After seven years of renovation the Cascade – a former Soviet monument in the center of Yerevan - has been completely transformed into one of the world’s outstanding contemporary art centers. Yerevan, Armenia. 8/11/2009.
Virtually every aspect of this 13,000 square meter monument has been transformed, and it now houses a Visitor Center, Museum Store, Special Events Auditorium and over 1,100 square meters of exhibition space. The center bears the name of its principal benefactor Gerard L. Cafesjian.
The official opening ceremony of the arts center took place on November 8, 2009. President of Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan and the Catholicos of all Armenians Garegin II visited the museum before its opening for the public.
The visitors of the center could enjoy the art of one of the finest glass makers in the world Stanislav Libenský (1921–2002) and Jaroslava Brychtová, whose works were represented in “For Armenia” exhibition.
There was a unique opportunity for Beatles lovers - meeting with Cynthia Lennon and Pattie Boyd - former wives of John Lennon and George Harrison, which shared the stage for the first time and lent intimate insight into their husbands’ extraordinary lives and music.
Most of the gallery displays belong to Gerard Cafesjian’s private collection. One of them 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.
Another impressive gallery was specially constructed for large-scale glass work, exhibiting an installation of Swarovski “Light Socks” by the well-known New York architectural studio Diller Scofidio + Renfro.
Photographers: Sedrak Mkrtchyan & Davit Hakobyan/ PanARMENIAN Photo
