Events

In Nairobi, Kenya I worked with young photographers in the city’s Kibera slum, and started a photobook library for a weekly photography class.

In Takoma Park MD, I collaborated with Takoma Artery collective for a 'Climate Arts Cafe’ event.

I also hosted a music/visual arts series about harnessing the power of art in the climate crisis, against tyranny and war, and building community. We showcased and promoted the growth of a ‘future-arts’ movement and partnered with artists, groups, and organizations to find innovative ways to make a difference.

Viaduct Arts started as a house salon for local music and visual art with topical relevance, exploring topics like Mars, fracking, climate, social justice and others. When COVID shut that down, we moved to outdoor concerts in my driveway called Roadside Attractions, with socially-distanced audiences across the street. My driveway became a micro-local live music venue for the community. At the time, there was literally nowhere else to play in the DC area. We got city funding to pay honorariums to the otherwise out-of-work artists. RA had incredible sets by the likes of Yasmin Williams, who has since been featured in Rolling Stone and NY Times.

How can artists help in ways that are particular to art? Can art help shift the paradigm in ways that are needed? How can art/artists be leveraged for greatest impact?

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Arsen Sumbatyan Quartet

Saturday, June 6, 2020
4:00 PM 5:00 PM 16:00 17:00

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Arsen Sumbatyan (to Takoma Park locals aka the 'trumpet guy’ who played outdoors in the early days of COVID) is a highly talented performer and teacher of trumpet and piano. With his deep, wide-ranging music education in his native Moscow, Arsen has studied with some of the world’s finest trumpet players and performed with prestigious ballet companies, orchestras, and jazz combos.

Arsen has served as pianist for The Washington Ballet and has traveled and performed extensively in the US across a range of styles and genres. He now resides in Takoma Park, Maryland where he is the full-time pianist for the Maryland Youth Ballet and part-time pianist for the Kirov Ballet Academy. For Roadside Attractions, he will be playing trumpet and flugelhorn with the Arsen Sumbatyan Quartet (jazz).