For Immediate Release!
June 16, 2005

Contact: New York ASA: newyork_asa@yahoo.com 

The New York Armenian Students’ Association is proud to announce the outstanding success of this year’s 56^th Annual Artists’ Ball on May 21.  Once again, it was held at the Puck Building in New York City’s Soho district.  With over 650 attendees and several paintings sold, the New York ASA raised thousands of dollars to support the organization’s Scholarship Fund, which grants financial aid to college students of Armenian descent in the United States.

New York ASA members and patrons were treated to the works of an unusually talented and prolific pool of 32 artists from all over the world.  The artists were as follows:  Nishan Akgulian, Steve Altan, Eduard Arakelyan, Lisa Archigian, Ani Babikyan, Arne Balassanian, Stephanie Basralian, Taleen Batalian, Shant Beudjekian, Matt Bogosian, Elizabeth Derderian, Arthur Erberber, Linda Ganjian, Michael Gaspar, Ashot Grigoryan, Eric Hairabedian, Mariam Hakobyan, Sargis Hambardzumian, Aram Kailian, Roudolf Kharatian, Bedros Magardichian, Arshak Martirosyan, Vahagn Marukyants, Kevork Mourad, Arpie Gennetian Najarian, Cate Norian, Manuel Ortchanian, Irina Patkanian, Alan Semerdjian, Ara Tanajian, Haikouhi Tataryan and Armen Yepoyan. While the spacious Puck gallery buzzed with art enthusiasts, the Grand Ballroom and bar quickly crowded to the sounds of Varoujan Vartanian and Mark Gavoor.  Many even lingered long after the band had left and the dance floor dispersed. 

The Artists' Ball has consistently been the blockbuster event of season for the tri-state area Armenian community for over 50 years. The first ball took place on May 22, 1948 at the Roosevelt Hotel's Grand Ballroom. With only one exception, the Artists’ Ball has been the annual affair where Armenian art commingling with a dazzling social occasion is the area's most anticipated and most memorable event year after year. Throughout the years, the Artists’ Ball has always been volunteer-driven with preparations beginning as early as one year in advance. The artworks are handled with special care by dedicated volunteers that display them on the day of the event and then devote their time until the wee hours of the night when all must be dismantled at the close of the Ball.

The New York ASA looks forward to seeing all of its patrons at the event next year, when the 57^th Annual Artists’ Ball takes shape on Saturday, May 20, 2006.

 
The New York ASA is a member branch of the Armenian Students' Association of America, which is the oldest Armenian charitable organization established in the United States. Founded in 1910, the purposes of the ASA are educational and charitable; in that it encourages educational pursuits by Armenians in America and seeks to raise intellectual stands, provide financial assistance in the form of scholarships to deserving Armenian college students. The ASA also honors Armenian-American professionals with awards at their annual convention, and in doing so appeals to people of all ages with lectures, cultural events and social activities. For more information, please go online at www.asainc.org.