ARTIST MICHAEL ERAMDJIAN HAS BEEN painting for more than 50 years. I kid when I ask him if he’s going to stick with it. Michael is such a gentle soul he reminds me of Ghandi with a paintbrush. Twice a week, like a modern-day Cézanne or van Gogh, he packs up easels and supplies and rides the bus two hours from Glendale to Santa Monica. He has created thousands of beautiful paintings, but few have ever seen his work.
All that may change this Sunday. Michael Eramdjian, age 71, is finally going to have his own show.
I met Michael through “six degrees of separation” (minus Kevin Bacon.) My friend Bill mentioned that there was a remarkable garden in the beach parking lot landscaped by a homeless man named Robert. Robert mentioned that an Emeritus watercolor group would be having a class at his garden. My friend Stephanie, who takes that class, introduced me to her teacher, Susan. Susan mentioned that I should meet a talented, older artist named Michael, who had done a painting of the pizza parlor storefront next to her studio.
OK, so maybe it was five degrees of separation.
When Michael paints it’s a study in concentration. Last week, he worked for six straight hours and produced a magnificent painting of the Malibu Pier.When I write, one hour uninterrupted is a good day. On a bad day, it can be six 10-minute bursts. On a really bad day... never mind. Michael’s so devoted to his art, before retirement, most of his jobs were at night just so he could be free during the day to paint. (I’m devoted to my writing, but only when it’s not sunny outside.) Getting Michael his very first show involved a few more degrees of separation. He enrolled in Susan’s watercolor class, whereupon she asked if she could review his work. He readily agreed because he’s always worried that, if something were to happen to him,all his paintings might be abandoned. Susan wasn’t quite prepared when Michael brought over hundreds of paintings. (The passengers on that bus ride must have been rather curious.) So impressed with Michael’s talent, Susan found the perfect venue — the Cornerstone Music Conservatory on Fourth Street, an old, gutted-out bank building that has huge walls and lots of space.
Cornerstone is an innovative music school with more than 350 students ranging in ages from 6 months (“Baby’s First Music Class”) to 93-years-olds. The director, Ann Pittel, has been teaching music in the L.A. area for so long (38 years) that many of her former students now bring their own children. She’s taught the offspring of numerous celebrities, including Barbra Streisand, Randy Newman, Vanessa Williams, Matt Groening, Henry Mancini, Jamie Lee Curtis and Larry King.
Because of losing a lease and parking regulations, Cornerstone has been forced to move a few times.Ann jokes they are a “gypsy” music conservatory. They’ve been hanging on month-to-month for the last three years at the Fourth Street location, which they’ve fixed up with lots of TLC.They may be moving soon to a permanent location, so they’re crossing their fingers. (Which would seem to make playing the piano a little difficult.) Some Cornerstone students have gone on to become world class musicians. Many currently hold “first chair” positions in Santa Monica schools and other community orchestras. Cornerstone also teaches college prep (for music placement exams and auditions), composition, actors who need to learn an instrument quickly for a movie,students with disabilities (autism, blind, etc.) and give grants to students in need.The noted Westside Community Youth Orchestra is also under their auspices.
Michael’s show is Sunday, Sept. 23, between 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. at 1237 Fourth St. There will be light refreshments and live music will be performed by young Cornerstone students while art-goers view the art collection. Paintings will sell from $50 and up, with 40 percent of the proceeds going to Cornerstone scholarships.
JACK NEWORTH also writes the TV review column “Channel Surfing” for the Entertainment section. He
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 21, 2007. Read the original PDF.