FEBRUARY 28, 2004

The spirit of 20th-century art, with all the elements of fine modern masterpieces and legendary jazz music, came to life for 400 patrons gathered at the Orange County Museum of Art in Newport Beach, California on February 28, 2004. Celebrating the opening night gala of Picasso to Pollack: Modern Masterpieces from the Wadsworth Athenaeum Museum of Art, fashionably-clad guests enjoyed private, curated tours spotlighting the foremost artists of the 20th century. The gala took on a high society dimension with a sumptuous dinner buffet, a martini bar sponsored by Absolut Vodka, and the sultry sounds of jazz vocalist Shira Myrow. The event was organized jointly by Junior Achievement of Armenia (JAA) and the Armenian EyeCare Project (AECP), which were also the beneficiaries of the evening’s proceeds.

Commenting on the elegant evening, Jack Berberian, president of JAA, said, “We felt that doing a joint event made sense. We believe that Junior Achievement and the Armenian EyeCare Project have a lot in common. Both have an expansive reach in Armenia, successful histories of more than ten years, and broad appeal in the Diaspora.”

Roger Ohanesian, president and founder of AECP, also commented, “The organizing committee and event chairperson, Cynthia Tusan, exceeded all expectations. I believe we have set a high standard for future events. Picasso to Pollack was a lovely evening and everyone who attended is still singing its praises.”