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GOING NATURAL: ECHMIADZIN ORGANIZATION OFFERS ARMENIAN ECO-CARPETS
By Gayane Lazarian
ArmeniaNow
08.08.11 | 09:42
Eco-carpets woven with the seven natural colors of sheep wool are a
novelty in modern Armenian carpet weaving industry.
Enlarge Photo
There is the Cross of Armenian Unity (CAU) organization in Echmiadzin,
Armavir region, the 14 carpet weavers of which have woven 24
eco-carpets within ten months using patterns taken from Armenian
cross-stones and churches, as well as images from gospel miniature
paintings.
(CAU, officially operating since 1990, has been implementing various
educational, social, cultural, health and public awareness raising
projects in Echmiadzin.)
"First of all, we studied the sheep flock, took the wool, started
processing it, separated 7-8 color-shades. For the designs we used
patterns from church and cross-stone carving arts, meaning we copied
the pattern onto the carpet," says CAU founding president Grigor
Babakhanyan.
The idea of creating eco-carpets belongs to Grigor. The sketches are
done by his brother, artist Gevorg Babakhanyan.
Carpet weavers process the wool by traditional methods. First they
hackle it (with a special tool- a hackle), then work it with a winch,
and as a result they have (100%) pure wool.
"It is much harder to work with this thread, than with a painted kind.
We patiently clean the thread from remaining fleece tangles in
the weaving process. Then the weaving itself starts; with each row
-fragment by fragment - the whole picture slowly comes to life," says
46-year-old Vehanush Grigoryan, who weaves 8-10 cm of carpet per day.
CAU's Eco-carpet project is implemented with the support of Armenian
Caritas benevolent NGO, as part of its Aramazd program.
"It's a social-educational project, implemented at refugee settlements
of Gegharkunik and Shirak provinces with the main objective of
community development. CAU is part of this project as a mediator,
meaning that by his order Armenian refugee women from Azerbaijan
with carpet weaving skills got employed and, in their turn, helped
to revive this almost forgotten carpet weaving craft," says project
coordinator Zara Aghayan.
The project authors say they have researched and proved that the sheep
wool from those regions contains lanolin, useful for a human body.
Armenian Caritas project manager Anahit Gevorgyan says that there
cooperation with CAU can create employment opportunities.
"We are paying to all the workers, those who hackle, comb, weave, etc.
The carpets will be displayed at an exhibition-sale. Some of the
profit from the sale will be allocated to implementation of social
projects in the same regions, which are very poor, and the rest will
be used to continue the project," says Gevorgyan.
Eco-carpet project was launched in 2010 and will be completed by the
end of July. Representatives of the Armenian Caritas are convinced
that it will be resumed, if CAU submits a long-term project proposal.
"Our expectations have come true and even more. As a result we
have incredibly powerful pieces of art depicting fragments from our
monasteries and cross-stones, and conveying a great symbolic message,"
says Zara Aghanyan.
"The idea of eco-carpets is very important, it is not only an
expression of our Christian essence, or our women's craft, but also
represents an important social issue - transfer to eco-friendly
environment."
One of CAU volunteers David Grigoryan, who has also worked on
the sketches of the eco-carpets, explains that one carpet repeats
patterns from church column capital and wall carvings, as well as
images from gospel manuscripts preserved in Armenia and dating back
to different epochs.
"We combine them is many different ways. Here, for example, we have
taken a distinct fragment from a cross-stone, expanded it into a large
ornament and spread all over the carpet. We have used 5-16 decoration
patterns. Here you can see the famous fisherman of the Akhtamar
Monastery (915-921); as well as images from a 1315 gospel," says David.
With a well thought-through combination of colors, the "Kings"
eco-carpet depicts the Armenian kings, as well as ox, eagle, lion and
tiger heads, these animals traditionally symbolizing might and power.
"These carpets have received a surprisingly positive feedback;
surprising because people are used to bright colors in Armenian
carpets. Even we couldn't have imagined that something quite like
this could be achieved with non-contrasting colors, but the results
are amazing," he says.
Grigor Babakhanyan recalls Jinishian Memorial Foundation with
deep sense of gratitude, because it was due to this foundation's
support that in 1996 a carpet weaving workshop was founded at their
organization.
"We received a total of $1,000 funding, which was very little, but
highly important for launching the process. As years went by, we kept
the workshop going by our own effort, exhibition-sales of carpets,
individual benefactors' support. It survived, and today it is even
able to produce eco-carpets painted by God, without human interference,
hence these carpets will not fade for centuries," he says.
One of the CAU-produced eco-carpets carrying the organization's
emblem is now in New-York attached to Jinishian Foundation's main
entrance door. Another one will soon reach France-based club of "Yans"
[carriers of Armenian surnames ending in -yan].
"Eco-carpets are first of all a good solution to a social-economic
issue, and an effective way of advocating historic and eco-ideological
values, as well as the best way to present Armenian culture to
foreigners. People are showing new approaches to the 'eco' idea,"
says Grigor Babakhanyan.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
By Gayane Lazarian
ArmeniaNow
08.08.11 | 09:42
Eco-carpets woven with the seven natural colors of sheep wool are a
novelty in modern Armenian carpet weaving industry.
Enlarge Photo
There is the Cross of Armenian Unity (CAU) organization in Echmiadzin,
Armavir region, the 14 carpet weavers of which have woven 24
eco-carpets within ten months using patterns taken from Armenian
cross-stones and churches, as well as images from gospel miniature
paintings.
(CAU, officially operating since 1990, has been implementing various
educational, social, cultural, health and public awareness raising
projects in Echmiadzin.)
"First of all, we studied the sheep flock, took the wool, started
processing it, separated 7-8 color-shades. For the designs we used
patterns from church and cross-stone carving arts, meaning we copied
the pattern onto the carpet," says CAU founding president Grigor
Babakhanyan.
The idea of creating eco-carpets belongs to Grigor. The sketches are
done by his brother, artist Gevorg Babakhanyan.
Carpet weavers process the wool by traditional methods. First they
hackle it (with a special tool- a hackle), then work it with a winch,
and as a result they have (100%) pure wool.
"It is much harder to work with this thread, than with a painted kind.
We patiently clean the thread from remaining fleece tangles in
the weaving process. Then the weaving itself starts; with each row
-fragment by fragment - the whole picture slowly comes to life," says
46-year-old Vehanush Grigoryan, who weaves 8-10 cm of carpet per day.
CAU's Eco-carpet project is implemented with the support of Armenian
Caritas benevolent NGO, as part of its Aramazd program.
"It's a social-educational project, implemented at refugee settlements
of Gegharkunik and Shirak provinces with the main objective of
community development. CAU is part of this project as a mediator,
meaning that by his order Armenian refugee women from Azerbaijan
with carpet weaving skills got employed and, in their turn, helped
to revive this almost forgotten carpet weaving craft," says project
coordinator Zara Aghayan.
The project authors say they have researched and proved that the sheep
wool from those regions contains lanolin, useful for a human body.
Armenian Caritas project manager Anahit Gevorgyan says that there
cooperation with CAU can create employment opportunities.
"We are paying to all the workers, those who hackle, comb, weave, etc.
The carpets will be displayed at an exhibition-sale. Some of the
profit from the sale will be allocated to implementation of social
projects in the same regions, which are very poor, and the rest will
be used to continue the project," says Gevorgyan.
Eco-carpet project was launched in 2010 and will be completed by the
end of July. Representatives of the Armenian Caritas are convinced
that it will be resumed, if CAU submits a long-term project proposal.
"Our expectations have come true and even more. As a result we
have incredibly powerful pieces of art depicting fragments from our
monasteries and cross-stones, and conveying a great symbolic message,"
says Zara Aghanyan.
"The idea of eco-carpets is very important, it is not only an
expression of our Christian essence, or our women's craft, but also
represents an important social issue - transfer to eco-friendly
environment."
One of CAU volunteers David Grigoryan, who has also worked on
the sketches of the eco-carpets, explains that one carpet repeats
patterns from church column capital and wall carvings, as well as
images from gospel manuscripts preserved in Armenia and dating back
to different epochs.
"We combine them is many different ways. Here, for example, we have
taken a distinct fragment from a cross-stone, expanded it into a large
ornament and spread all over the carpet. We have used 5-16 decoration
patterns. Here you can see the famous fisherman of the Akhtamar
Monastery (915-921); as well as images from a 1315 gospel," says David.
With a well thought-through combination of colors, the "Kings"
eco-carpet depicts the Armenian kings, as well as ox, eagle, lion and
tiger heads, these animals traditionally symbolizing might and power.
"These carpets have received a surprisingly positive feedback;
surprising because people are used to bright colors in Armenian
carpets. Even we couldn't have imagined that something quite like
this could be achieved with non-contrasting colors, but the results
are amazing," he says.
Grigor Babakhanyan recalls Jinishian Memorial Foundation with
deep sense of gratitude, because it was due to this foundation's
support that in 1996 a carpet weaving workshop was founded at their
organization.
"We received a total of $1,000 funding, which was very little, but
highly important for launching the process. As years went by, we kept
the workshop going by our own effort, exhibition-sales of carpets,
individual benefactors' support. It survived, and today it is even
able to produce eco-carpets painted by God, without human interference,
hence these carpets will not fade for centuries," he says.
One of the CAU-produced eco-carpets carrying the organization's
emblem is now in New-York attached to Jinishian Foundation's main
entrance door. Another one will soon reach France-based club of "Yans"
[carriers of Armenian surnames ending in -yan].
"Eco-carpets are first of all a good solution to a social-economic
issue, and an effective way of advocating historic and eco-ideological
values, as well as the best way to present Armenian culture to
foreigners. People are showing new approaches to the 'eco' idea,"
says Grigor Babakhanyan.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress