Arts Speak

AEL Artist Christy Haig talks with acclaimed visual artist Sandra Bowden to explore her lifelong journey in sacred art. In this episode, Sandra shares the story behind her summer exhibit Reflecting the Glory—a luminous collection of gilded encaustic works on view in Orleans, MA. She reflects on how her calling to God through art began, her early path as an artist, and the deep connection between faith, beauty, and creative expression. About Sandra Bowden Sandra Bowden is a painter and printmaker living in Chatham, MA. Sandra's art is a conversation across time, incorporating biblical archaeological references, ancient text and historical musical facsimiles and most recently historical altarpieces and crosses. She has been interpreting Scripture and her own spiritual walk through mixed media for more nearly sixty years. She has been acclaimed as one of the most unique, impressive and inspiring Christian artists in America. Bowden's work has been featured in books, magazines and gallery shows across the United States, Canada, Italy and Jerusalem. Her work is shown extensively across the country and is included in many collections, including the Vatican Museum of Contemporary Religious Art, the Museum of Biblical Art, and the Haifa Museum. She has had over 100 one person shows in the US and internationally. Sandra was president of Christians in the Visual Arts from 1993-2007, was on the board of MOBIA, and is currently on the Advisory Committee for the Duke Initiative for Theology and the Arts. In 2005 Bowden was one of the editors of Faith & Art: Twenty-Five Years of Christians in Visual Arts. She studied at Massachusetts College of Art and received her BA from the State University of New York. For more information on Sandra go to www.sandrabowden.com or www.bowdencollections.com Arts Speak Lecture: Saturday, August 16, 2025, 7:30 PMReflecting the Glory: The Gilded Encaustic Art of Sandra Bowden Reflecting the Glory Art Exhibit June 20th - August 24th, 2025 Patmos Gallery, Community of Jesus, Orleans, MA  

Join Arts Empowering Life Artist Jim Jordan as he sits down with renowned musicians Sargis Karapetyan and Nunè Hakobyan for an inspiring conversation about their Armenian musical roots, how their journey began, and the ways their heritage shapes their artistry today. Discover the transformative power of music and how it connects us to the deepest parts of our lives. Sargis Karapetyan is a violinist and native of Armenia. He holds a Master's Degree and an Artist Diploma in Violin Performance from the Komitas State Conservatory in Yerevan, where he was also a member of the faculty as the head of Pedagogy in the String Department. He served as the Artistic Director of the "Gandzer" Ancient Music Ensemble and the concertmaster of the Children's Opera Theatre in Armenia. In Moscow, Russia, Mr. Karapetyan has worked as an assistant concertmaster of the Gelikon Opera Company and the Laureates' Chamber Orchestra. Mr. Karapetyan has lived in the US since 1996. He has taught at Clark University of Worcester and at the Boston Conservatory Special Program. Mr. Karapetyan has worked with Rhode Island Philharmonic, Bangor Symphony of ME, Cape Cod Symphony, Cape Cod Opera, Granite State Opera, Granite State Symphony and NH Philharmonic, Westerly Chorus of RI, Massachusetts Symphony, Symphony New Hampshire and Nigun Ensemble. Mr. Karapetyan is the concertmaster of Creare Symphonia, who frequently performs with Gloriæ Dei Cantores of Orleans, MA, as well as the Waltham Philharmonic Orchestra. Mr. Karapetyan also teaches full time with the Instrumental Music School of Concord & Carlisle. As a soloist and chamber musician he often performs with his wife, Nunè Hakobyan, pianist. Nunè Hakobyan was born and educated in Armenia, and graduated from Komitas State Conservatory in Yerevan, holding a Master's Degree and an Artist Diploma in Piano Performance and Collaborative Piano. Along with teaching at her private studio, she actively performs, rehearses, and coaches in collaboration with many vocalists, instrumentalists, orchestras, and choral groups. Together with Sargis Karapetyan, violin, and Andrei Sobchenko, alto saxophone, she co-founded the NOR Trio, arranging and promoting mostly Armenian and Russian music. Ms. Hakobyan is also the organist at the Holy Trinity Armenian Church in Cambridge, MA, where she founded the Timeless Classics concert series.