Celebrating creativity and service
It takes a good, healthy dose of will and dedication for one to slow the pace of our feverishly spinning world and take notice of what is really important. It also takes a good solid heap of introspective creativity to transform those things deemed significant into a tangible manifestation that can inspire others to also apply the brakes and realize just how much we render to the trivial and take the treasures for granted.
Through subtle nuisances, vivid revelation and colorful clarity, that message is celebrated in the collaboration of three local artists who have joined forces to present “Three Artists — One World,” the newly opened exhibit at the Burbank Creative Arts Center.
The featured trio of Toni Scott, John Paul Thornton and Charlie Morey mingled with fellow artists, students, mentors, family members, friends and supporters of the visual arts during the exhibit’s opening-night reception on Friday.
Using a diverse range of media from sculpture and oils to acrylics and photography, the show blends gentle strength and unrepentant boldness as each artist reveals personal discoveries of the treasures to be found in today’s world.
Many of the exhibited works also go further than the simple expression of discovery, and reveal how the treasures of life have compelled each of the artists to turn away from soul-stifling triteness and embrace the light of human dignity, spirituality and the natural world.
The exhibit, which will run through June 24, includes the intense drama of Scott’s creations, Morey’s soul-stirring photography, and the hauntingly beautiful serenity of Thornton’s paintings that includes a portrait from his “Missing Children — Portraits of Hope” series.
Among those at Friday’s reception were Sharon Willett, Karen Weathers, Darin Scott, Lenora Flores, Bibliana Bovery, Carl McCraven, Trudy Aldridge, Meghan, Doris and Emily Mullen, Norland Tellez, Kathryn Kaycoff-Manos, Mark Manos, Laura and Edward Peisner, Dori Marler, Ross Williams, Eryn Perea and Arleen Bates.
The Creative Arts Center is in George Izay Park at 1100 W. Clark Ave. The gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m Friday; and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.
Friday evening also saw local Armenian Americans gather in Burbank for a jubilee celebration to mark the 30th anniversary of the ordination of His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America.
It was standing-room-only at the Glenoaks Boulevard diocesan headquarters as event co-chairs Joseph Kanimian and Harout Yaghsezian welcomed guests to join them in celebrating the primate’s three decades of pastoral service.
Among those who served on the jubilee committee were Archpriest Rev. Fr. Sarkis Petoyan, the Rev. Fr. Khajag Shahbazyan, Hovhannes Goulag, Simon Simonian, Guiragos Minassian, Berj Shahbazian, Vatche Semerdjian, Harout Der Tavitian, Avo Markarian, Peter Darakjian, Anahid Nazarian, Harout Markarian, Hayk Madoyan, Vahe Sargsyan, Adis Badrossian and Mashdots Jobanian.
Others whose participation assisted in making the event a success included banquet committee members Alice Chakerian, Flora Dunaians, Silva Kendirjian, Hermine Janoyan, Joan Meymarian, Gayane Tatoulian and Maida Yaghsezian along with special guests Dikran Altounian, Jebid Cinar, Archpriest Fr. Zaven Arzoumanian, Vatche Mankerian, Alenoush Yeghnazar, Grigor Hovhannissian, Armen Hampar, the Rev. Fr. Khajag Shahzyan, Guiragos Minassian, who served as the evening’s master of ceremonies, and Archbishops Vatche Hovsepian, Datev Sarkissian, Hovnan Derderian and Yeprem Tabakian.
