CREATIVE CROSSWALKS/ DISCOVER ARTSAKH
In november 2023, I was honored to be selected as the winning artist for a competitive public art call for crosswalk designs, organized by the City of glendale Cultural Commission. The competition sought creative proposals to transform city intersections into meaningful works of art. My proposal was chosen from over 100 entries, an incredibly humbling recognition of my vision and artistic voice.
Unfortunately, despite being selected, the project was later defunded and will not be moving forward. While these designs will never be painted onto the streets as originally planned, I’m proud to share them here as a tribute to cultural identity, heritage, and the power of symbolic art in public spaces.
This conceptual project, titled "Walking Through Artsakh," is a series of eight crosswalk designs representing the eight historic provinces of Artsakh, each with a unique pattern and identity.
The visual structure is unified across all crosswalks: a shared frame built from the geometric emblem found in the Artsakh flag, representing resilience and national pride.
Each crosswalk features, a distinct design inspired by one of Artsakh’s provinces, Integrated typography displaying the province’s name and geographic location, placed at either end of the crosswalk so it’s readable to pedestrians while waiting to cross, text that is seamlessly blended into the pattern to preserve legibility without distracting passing vehicles, and an optional intersection design that brings all eight provinces together in a cohesive visual dialogue
ASKERAN
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HARVARD ST & ARTSAKH AVE WEST LEG CROSSWALK DESIGN
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15’ X 41’
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ASKERAN
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Taking inspiration from the Sireni grape, also known as Khndoghni. Indigenous to Artsakh, it is an excellent full-bodied red grape and produces a wine that is powerful, deep and rich in complexity. The Sireni grape could be found in abundance in the fertile plains of the ASKERAN province.
MARTAKERD
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HARVARD ST & ARTSAKH AVE EAST LEG CROSSWALK DESIGN
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12’ X 40’
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MARTAKERD
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The province of MARTAKERD is home to the Mrav Mountain Range.
The length is 70km. The highest peak is Ariutyan Ler. (3724m)
The design represents the mountains that guard Artsakh like a fortress.
MARTUNI
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HARVARD ST & ARTSAKH AVE NORTH LEG CROSSWALK DESIGN
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14’ X 35’
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MARTUNI
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Amaras Monastery, one of the oldest monasteries in the former Kingdom of Armenia is located in the MARTUNI province. It is there that Mesrop Mashtots, the inventor of the Armenian alphabet, established the first school in the beginning of the 5th century. The design represents the letters ABC in Bird Alphabet. (Trchnakir)
STEPANAKERT
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ARTSAKH MID WALK AT SOUTH PARKING GARAGE CROSSWALK DESIGN
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16’ X 18’
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STEPANAKERT
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Rugs and woven arts from Artsakh and STEPANAKERT in particular, are coveted the world over for their unparalleled artisanal craftsmanship, compelling design, and superb use of natural colors, as well as superlative materials.
SHAHUMYAN
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ARTSAKH AVE & BROADWAY WEST LEG CROSSWALK DESIGN
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12’ X 53’
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SHAHUMYAN
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The pomegranate is a symbol of Artsakh culture. In Armenian mythology, the pomegranate symbolizes fertility, abundance, and good fortune. It is so important for Armenians that it was used as an ornament in historical Armenian manuscripts and stone carvings.
SHUSHI
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ARTSAKH AVE & BROADWAY EAST LEG CROSSWALK DESIGN
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12’ X 52’
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SHUSHI
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SHUSHI was well known for being an open-air museum in the Middle Ages. The principal artistic expression was through ecclesiastical architecture: churches, cathedrals, chapels and monasteries. Most other forms of art in that period were illuminated manuscripts, khachkars and mural paintings. Peacocks are often depicted in Armenian traditional art, religious manuscripts, and clothing. In addition, I picked the peacock in homage to the City of Glendale.
HADRUT
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ARTSAKH AVE & BROADWAY SOUTH LEG CROSSWALK DESIGN
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12’ X 23’
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HADRUT
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The design and color palette are inspired by the mountain masses of HADRUT covered with dark forests and alpine meadows.
KASHATAGH
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ARTSAKH AVE & BROADWAY NORTH LEG CROSSWALK DESIGN
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12’ X 24’
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KASHATAGH
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KASHATAGH Province covers the Aghar river basin and the Lower Vorotan basin. It is also home for various monasteries and educational institutions. The design contains shades of blue representing water and armenian letters.
Tatik & Papik Crosswalk Design
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ARTSAKH AVE & BROADWAY INTERSECTION DESIGN
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16’ X 18’
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ARTSAKH
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The We Are Our Mountains sculpture, affectionately known as Tatik and Papik—stands as one of the most powerful symbols of Armenian heritage, Artsakh identity, and cultural resilience. Featured prominently in this crosswalk design, the monumental figures rise against the backdrop of Artsakh’s mountains, representing both ancestry and pride.
I’ll admit, I hesitated to include this design at first. The idea of cars driving over such a sacred and meaningful icon gave me pause. But as an artist deeply connected to this heritage, I felt a responsibility to include it. You simply cannot think of Artsakh without thinking of this monument. It’s a visual anchor of Armenian collective memory.
This crosswalk transforms the beloved Tatik and Papik monument into a piece of urban public art, ensuring it’s not only remembered but honored in a way that brings awareness to Armenian culture, Artsakh’s legacy, and the role of art in preserving identity.
