BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//wp-events-plugin.com//7.2.3.1//EN TZID:America/Detroit X-WR-TIMEZONE:America/Detroit BEGIN:VEVENT UID:11366@cranbrookartmuseum.org DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20250118T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20250118T160000 DTSTAMP:20240909T204821Z URL:https://cranbrookartmuseum.org/events/plucking-performance-ara-topouzi an/ SUMMARY:Plucking Performance: Ara Topouzian DESCRIPTION:For the next edition of the Fresh Paint series Subtleism\, Chie f Curator Laura Mott pairs a new body of work with Neha Vedpathak with wor ks by Agnes Martin\, one of her seminal influences. Join us for a gallery performance highlighting the durational meditative quality of the works wi th music that uses the technique of plucking for stringed instruments. \n \nVedpathak’s minimalist works are created using a process she calls "pl ucking\," a durational\, meditative process of very slowly pulling apart p aper\, completely transforming it. Plucking is a term also used in music\, primarily with stringed instruments\, a technique used by cultures all ov er the world which takes hours of practice to master\, manual dexterity an d determination. A practice of intimate durational relationship between ar tist and technique.  \n\nOur series of the same name "Plucking" invites a rtists to play acoustically within North Gallery in the exhibition to pluc k away at their craft in a durational meditative sense on select Saturday afternoons. Audiences will be provided with floor pillows and be encourage d to come and go\, staying as long as they are moved to\, to experience th e performances (but not encouraging a concrete seated audience for the who le period). \n\nAra Topouzian is an Armenian-American musician whose prof iciency at the Kanun (Middle Eastern harp with 78 strings) has made him a nationally recognized artist for over thirty years. \n\nHe has performed at concerts\, music festivals and many celebrated venues across the United States\, with some of the top musicians of Armenian and Middle Eastern mu sic. Notably\, Topouzian has performed to large audiences at the Detroit I nstitute of the Arts\, Detroit Orchestra Hall\, Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit\, Old Town School of Folk Music\, and Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. \n\nTopouzian’s traditional music style keep s to his Armenian heritage but has expanded to include music from around t he Middle East with jazz and world music influences. \n\nThe recipient of numerous awards\, Topouzian’s music has been heard and sold around the globe. He has produced close to twenty recordings since 1994 and has been a guest recording artist on several albums. Many of his musical tracks hav e been used in film documentaries including three produced by Emmy Award w inner producer Andrew Goldberg. \n\nIn 2000\, Topouzian’s music was use d in an educational audio package produced by McGraw Hill for the purpose of teaching students different forms of world music. Topouzian also narrat ed one of the units while demonstrating the Kanun. His work is also mentio ned in several books about Armenian\, Greek\, and World Music. \n\nIn 201 2\, Kresge Arts of Detroit recognized Topouzian with a Kresge Arts Fellows hip for his achievements and contributions to his craft. In 2015\, to hono r the 100th anniversary remembrance of 1.5 million Armenians massacred by order of the Turkish Ottoman Empire\, Topouzian produced an award-winning film documentary called Guardians of Music: A History of Armenian Music in Detroit. This film paid homage to the first-generation Armenian musicians that kept traditional Armenian music alive in the Detroit community. The film was produced thanks to major funding by the Knights Arts Challenge an d premiered nationally on Public Broadcasting System (PBS). \n\nIn recogn ition of his accomplishments\, former Michigan Governor Rick Snyder appoin ted Topouzian to the Michigan Council of Arts &\; Cultural Affairs in 2 018. The council works to increase and broaden the influence of arts and c ulture within Michigan communities. He was re-appointed by Governor Gretch en Whitmer in 2020 and currently serves on the council’s Executive Commi ttee. In 2021\, Ara performed to a sold-out audience at TEDx Detroit. In 2 022\, Ara received the Michigan Heritage Award through the Michigan Tradit ional Arts Program of Michigan State University. \n\nNo registration is r equired for this performance. Free with museum admission. ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://cranbrookartmuseum.org/wp-content/upload s/2024/09/Ara-Topouzian-Headshot-Music-BW-e1725915437954.png CATEGORIES:2024 Subtleism: Neha Vedpathak,Performance LOCATION:Cranbrook Art Museum\, 39221 Woodward Ave\, Box 801\, Bloomfield H ills\, MI\, 48303\, United States GEO:42.5727665;-83.25051710000002 X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=39221 Woodward Ave\, Box 80 1\, Bloomfield Hills\, MI\, 48303\, United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=100;X-TIT LE=Cranbrook Art Museum:geo:42.5727665,-83.25051710000002 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/Detroit X-LIC-LOCATION:America/Detroit BEGIN:STANDARD DTSTART:20241103T010000 TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE END:VCALENDAR