Located at the base of the Cascade is the Cafesjian Sculpture Garden, which presents one of the finest collections of monumental sculpture found anywhere in the world. The Garden’s unobstructed walkways, long vistas, and formal plantings have been specially designed to provide a modern setting for large-scale sculpture by such internationally recognized figures as Fernando Botero, Lynn Chadwick, Jaume Plensa, and Barry Flanagan.
Inspired by the vision of its founder, Gerard L. Cafesjian, the Center offers a wide variety of exhibitions, many of which are derived from Cafesjian’s own extensive collection of contemporary art.
Particularly noteworthy is a Persian installation by Dale Chihuly, a leading figure of avante-garde glass art. On exhibition in the same gallery are works by an international array of glass artists, including the noted Czech artist Jaromír Rybák, the Japanese artist Tadashi Sumi, and the Swedish artist Bertil Vallien. A large-screen media projection area provides a unique place for informational videos and for the work of video artists living in Armenia and abroad.
The Gerard L. Cafesjian Collection has one of the largest collections of glass found in any museum, and its collection of work by the Czech glass artists Stanislav Libenský (1921–2002) and Jaroslava Brychtová is undoubtedly one of the finest in the world. The exhibition "For Armenia" demonstrates the abstract power of Libenský Brychtová’s work, making clear why they are viewed as the single most influential force in the world of glass today.
Also on view in the center is the first major exhibition of original work in Armenia by Arshile Gorky, an artist once described by a critic of the time as a “hero of Abstract Expressionism.” "Arshile Gorky: Selections from the Gerard L. Cafesjian Collection" exhibits 16 drawings and 7 paintings by the man who would become known as the most monumental presence in American twentieth-century art.
Another gallery in the center demonstrates Gerard L. Cafesjian’s passion for collecting areas lying outside the arena of contemporary art. His varied interests are on continuous display in an exhibition entitled "In the Mind of the Collector". On view is an eclectic collection ranging from a 28-foot model of a ship upon which Mr. Cafesjian served in the Pacific during World War II, to a rare 1906 Model N Ford Runabout, and a working model of a Wabash steam locomotive.
"Pattie Boyd: Yesterday and Today" lends an intimate view into the lives of George Harrison, Eric Clapton, The Beatles, and Pattie Boyd herself. This unique body of 50 photographs represents 40 years of work and has garnered attention from art critics internationally.
In a gallery specially constructed for large-scale glass work, the center exhibits an installation of Swarovski “Light Socks” by the well-known New York architectural studio Diller Scofidio + Renfro. Accompanying this piece in the same gallery is the monumental work "Sitting Tatoo IV" by Jaume Plensa and the glass piece "Column #39" by Howard Ben Tre. Immediately adjacent to this gallery is the center’s Special Events Auditorium, which exhibits at its entrance a stunning Dale Chihuly Pergula Ceiling.
A diverse program of visiting lecturers, classic films, concerts, and numerous educational programs for adults and children augment the Center’s vigorous exhibition schedule.
The Cafesjian Center for the Arts Grand Opening Celebration will begin on the evening of Saturday, November 7th, with a spectacular fireworks display near the Cascade monument at 10:30pm. On Sunday, November 8th, the Center invites the public to view all the renovations that have taken place inside the Cascade and to enjoy its outstanding schedule of exhibitions, lecturers, book-signings, and events. For this one day only, the Cafesjian Center for the Arts will be open to the public with no admission fee.
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