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Society for Orphaned Armenian Relief (SOAR) – SOAR-US-2017
Auction Ends: Dec 17, 2017 10:00 PM EST

Art



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Painting by Valerie Fanarjian-Grey Church with Black Tiles

Item Number
251
Estimated Value
120 USD
Opening Bid
40 USD

Item Description

GREY CHURCH WITH BLACK TILES

 

Sancurary 2017 mixed media artwork


By Valerie Fanarjian

9" X 12"

Item Special Note

Shipping price will be determined at the end of the auction

 

SANCTUARY

I have often found refuge in places of worship, In temples and in churches… i have found the space, the stillness, to be profoundly comforting. 

I find myself thinking about the occasions that mark time; births, marriage, death. 

I think about the prayers of the troubled and the faith of the hopeful. 

In modern times, places of worship have become spaces for protection for many, including refugees, runaways, homeless and the hungry. 

I find myself transfixed and inspired by the art and decoration that fill every corner. Figures of God and saints painted on stained glass windows and vaulted ceilings. Ornate carvings of columns and crosses, tiled archways, jeweled vessels and illuminated manuscripts in the most decorated cathedrals to the simplest adornments of a zen buddhist altar. 

Over the past few years, I have been donating artwork to the group SOAR ( Society for Orphaned Armenian Relief ) and have been so impressed by the work they do, that I began making art for their annual auction, specifically churches and saints, to raise awareness of this incredibly generous and hardworking group. SOAR strives to provide orphaned Armenians throughout the world with resources fundamental to their physical, emotional, and intellectual development. Half of the proceeds from this show will go to this incredible organization. 

Finally, I have chosen to concentrate on Armenian churches as testimony to my grandmother, Siranoush Ohanessian, and her relentless commitment to her church and God. Regardless of where she was, she would find her way to church, usually by foot, where she would pray for the souls of her loved ones. I still feel her presence and protection in many spaces, but always the strongest in church. 

As I age and my beliefs change, my relationship to these spaces remain the same. Overwhelmed by their beauty, and the ghosts of the faithful looking for hope.
- valerie fanarjian