seeroon
Darer, a book celebrating her 25 years of research and mastery of
the medieval Armenian art of the illuminated manuscripts and ornate
letters.
After an opening prayer by Archbishops Hovnan Derderian and Moushegh
Mardirosian and a welcoming by Glendale City Councilman Ara Najarian,
the program began with the artist's son, Arno Yeretzian, who presented
a remarkable multimedia introduction to what could be found in this
lavish new volume. Included in the segment were two video clips
showing artist Seeroon Yeretzian in action while painting two of her
masterpieces. This brought the house to tears as they witnessed the
artist -- who has recently been diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease
-- in her prime, painting this difficult art of gradations and fine
lines with such ease and finesse.
Both archbishops presented Seeroon with congratulatory scrolls and lead
a special prayer for her. Seeroon, in turn, presented both of them with
gifts of her own of two of her famous peacocks, stating the following,
"Peacocks are usually found on top of Khorans. They are the protectors
of Heaven. They have all the colors like rainbows and they represent
the sun, which is the source of life on earth. Peacocks are symbolic
of Pride in Armenian unity and brotherhood that I wish for our nation
Armenia to have."
Vatche Mankerian, the well-known pianist who just recently received
a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Southern
California, presented a beautiful speech in Armenian conveying his
deep respect and admiration of Seeroon Yeretzian's work and for
her amazing role in continuing this ancient old tradition of the
illuminated Armenian arts and bringing it to the current generation.
He followed by performing on piano a few pieces by Arno Babajanian
and Komitas.
Aram Samuelian, brother of Bedros Samuelian, who sponsored the book
from Lebanon, congratulated Seeroon for her work. The final speaker
of the night was Harry Mesrobian, the art director and designer of
the book. Mesrobian was the person who ignited Seeroon's passion for
this art form, as he walked inside of the old Abril Bookstore one
day in 1988, picked up a book presenting the art of the Medieval
Armenian manuscripts and asked, "Has Anybody ever done a complete
alphabet using these ornate letters?" Harry gave a very heartfelt
and amazing speech signifying Seeroon's artistic excellence and her
crucial role in bringing this art to the modern age. Harry has shared
the same office as Seeroon for 25 years and has seen her develop her
huge line of art dedicated to this art. This has been an honor for
him to witness and to be inspired by.
Elizabeth Grigorian, the Armenian outreach coordinator of the Glendale
Public Library, presented Seeroon Yeretzian with numerous commendations
by different governmental representatives including assemblyman Mike
Gatto and Rep. Adam Schiff (D). This followed with a final speech by
Seeroon Yeretzian, read by her son, Arno Yeretzian.
Seeroon Yeretzian expressed how doing this worked changed her life
forever. She urged the audience to stop staring at iPhone or computer
screens and to wake up and be in the moment. She encouraged them,
especially women, to continue this art form as a source of peace,
meditation, and medication. The evening was concluded with a kinetson
ceremony, a tradition that her late husband, Harout Yeretzian had
introduced to the Los Angeles community more than 30 years ago,
where wine is poured onto the pages of the book as a symbolic blessing.
Seeroon Darer is a true labor of love by Seeroon Yeretzian. Borne onto
the pages of Armenian illuminated manuscripts during the Middle Ages,
the Armenian ornate initials come to life once again in the 21st
century through her hand. This book presents a once-in-a-lifetime
accomplishment dedicated to revealing the intrinsic beauty of
these mystical letters. The volume presents a treasure of aesthetic
expression, rich colors and majestic elegance with over 850 Armenian
ornate initials, 248 of which are original designs by the artist
herself, all accompanied by illuminations, ornamentations and poignant
insights.
- See more at:
http://www.mirrorspectator.com/2014/02/17/yeretzian-book-captures-beauty-of-ornate-initials/#sthash.Q3C5ZnBU.dpuf