Knar Gevorkyan's exhibit is first solo show in 25 years

by Florence Avakian

Published: Wednesday April 14, 2010

"Arlequin" 33x24 inch Ink on paper. People's Award 2010 Silver Lake, CA.

The detailed drawing of an "Arlequin" gazes out at the viewer. This extraordinary artwork by Knar Gevorkyan was the recipient of the 2010 People's Choice Award in Los Angeles. It is one of 30 drawings and paintings by this artist that will be exhibited at Stephanie's Art Gallery in La Canada, CA, from May 7 to 22. The opening reception will take place on Friday evening, May 7, from 7 to 10 P.M.

In a telephone interview from Los Angeles, Knar Gevorkyan, born in Yerevan in 1960, revealed that her first artistic inspiration came from her family, and in particular, her mother who was her first teacher. "She taught me how to love, how to be patient, and especially to have bright hopes which can take me to a world of spiritual beauty," she says.

"My art is based on feelings, on my impression of life. My desire to understand life played a great role in shaping me as an artist. Inspiration comes from people around me." And in her artwork the "line" is the most important detail. "These lines are infinite. They have no boundaries," she explains.

Art gave me spiritual freedom

Her first artistic endeavors, however, were in music. "I was seven years old, and my mother took me to music lessons in this building that today is the Aram Khachaturian Museum."

Her music teacher was the legendary composer's niece, Leilie Khachaturian. After five years of musical education, Knar realized she wanted to draw.

"A new world opened up filled with colors, lines, forms, shapes. It gave me spiritual freedom," she relates quietly.

Knar attended the Pedagogical State University, Department of Fine Arts in Yerevan, from 1977 to 1981, and had four solo exhibitions in Yerevan from 1973 to 1985.

In 1987, she emigrated with her mother and brother to the United States, settling in Los Angeles, getting married, and raising two daughters in challenging circumstances. She currently works as an engineering designer.

The exhibit that will take place at Stephanie's Art Gallery from May 7 to 22 is "very important because there is such a large time gap - 25 years, from my last one in 1985," she relates.

Most of this exhibit will entail graphic art - black on white drawings, focusing on her works from the 1985 exhibition in Yerevan. On exhibit will also be eight of her oil paintings, and seven of her brother's surrealistic works. The show is dedicated to her late mother and brother.

Knar who says that she likes all kinds of art, lists Albrecht Durer and the old masters as her favorites. "I'm still learning from them."

In addition to her four solo exhibitions, Knar has had her art works shown in ten group exhibitions from 1984 to 2010 in both Yerevan and California.

Besides the 2010 People's Choice Award for the Graphic Works Portraiture "Arlequin", Silver Lake, CA, her awards and honors in Los Angeles include the 2009 Honorable Mention for the Outstanding Artwork "World of Sculptures", AIDS Service Center, Pasadena, CA. Both events were organized by the Pasadena Art Association.

Stephanie's Art Gallery is located at 466 Foothill Blvd., La Canada, CA. For more information on this exhibit, readers can visit www.stephaniesartgallery.com.