Simplicity and emotion inspires artist

Art Gallery opens the semester with exhibition of line portraiture by award winning creator

The Art Gallery came alive on the evening of Sept. 19, when the exhibit “Lines that Speak,” a compilation of line art that portrays family and the Los Angeles lifestyle, came to Pierce College.

Art Gallery Director Monika Del Bosque hosted the exhibition of work by Armenian line artist Srboohie Abajian, because of her admiration for the artist and her drawings.

“I thought her artwork would be very applicable to our students,” Del Bosque said. “I also really enjoy her line work.”

Crystal Aghevli, a student who is thinking about majoring in art, loved all of Abajian’s pieces, especially the ones of her children.

“I was captivated by the children watching television,” Aghevli said. “I was really curious to see her perspective on what our young people spend their time doing here.”

Abajian was born in Yerevan, Armenia where she began her education in art, obtaining her Master of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees. She has had many accomplishments, including exhibitions at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Glendale’s Brand Art Gallery and Laguna’s Art Museum. She was also named Artist of the Year for 2013 by the city of Glendale and has been awarded grants by the Puffin Foundation and Creative Capital Funds. Through her accomplishments, she knew her mission was clear: to reach out to the public to tell them what art means to her.

“Art can be entertaining and enlightening,” Abajian said. “Entertainment in art is very common today, but that is not my goal. Art should change people’s thinking, and can change people’s lives and society.”

She began studying art in 1977, and then a decade later, took her skills up a notch with sketching and oil painting. Between 1988 and 1992 she started her abstract paintings using experimental techniques. During this time she painted her first “Self Portrait” piece and “Agony,” her first abstract piece. She also began her monotype pieces, primarily influenced by the deadly earthquake in Armenia in December of 1988, which killed 23,000 people and ruined 400 villages.

In 1993 she moved to the United States and continued her artwork. While most of us are used to the hustle and bustle of the to find her own style of art.

Los Angeles life, Abajian was overwhelmed by the congestion in Los Angeles.

“When I first moved here, I was really surprised,” she said with a smile on her face.

“After reading a lot about art, I decided I wanted to make simple and emotional art. For simplicity I decided to use only lines. For emotion I exaggerated the characteristics and moods of my subjects,” Abajian said.

Her inspiration came from many different artists–both painters and film makers–such as Vincent Van Gogh, Henri Matisse, Charlie Chaplin, and Hayao Miyazaki, just to name a few. During this time she also began her “motherhood” pieces in which she emphasized portraits of hands, specifically expressing “love and care.” from life everything we want. We can get material stuff and spiritual understanding.”

From 2001 to 2008, she focused on portraits and social content.

“I see cultural differences in this country and also different lifestyles, values and relationships, which inspired me to talk about social issues,” Abajian said.

In 2012 Abajian had her second window installation, titled “Finding Value,” the idea about consumerism in Los Angeles. Although the lifestyle change was very different from what she experienced in Armenia, she successfully adapted through her work. “Being an artist is good because my mind is open to life, to society, and I have my perspective to say what I want to say through my art,” Abajian said. And since she has a goal of expanding her art to the public, she decided that Pierce would be another way to reach out.

“I chose Pierce College so students could learn something. It’s about art and school. Not commercial galleries or money, but about education,” Abajian said. She ended her presentation with the idea that art is always about discovering something new.

“There were lots of cars, but no people.”

Because of this, it inspired her 2009 artwork of auto portraits in Los Angeles and the relationship between cars and people.

Between 1994 and 2000 she took a break from her artwork to concentrate on her two children. When coming back to the art scene in the latter part of 2000, she wanted

Two left feet not allowed in this club

Students show off their best hip-hop dance moves

parking lots.”

Like any physical activity, the day started with a warm up. The dancers formed a “cypher,” or a dance-off circle.

Dancers of all ages can be seen busting a move on the second day of callbacks in the North Gym of Pierce College on Sept. 14.

“I am looking for heart,” said dance instructor and choreographer Wendi Baitey. “People here have various dance backgrounds in ballet, jazz, modern, and then there’s even the street kids. I am just looking for raw talent.”

Successfully adding this class is not as easy as it would appear. Students arrive for the first day of auditions and try their best to prove to the instructors that they have what it takes to keep up with a professional course.

“We are looking for professional,” said Denise Gibson, adviser to the Street Dance Club.

“This is an audition. We see what they have to offer and if we see professional, then we give them an add slip to get them into the class. The [Dance] Club on campus is really for those who didn’t make it in, but still really want to dance.

I’m sure you’ve seen them dancing around on campus, and even in the

“The cypher is to get them moving and loosened up. It’s also an opportunity to see what they got and what kind of styles they have,” Baitey said.

“I

Opening up the dance off to JayZ’s “Tom Ford,” the performance began. Showing off their own original styles one by one, variations of hip-hop and street dance flowed from the performers. More commonly known to the dance community as “breakers,” they showcased their acrobatics against each other in a blur of arms and legs while cheers and shouts could be heard from onlookers.

After teaching the group a complex dance routine that they memorize in minutes, the performers were to listen to a selection of songs and pick which ones they would rather dance to.

“I have them decide on a song choice to see how serious they are about this class,” Baitey said. “I showed them a fun song, and a song that was slower but filled with meaning. They chose the one with meaning and heart.”

One does not have to be a student at Pierce to be in the program. Jarek Hernandez is a 12-year-old boy who made the cut through auditions.

“I have been dancing for five years. I got started when I was watching the Jabbawockeez one day and I felt that was what I really wanted to do,” Hernandez said.

Once the dancers make it into the class, they have to continue to prove that they can remain on the roster.

“This is a class. If you miss two rehearsals, you will lose you spot and become an understudy,” Gibson said.

For those that did make the cut and received an add slip, dance rehearsals are Saturdays from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the North Gym.

She said that to her, it was a fresh look at American society and what it meant to her coming from another country.

After years of hard work, she was given her first chance to go public with her art with an installation at the Glendale Galleria.

“This gave me a chance to access a large audience,” Abajian said.

Her installation, titled “Getting it,” represents the idea that, “We can get

“I think being an artist is very special for me because art is a very powerful tool to say what you want to say to people,” Abajian said. “I am very happy being an artist. It is very fulfilling and satisfying when you have a message and you’re able to reach a big audience.”

The Art Gallery will display Abajian’s work through Wednesday, Oct. 23 in Room 3300.