Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Artscape Visual Coordinator Gary Kachadourian Resigns

Goodbye and good luck Kachadourian, Mr. Artscape himself.

Gary Kachadourian, 52, has managed visual installations at Artscape for 22 years. According to the Baltimore Sun, Kachadourian is now stepping down from his position at the Baltimore Office of Promotion and Arts in order to pursue some of his own creative endeavours. Those include enrolling in the masters degree program at UMBC, studying digital imaging, teaching, and devoting time to his own artwork.

Art lovers in Baltimore have Kachadourian to thank for the huge success that is Artscape. The aura that fills Mount Royal and Charles streets in mid-July is one that no museum can replace. Thousands of people gather to view Baltimore's most passionate artists showcase their talents. From custom made jewelry and contemporary art exhibits, to modern dance in the Lyric, to spoken word artists slamming under a tent, there is always something at Artscape that would make the event impossible to miss.


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Bill Gilmore, executive director of the Baltimore Office of Promotion and Arts, said
Gary has been a terriffic asset...He's helped to raise the profile of Baltimore as a serious place for artists to live and work.
One of Kachadourian's greatest achievements was the establishment of the Walter and Janet Sondheim Award, which rewards $25,000 to the top regional artist selected by a national jury.

According to the Sun, The Sondheim Award has generated interest in Artscape nationally, attracts more than 300 entrants, and results in two annual shows each summer: an exhibit of the finalists at the Baltimore Museum of Art and a show of the semifinalists at the Maryland Institute College of Art.

Man, I would LOVE to enter that competition with an award like that!

Special thanks to Kachadourian for all his hard work and best wishes to him and his family in the future.

Check out the full Baltimore Sun article to get details on Kacadourian's two upcoming art projects.

What will be the future of artscape now? We can only hope it retains some of its popularity and awesomeness with whoever walks in Kachadourian's footsteps!

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