IKONA
STUDIO OF ICONOGRAPHY
Explore the Canadian premiere of Georgios Kordis as the featured artist of
BYZANTIUM: Ottawa International Byzantine Arts Symposium with works by other
European and Canadian artists.
OTTAWA - The countdown has begun to one of the fall's more significant art
events. From 28 September to 1 October, studio IKONA (IKONA) opens its
definitive 4-day symposium BYZANTIUM, which will explore the works of worldrenowned Byzantine iconographer and secular artist, Georgios Kordis in
collaboration with European and Canadian visual and choral artists. Kordis' unique
personal painting language is traditional and modern, using elements from the
Byzantine system and modern artistic movements.
On 28 September 2014 IKONA will open BYZANTIUM with An Evening with the
Artist. This marks the first-ever Canadian exhibition of the world-renowned artist's
work and premieres the Festal Icon Limited Archival Edition where visitors will have
a chance to meet the visionary artist, Georgjos Kordis. A number of European and
Canadian artists are also contributing to the exhibition. Ticket prices for the general
public are $20 and available at www.studiolKONA.ca.
The event i s s p o n s o r e d
by the Hellenic Community of Ottawa, and will take place at the
Hellenic Meeting & Reception Centre, 1315 Prince of Wales Drive, Ottawa (7-9pm).
The sales from a series of Georgios Kordis' works will support blood cancer
research in Canada through the registered Canadian Charitable foundation cure:
blood cancer
On September 29 & 30, 2014, BYZANTIUM will continue with an innovative TwoEvening Diptych Byzantine Sacred Arts Concert. Georgios Kordis will paint a
Byzantine icon while accompanied by sacred music at two Ottawa churches.
St. Elias Orthodox Cathedral (2975 Riverside Drive) will host the opening concert on
29 September (7:00-8:30pm), and Christ the Saviour Orthodox Church (721
Somerset Street West) will host the closing one, on 30 September (7:00-8:30pm).
The choir and chanters programs' include Bulgarian, Romanian, Byzantine, Russian,
Serbian, and contemporary North American compositions drawn from various
Orthodox services and feasts. Hymns and chants will be sung in English, French,
Slavonic, Romanian, Greek and Arabic.
Guided church tours, refreshments and an exhibition and sale of icons will follow.
Admission is free and open to the public. More information on the concerts can be
found at www.studiolKONA.ca
BYZANTIUM is organized by studio IKONA.
See over for sponsors and a brief profile of Georgios Kordis.
IKONA
STUDIO OF ICONOGRAPHY
THE BYZANTIUM ARTS SYMPOSIUM IS GENEROUSLY SUPPORTE BY:
Christ the Saviour Orthodox Church
The Hellenic Community of Ottawa
S.l.R. Group Inc.
The Ukrainian Credit Union
The Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky Institute of Eastern Christian Studies, St Paul University
The Antiochian Orthodox Church of Ottawa
Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA)
ABOUT GEORGIOS KORDIS
Born in Greece in 1956, Kordis is a prolific religious and secular artist, international lecturer,
theologian, and academic. He studied theology at the University of Athens. He later pursued
his studies in theology and the aesthetics of Byzantine painting at Holy Cross Greek
Orthodox School of Theology in Boston, obtaining an MA in Theology. I n 1991, he was
received his Doctorate in Theology at the University of Athens, where he accepted the
position of Assistant Professor in Iconography (Theory and Practice) in 2003.
During the 1980s he worked with the Cypriot master iconographer, Fr Symeon Symeou of
Crete. He also studied painting at The School of Fine Arts at The Museum of Boston from
1987-89. Upon his return to Athens in 1990 he continued his studies in painting and
engraving under Fotis Mastichiadis. Dr. Kordis is an iconographer and painter of secular
works, and has exhibited widely in his homeland and abroad. He has painted many portable
icons and frescos in churches and other holy places. In addition to his academic work, Dr.
Kordis periodically lectures as a visiting professor and teaches icon painting courses at
various institutions including: Yale University & the University of South Carolina; Patriarchal
School of Theology, Bucharest, Romania; and Ukraine Pedagogical University, Odessa,
Ukraine.
Dr. Kordis is also a prolific author. His book, "Icon as Communion: The Ideals and
Compositional Principles of Icon Painting," has been translated into English by Holy Cross
Orthodox Press.
This is Dr. Kordis' first appearance in Canada, as the featured guest of the Ottawa
International Byzantine Arts Symposium.
ABOUT IKONA
With the launch of BYZANTI UM, IKONA lays the foundation for an incredible Byzantine art
experience with world-renowned Canadian and European artists. Visit studiolKONA.net to
find out more about Byzantium, to learn about the artists and to buy tickets.
For images and media inquiries, please contact:
Lesia Maruschak, [email protected]