LOS ANGELES—Attorneys Mark J. Geragos and Brian S. Kabateck will join efforts with the Arpa Foundation for Film, Music, and Art (AFFMA) to host a summer networking event and art exhibit on Thursday, August 12, 2010 at 7:00 p.m.
The exhibit will feature photography by Don Q. Hannah and sculptures by Hervé Onossian at the renowned Fine Arts Building in Downtown Los Angeles.
The event provides a uniquely dynamic networking opportunity for professionals working in the arts and entertainment industries. “AFFMA events unite filmmakers, actors, musicians, writers, photographers and visual artists,” says AFFMA committee member Alex Kalognomos. “For this show, the artists have been given an opportunity to showcase their pieces in a historic venue that promotes fine art, thanks to the generous patronage by Mark Geragos and Brian Kabateck.”
In 2008, Geragos and Kabateck purchased the Fine Arts Building, one of the most venerated structures in downtown Los Angeles, a richly embellished Jazz Age office tower honoring the arts. The building contains an impressive installation of the vintage tiles, which define the church-like, glowing interior of its lobby where the AFFMA exhibit will be staged.
AFFMA Art Curator, Tamar Sinanian says of the exhibit, “I am very pleased to be working with such talented artists as Don and Hervé. There is a great deal of energy and naturalism in the subject matter of their works and it will be exciting to see the imprint it will leave upon the viewers.”
Pieces from both artists’ collections will be available for purchase at the exhibit.
The event will be held in Downtown Los Angeles at the Fine Arts Building at 811 West 7th Street, Los Angeles, California 90017. Street and lot parking are available. The event will begin at 7:00 PM. Cocktail buffet will be served. Suggested donation is $20. Tickets to the event can be reserved in advance at www.affma.org.
About the Artists:
Photographer Don Q. Hannah is a Los Angeles-based filmmaker, musician and photographer. Hannah’s music was featured in the Oscar nominated short film, “Tuesday Morning Ride” and he was a contributing producer on the SilverCrest Entertainment Film, “Lost.” Hannah’s photography has appeared in Los Angeles trades and such international publications as Yerevan Magazine. The AFFMA show serves as his first major photography exhibit. Hannah’s photography focuses simply on “moments that inspire…” The exhibit will feature the many faces Hannah has encountered and the environments they inhabit. “As I see it…” sets the theme for Hannah’s debut. To view a sample of his photography, visit www.donhannah.com.
Sculptor Hervé Onossian was born in Paris, France. At age 32, after a successful career as a hair stylist, he moved to Los Angeles and discovered his passion for sculpting. Onossian’s style highlights the transformation of emotion into shape, awakening and giving life to what’s asleep in his subjects. Onossian says of his work: “It’s a symbiotic experience, a manifestation with an immense sense of joy and love.” To view Onossian’s work, visit www.onossian.com .
About the Sponsors:
Mark J. Geragos and Brian S. Kabateck
As the Principal with the 14 lawyer firm of Geragos & Geragos, Mark Geragos and business partner Brian S. Kabateck have represented some of the most prominent figures in the world including Congressman Gary Condit, former first brother Roger Clinton, Academy award-winning actress Winona Ryder, pop star Michael Jackson, and international arms dealer Sarkis Soghanalian. Mark was one of the lead lawyers in a pair of groundbreaking Federal Class Action Lawsuits against New York Life Insurance and AXA Corporation for insurance policies issued in the early 20th century during the time of the Turkish genocide of over 1.5 million Armenians. These two cases have settled for over $ 37.5 million dollars in the last 12 months. Mark has regularly appeared as both guest and legal commentator on “Good Morning America,” “Dateline NBC,” “Larry King Live,” “Greta Van Susteren’s On the Record,” “60 Minutes” and “48 Hours”.
Brian Kabateck is Managing Partner of Kabateck Brown Kellner LLP, in Los Angeles. Kabateck is a plaintiffs-only mass torts and class action attorney who currently represents thousands of victims of Merck’s Vioxx and is lead counsel with the NAACP in suing Ameriquest, Citi, GMAC, Washington Mutual and 10 other leading financial institutions for discriminatory lending practices. He has brought actions against the first-ever cases involving stolen bank accounts and unpaid insurance claims arising from the 1915 Armenian Genocide. His class actions against New York Life and AXA were the oldest resolved cases in U.S. history. In 2006, his peers recognized Kabateck’s winning track record by naming him California Lawyer of the Year – Litigation.
About AFFMA:
Arpa Foundation for Film, Music and Art (AFFMA), a non-profit organization, was founded in 1995 for the purpose of enhancing the Los Angeles community’s environment and supporting artists who bridge the cultural divide. AFFMA annually stages concerts, art exhibits, networking events, film benefits and its signature event, Arpa International Film Festival which will be held from September 21 to 26 in Hollywood, CA. The festival’s Opening Night will be held under the auspices of the Consulate General of the Republic of Armenia, celebrating Armenian Independence Day. For more information or sponsorship and advertising opportunities, please visit www.affma.org or call 323-663-1882. To send AFFMA a tax-deductible donation, please mail donations to AFFMA – 2919 Maxwell St., Los Angeles, CA 90027. All donations go towards the production of AFFMA’s annual film festival.
The Fine Arts Building
811 West 7th Street
Los Angeles, California 90017
The Fine Arts Building is a wonderfully detailed Romanesque Revival structure, unique in Los Angeles. Designed by Walker and Eisen in 1927, the twelve-story building features a two-story Spanish Renaissance “courtyard” lobby with a galleried mezzanine. The Fine Arts Building was originally intended to provide working areas for artisans, who could also display their wares in the bronze and glass showcased in the lobby. The Fine Arts Building was restored and renovated in 1983 by developer Ratkovich and Bowers, and architect Brenda Levin. It was purchased by Mark Geragos and Brian Kabateck in 2008.
