UU Santa Monica is proud to give a warm welcome to our April artist Vera Arutyunyan, whose show, A New Way of Thinking, will grace our art wall with her highly personal Abstract Expressionist paintings. Artist Opening Reception: Sunday, March 29^th, 2015, 12 Noon to 1:30pm, Forbes Hall. The show will run from Sunday March 29^th through Sunday, April 26^th and is open to the public on Sundays from 9am – 1pm and on weekdays by appointment.

Vera Arutyunyan’s paintings showcase her brilliant use of texture and color through her signature style—painting with her fingers in order to “feel the colors directly.” She guides the viewer along a journey of spirituality and self-fulfillment by presenting her concepts without communicating her emotions—these are left up to the viewer. It is this interaction between artist and art seeker that truly makes Arutyunyan’s art special to behold.

Vera Arutyunyan immigrated to the United States from Armenia with $27 and a dream to become successful. Her early career led her to express her challenges and emotions as a new immigrant, “…to be understood, obtain identity and significance, to become securely existent." The results are deeply personal and moving abstract images.

Recently, Arutyunyan began painting to express her feelings of acceptance and her wide range of spiritual and personal beliefs. As an artist, she has taken a journey through her own heart and mind; at UU Santa Monica’s Art Wall, we invite you to see yourself in her paintings. Come meet and greet with her after the second service on March 29th, she will be available to discuss her physical and spiritual journeys—her transitions, learning experiences and sense of belonging to the communities that are a part of her world.

Contact Nancy at assistant@uusm.org, 310-829-5436 ext. 102 for info or appointments.

Contact Beverly at balison@aol.com, for info about the artist or about exhibiting at UU Santa Monica.

(Santa Monica, CA, January 20, 2015) Artist Opening Reception: Sunday, February 1, 2015, 12 Noon to 1:30pm, Unitarian Universalist Church of Santa Monica (UU Santa Monica). The show will run through Sunday, February 22nd and is open to the public Sundays 9am – 1pm and on weekdays by appointment.

UU Santa Monica is proud to welcome artist Robert Soffian. He was born into a family that encouraged self-expression and personal artistic journeys. His journey has given him a rich a varied background--he spent part of his youth attending a radical art camp called Lincoln Farm, he went on to expand his personal and artistic horizons by travel throughout the world, and found work in Amsterdam as a government supported artist.

He eventually settled in to a 30 year career at Shasta College in Redding, CA as a professor of theater, directing and lighting countless productions. He has curated dozens of exhibitions and is credited with discovering the Violent Femmes. During the last ten years, Soffian ventured from the public world of the theater to the private world of painting.

Soffian says this about his work, “I wish to paint things we all know or dream…very often I am first motivated by the excitement of the materials I am using…obviously I enjoy vibrant colors, and the texture of the physical body of the paint…for some reason, I have felt I needed to express something….what is the nature of that need and what it is compels me to keep doing this work is the subject of my life.”

Contact Nancy at assistant@uusm.org, (310) 829-5436 ext. 102 for info or appointments.

Contact Beverly at balison@aol.com, for further info about the artist or about exhibiting on the Art Wall at UU Santa Monica.

UU Santa Monica; 1260 18^th Street (corner of 18^th and Arizona); Santa Monica 90404 map

On Sundays look for signs to free parking at 1311 16th Street, the UCLA Hospital structure just south Arizona. Handicapped parking is available behind the church.

About UU Santa Monica

The Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Santa Monica was founded in 1927 and is affiliated with the national Unitarian Universalist Association. The UU Santa Monica community embraces many beliefs and many backgrounds. UUs celebrate unity in diversity, affirming the supreme worth of all persons, held together through live and the spark of divinity that resides in us all. The community is also a Welcoming Congregation, welcoming all persons and families regardless of sexual orientation. With one of the largest UU Religious Education programs in Southern California, UU Santa Monica supports both youth and adults in their search for understanding, insight and inspiration. The church is an active center for social justice, peace and sustainability. For a full calendar of events visit www.uusm.org or connect with the community on Facebook or twitter @UUSantaMonica.