Former Student Lauds Jacques
Arts Issue Exchange
Editor's Note: The July/August 1995 Arts Issue of AGENDA--and particularly the article by Arwulf Arwulf entitled: "Jacques Karamanoukian: Art Without a Profit Motive" has sparked the largest letter-writing campaign in AGENDA's history. In last month's issue we published a letter by local art gallery owner Alexa Lee, criticizing the arts issue and Arwulf's article. We received 14 letters in response, but due to space restrictions we are only able to print six. The rest are on file at AGENDA for public perusal.
Jacques Responds to Criticism
Fact or fiction? Mudwrestling is not my forte. I, therefore, will not lower my standards and enter the ring with Alexa Lee. For those interested in facts and not fiction about my record, I invite them to give me a telephone call anytime. I'm listed in the telephone directory as --surprise!-- "Galerie Jacques" (white or yellow pages). We can, at that time speak honestly and in a civilized manner about my record and my accomplishments in the fields of art and education since 1967, the date of my arrival in Ann Arbor from Paris, France. Again, I'd like to thank AGENDA for always trying to find out the truth about local and other issues.
Jacques Karamanoukian
ANN ARBOR
Former Student Lauds Jacques
I was delighted to see your summer Arts issue while I was home in Ann Arbor for a visit. I was pleased to see Jacques Karamanoukian on the cover. I am writing in response to Ms. Lee, to set the record straight. Mr. K is a seriously dedicated artist and teacher who sacrifices quite a lot in order to bring some modicum of true art to Ann Arbor's art community. I don't find his gallery to be at all inaccessible. Anyone can stop by during open gallery hours. Le Minotaure was nice, but unfortunately, there are not enough people in Ann Arbor who appreciate real art. So it is absurd for her to complain of the number of hours that Galerie Jacques is currently open. Mr. K is an intelligent, friendly, helpful, warm-hearted person who has changed my life. He was my teacher at Pioneer high school who helped and encouraged me, which eventually led to my earning a Master's in Fine Arts. Without his devotion to teaching, I doubt I could have survived Pioneer High. Alexa Lee obviously does not know what she is talking about, or she has a very narrow view of the artistic process - I have yet to meet a working artist who creates quietly. Mr. K lives up to the responsibilities described by Alexa Lee. He makes the community aware of what artists have made. He also is a very good artist, willing to sacrifïce, to work hard and consistently, and to never give up. I enjoyed Arwulf Arwulf's article, as I do his presence on the radio. Also a note to your copy editor: Jacques is spelled with a c.
Susannah Copi
Associate Editor, Animation Magazine
AGOURA HILLS, CA
Karamanoukian's Vision is Pure
Alexa Lee's recent obfuscating and opportunistic remarks on Galerie Jacques have prompted me to reflect upon my experience with Karamanoukian over the past eight years. I find it disheartening to encounter the disdain with which his presence is still regarded. In such a commodity-blighted community as Ann Arbor is it surprising that Karamanoukian's vision, faulty only in its purity, has been subject to so much neglect and ignorance? I know intimately this blackballing first hand, and empathize with this stark reality which besets only the finest, for my own art is famously infamous. But then, as Jacques and I both know, this is a basic ground rule in the struggle we have engaged. At this point I can merely look back and regard it as sad that a 26-year career of dedication has received so little acknowledgement and support from both the Ann Arbor and Detroit arts communities. Perhaps the intimidating prospect of thinking is regarded with such horror by these art pharisees that they will always bristle with hostility in the divine presence of Art...until it is safe, and dead.
Roger Hayes
ASTORIA, OR
Jacques Displays Daring Visions
Alexa Lee should experience real art and go to an opening at Galerie Jacques. This is where she will find strong, intelligent people who refuse to don a blinding rubber mask. She attacks Jacques for speaking out about local art issues calling his views "ludicrous."