Project: Recycled Paper Bags and Beads

Communities across the Philippines are finding creative ways to recycle their waste:

In Smokey Mountain, a former landfill and squatter community in Metro Manila, women are working with paper waste to create bags, boxes and other wonderful items made from paper waste. The handwork is primarily done by women who are able to work from home, thereby caring for their families and doubling their household income. The women of Smokey Mountain have now partnered with the rural beach town of Anilau, where women are making beautiful paper beads in various sizes.

If you are interested in purchasing any items for retail and supporting this livelihood project, please contact marlynemail@mac.com for details.

The Paper Beads are now available in Geneva at Histoire de Perles, Rue du Môle 12-14, Tel : +4122 7319100.

Project: Grand Bleu, rêves de la mer entre Gyumri, Erevan et Paris, Mars 2007

Les rêves et les utopies exercent une influence perceptible sur les pensées et les actions de l’individu dans la société. Les concepts de « l’eau, de la mer et de l’océan » ont été et sont toujours une source de légendes, de mythes et de rêves innombrables. Ceci est encore plus pertinent pour l’Arménie qui n’a pas de mer – malgré l’appellation mythique des « trois mers », en fait les lacs Sevan, de Van et d’Ourmia - et se doit donc de l’imaginer, de la rêver, de la fantasmer.

Cette exposition d’art contemporain inclut des artistes français et arméniens ayant collaboré à la 5e Biennale Internationale d’Art Contemporain de Gyumri en août 2006.

Du 15 au 22 mars 2007 à la galerie ARTCORE, 40 rue de Richelieu, Paris 75001 +33 1 47 03 09 60 www.artcore.fr du mardi au samedi de 14h à 19h.

Vérnissage le 15 mars à 19h, avec une présentation de Carl June "Photo Album I-IV, Gyumri Biennale 2006."

Les artistes: Sona Abgarian, Achot Achot, Vahram Aghasyan, Bruce Allan, La Fratrie, Archi Galentz, Carl June, Tigran Khatchatryan, Francis Kurkdjian, Karine Matsakyan, Estefania Penafiel, Armen Rotch, Diego Sarramon, Arpine Tokmanjyan, Mkrtich Tonoyan et Vazo (Vazgen Tadevosyan).

Co-commissaires: Choghakate Kazarian & Marlyne Sahakian

Manifestation organisée dans le cadre d’ « Arménie, mon amie », Année de l’Arménie en France.

Our heartfelt thanks to: Achot, Thierry, Ilse & Jean-Philippe, Jean-Claude and Julia.

Project: All the Art I Can Fit In My Roller-Skate Case, Manila, Philippines, Sept/Oct 2006

"Would you like to travel with me to the Philippines?"


Eighteen artists responded with artworks that could fit into a 13x28x38 cm roller-skate case.

Starting in September and for two months, Concha is settling into The Living Room, an artist residency and exhibition space on Manila Bay in the Philippines. With the help of curator Carlos Celdran, the small artworks will be presented in the space with a series of events and screenings.


The artists: Achot Achot (France/Armenia), Bruce Allan (UK), Thomas Bonny (Switzerland), Nathalie Brevet et Hughes Rochette (France), Claudia Camposs (France/Brazil), Valentin Carron (Switzerland), Veronique Collignon (France), Valerie Dantas Mota (Brazil), Hugo Fortes (Brazil), La Fratrie (France), Archi Galentz (Armenia), Vidya Gastaldon (Switzerland), Cecilia Jauniau (France), Carl June (Switzerland), Adrien Missika (Switzerland), Ines Raphaelian (Brazil), Behrang Samadzadegan (Iran) and Vazo (Armenia).

Concha Biennial Prize awarded to Mkrtich Tonoyan

Following the 5th Biennial of Gyumri, Concha was very pleased to award a prize for emerging Armenian contemporary art talent to Mkrtich Tonoyan. His performance and installation titled "Theory of from sea to sea" revolved around the creation of a giant-sized paper boat, touching on the question of territory as well as Armenian royalty. Mkrtich also added tremendous spirit to the overall biennial through his warm reception of all our international guests.



Photos:
- "Theory of from sea to sea Armenia," 2006. Installation and performance work. Picture courtesy of artist Carl June.
- Marlyne and Mkrtich at Lake Sevan workshop

Project: 5th Gyumri International Contemporary Art Biennial, Armenia, Aug 2006

CONCHA has partnered with the Gyumri Center for Contemporary Art (GCCA) to help deliver this year’s biennial, taking place from August 2-16 2006 including a workshop on the shores of Lake Sevan.

Around the theme “The Sea: Dreams and Illusions,” over eight artists will interpret the concept of water, sea and ocean as a source of individual and soietal inspiration. For Armenia, a country without access to the sea, the ocean has been an impossible dream.

CONCHA is very pleased to announce Pro Helvetia and Ville de Genève support for the participation of three Swiss artists:
Carl June, Thomas Bonny and Kim Seob Boninsegni.

In addition, we are working with the Artcore gallery in Paris to present French artists and plan a traveling exhibition titled Grand Bleu -- in Yerevan (Nov 06) and Paris (March 07) -- around the cultural year of Armenia in France, “Arménie Mon Ami.”

Project: L'eau qui coule, Centre Culturel, Sao Paolo, Brazil: May/June 2006

On the 13th of May, the second presentation of contemporary under the curatorial theme "Brésil Ecosophie" opened at the Sao Paolo Cultural Center.

Working in partnership with Linha Imaginaria as well as the Artcore gallery in Paris, Concha presented four artists including: Carl June, Aurélien Fontanet, Nathalie Brevet and Hughes Rochette. Fontanet and June, two artists from Switzerland, attended the opening. Over 20 artists presented works, including sculptures, installations, videos, projections, performances, photography and drawings.

Top: Blue goose, 2006. Part of an installation by Carl June
Bottom: View of show with artwork by Valerie Dantas Mota

La spirale

Concha est inspirée par la forme spirale d’une coquille « conch », une forme qui symbolise la vie, la fertilité et la nature cyclique du temps. Une spirale a le pouvoir de se transformer toujours dans sa manifestation, sans changer dans son être car elle reste ancrée dans son point de départ, son centre. Dans chacun de nous, Concha reste fixé par des buts et des principes communs, tout en travaillant dans des sphères de plus en plus grandes, des sphères de transformation.

Donate to Concha

Concha is a non-for-profit organization that relies on voluntary efforts and individual contributions, as well as institutional funding. If you would like to support Concha projects, please send a donation to:

CONCHA
La Poste Finance, Bern, Switzerland
IBAN: CH 020 900 0000 175 826 384
Account number: 175 826 384
SWIFT: POFICHBE

Project: Bresil Ecosophie, Artcore Exhibition, Paris, France Date: June/July 2005

In celebration of the cultural year of Brazil in France, Concha organized a massive exhibition of contemporary art at the Artcore gallery in Paris, based on the theme Brésil Ecosophie.

Bringing together over 20 European and Brazilian artists, the show’s curatorial theme focused on the relationship between man and his environment, man in social relations, and man within his own mental and physical space.

Designed as an active exhibition, the show included a paper-recycling workshop, performances by various artists including a theatre and dance troupe from Bahia, and finally a round table discussion titled I Love Trash focused on raising awareness around waste processing in the Paris region.

For more information about this show or to receive an electronic catalogue, please contact marlynemail@mac.com.

Project: Armenian Lessons, Artcore Exhibition, Paris, France: March 2005.

Following the Gyumri Biennial of Contemporary Art, Concha organized an exhibition titled Armenian Lessons in the caves of Paris gallery, Artcore, with three artists from the 2004 Biennial.

Harutiun Zulumian, Narine Zolian, VAZO, and Bruce Allan all worked around the importance of language to perpetuate a culture and to access the history of the Armenian people.

Concha helps create opportunities for Armenian artists to expose outside of their country, as well as to support more relationships with international artists, cultural centres and galleries.

Concha will continue to support Armenian artists during the cultural year of Armenia in France, from the Fall of 2006 to the Spring of 2007.

For more information on the artcore gallery, please visit www.artcore.fr.

Project: Nutrition Fundraising Brunch, Paris, France: March 2005.

Every year, Concha organizes a brunch to raise awareness around specific issues and to gain new members in the association. In 2005, the first brunch was held in Paris to raise awareness around nutrition and access to clean water, focusing on a program in the State of Bahia, Brazil.

In the first four years of a child’s life, proper nutrition and access to clean water is absolutely critical. While many speak of developed or under-developed countries, we must not forget that the children of these countries represent the future – if their bodies and minds can’t develop, their future growth opportunities are limited.

The Nutrition Fundraising Brunch consisted of an educational presentation, as well as a menu rich in proteins and vitamins – inspired by the cuisine of the Iranian New Year that welcomes the Spring.

Project: Gyumri Biennial of Contemporary Art, Armenia: August 2004.

Devastated by an earthquake in 1988, Gyumri was once an important cultural centre in Armenia and the region and is still in the process of reconstruction. Since 1998, the Gyumri Centre of Contemporary Art (GCCA) has been hosting a Biennial of Contemporary Art in Gyumri to create a positive, transformative experience through contemporary arts and international attention.

Since 2004, Concha has partnered with the GCCA to help support their efforts, particularly by raising awareness in and gaining support from the international community. In 2004, over 55 artists participated from 18 different countries in celebration of the 1600th anniversary of Mesrop Mashtot’s alphabet and around the curatorial theme of Language and Communication. With the support of artist Bruce Allen, Concha delivered a an article for the British publication, Third Text, highlighting the 2004 biennial as well as giving a historic perspective to this important event.

A website dedicated to the biennial has been launched in 2005, with the support of Concha: www.gyumribiennial.org. Please visit to learn more about the Biennial and to make a donation.

Two new team members, from Gyumri, will be working with Concha in Geneva: Artush Yeghiazaryan and Gagik Sargsyan.