Cafesjian Center for the Arts Announces the Closure of Ivana Šrámková's Exhibition

December 23, 2011 The Cafesjian Center for the Arts (CCA) announces the closure of Ivana Šrámková: Geometric Forms and Images exhibition at Sasuntsi Davit Garden Gallery of the Center. 

The exhibition, opened in November 2010, for the first time in Armenia presented the works by Czech glass artist Ivana Šrámková from the Gerard L. Cafesjian Collection. The exhibition was also accompanied by a children’s program, Creativity and Imagination, administered in the exhibition gallery for children aged 6-12. 

“Our Creativity and Imagination program was an innovation, set against the context of Ivana Šrámková’s art, that sought to stimulate the creativity of children, to get them involved with the exhibition and the Center in general”, said the Acting Executive Director of the Cafesjian Center for the Arts Vahagn Marabyan. “The workshops were administered for both schools and families, each of the options offering unique experience of interacting with art - together with school friends or with the parents”. 

After the very first workshop of Creativity and Imagination program, held on November 9, 2010, in the presence of Ivana Šrámková herself, the program immediately gained popularity with Armenian children. Throughout the existence of the program, over 2000 children took part in the workshops – including sessions, administered for children with special needs, children from orphanages and under patronage of Children of Armenia Fund. 

“Currently, Creativity and Imagination is one of the several educational programs offered by the Cafesjian Center for the Arts. We supplement our exhibitions with educational programs to both better present the artist and to make museum visits a more interactive experience for everyone. In this regard, Ivana Šrámková’s exhibition and the related children’s program are clearly a success”, noted Mr. Marabyan. 

Ivana Šrámková: Geometric Forms and Images exhibition will close on December 30, 2011. Starting from December 21 the admission to the Sasuntsi Davit Garden Gallery is free of charge. 

Ivana Šrámková was born in the Czech Republic in 1960. She studied at the Applied Arts College in Zelezný Brod, Czech Republic, from 1976 to 1980. Then she continued her education at the Academy of Applied Arts, in Prague, headed by Stanislav Libenský. Šrámková graduated from the Academy in 1987. 

The artist’s specialty is cast and melted glass sculptures of people, animals and still life. Ivana’s unique style lies in stacking pieces of glass to create monumental sculptures and often in using color to add a touch of humor. “My favorite things to sculpt are people and animals. Animals are beautiful, wild or faithful. They live with people on one planet. We often imitate and observe their behavior and abilities”, Ivana Šrámková says. 

Ivana Šrámková’s works are part of public collections of many museums, including the National Gallery in Prague; Victoria & Albert Museum in London; the US Corning Museum of Glass; Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art; Aperto Vetro, Museo Correr in Venice. 

The Cafesjian Center for the Arts is dedicated to bringing the best of contemporary art to Armenia and presenting the best of Armenian culture to the world. Inspired by the vision of its founder, Mr. Gerard L. Cafesjian, the Center offers a wide variety of exhibitions, derived from Mr. Cafesjian’s own extensive collection of contemporary art. Having celebrated its grand opening in November 2009, CCA continues to exhibit unique works of modern art and offers a diverse program of visiting lecturers, films, concerts, and numerous educational initiatives for adults and children.