Swallows and Armenians – Flying the Nest

Swallows and Armenians – Flying the Nest, the touring exhibition will be at the Queen’s Hall Arts Centre, Hexham,  Northumberland NE46 3LZ from 18 September – 30 October 2021. As well as contemporary works in photography, painting, print and wall-based text by Karen Babayan, a unique collection of paintings by Mavis (Titty) Guzelian, Dora Altounyan and WG Collingwood kindly loaned by the Guzelian Collection can be seen.  The display of historic works at the Queen’s Hall will include, for the first time, a new work The Swallow, an exquisite painting by WG Collingwood, kindly loaned by Teresa Smith, daughter of Robin Collingwood.

‘Swallows and Armenians – Flying the Nest’ exhibition tour visited the Old Fire Station, Carlisle, Cumbria and The Maritime Centre, Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, Northumberland during 2021. The project received further Arts Council Lottery support for an audiobook, the exhibition tour across the north of England and the development of a theatre script with students from Guildford School of Acting, one of the UK’s foremost acting schools.

Previously: Swallows and Armenians,the book was launched on the 9th March with an article in The Guardian and a photo by AsadourGuzelian in The Times. The project received an Arts Council England award and the book launch at Theatre by the Lake, University of Leeds and NvarteGulbenkian Hall, London, were booked to capacity.  Swallows and Armenians, the project included a book of short stories, exhibition of multidisciplinary work and performance, Swallows and Armenians and Us! at Theatre by the Lake, Keswick, Cumbria.

Recent zoom talks available on youtube.com: for the Armenian Institute, November 2019

Header image: The Swallow, by WG Collingwood, (collection of Teresa and George Smith)can be seen at The Queen’s Hall, Hexham 18 September – 30 October 2021.