Ancient Sites & Artisans

A huge surprise greeted us when we returned to Gyumri, Armenia in July. The city was booming and the energy level was high! This is what everyone has been working toward since the earthquake in 1988. New hotels, restaurants and shops greet tourists as talented artisans move to Gyumri to carry on the city’s artistic traditions. 

We continued our work at the museum and toured amazing historic sites. And we added something new – master classes with several of Gyumri’s top artists. My personal favorite was stone carving. In two hours, with excellent guidance, we each created a small carved stone with designs traditionally used on khach’k’ar, or cross stones. We also took traditional dance classes, made a type of local pasta and learned the art of linocut printing. We’re eager to continue learning from Gyumri’s artists when we return in 2024, and hope to add metal working. 

Join us next May or September! Register now.

What better way to support preservation of Armenia’s unique historic architecture than to support artisans perpetuating the skills used to create them.