On March 24, 2018, the guests of the “Hayartun” Educational, Cultural and Youth Center of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia were the students of the “Hobby House” Studio of Shulaveri village, in Marneuli region, led by Marina Tsikarishvili, head of the studio and Ofelia Tsarukyan, manager of the studio. In the Calouste Gulbenkian Hall of the Center, the students’ works, made with felt and silk, paintings, national clothes, laces, carpets, embroidery images, ornaments with beads and ribbons decorations were presented.

The exhibition was honored with the presence of the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, His Grace Bisop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan, accompanied by Rev. Father Virap Ghazaryan, Pastor of the Holy Etchmiadzin Church. The first secretary of the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia to Georgia Arthur Sargsyan was also present.

The visitors, artists, art and craft fans, students, their parents, guests watched the works with interest and highly appreciated the students’ diligence and imagination.

The exhibition opened by Levon Chidilyan, head of the “Hayartun” Center of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia. In his speech he touched upon the numerous exhibitions of works of creative people of different nationalities, as well as exhibitions of famous masters from different countries, many times hosted in this hall. He highly valued the works of Armenian, Georgian and Azerbaijani adolescents, who gathered next to the Georgian teacher, learn crafts and create a culture.

Nato Shavishvili, head of the Department of Culture of Marneuli Regional Administration welcomed the exhibition. Mrs. Shavishvili noted that the “Hobby House” studio of the aesthetic education is the center, which actively participates in festivals organized in Marneuli and has been highly appreciated for many times and has the municipality’s support to the studio.

Marina Tsikarishvili, who is a doctor by profession, has a special love for painting, embroidery, carpet weaving, lace making, sewing, was also obsessed with the idea of teaching and spreading her knowledge. In 2015, in Shulaveri, where she has been working for many years, by her initiative, this studio was established for teaching handmade work, as well as for aesthetic education of adolescents.

Expressing gratitude for the hospitality and assistance to the organization of the exhibition, the head of the studio also mentioned the importance of bringing young people out of villages and integrating them with the Georgian civil society. With gratitude he informed that Armenian State Academy of Fine Arts had provided to studio one free place to study, about which they were announced during their visit to Armenia.

The event was concluded by the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan. By conveying his blessing to the attendees, the Diocesan Primate appreciated the existence of such a beautiful, multinational center in Shulaveri, where the children from different families became friends, share their traditions and customs with each other, get acquainted with national values. The Diocesan Primate suggested organizing this exhibition also in the centers of Akhalkalaki and Ninotsminda, under the auspices of the Armenian Diocese. He mentioned, that in these centers also great attention is paid to the development of handmade works and aesthetic education.

At the end of the event, the students of the studio gave their works, made with felt and with the image of forget-me-not flower, to the Primate of Armenian Diocese in Georgia, the Head of the “Hayartun” Center and the representative of the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia to Georgia.

The students of the “Hobby House” studio also received gifts from the Diocesan Primate.