Freedom Light - a confession

Born: May 16, 1939, Athens, Greece. Son of Radu Scarlat Arion (1904-1991), Romanian career diplomat and Viorica Ionescu-Clejani (1905-2004).

One brother, Constantin Arion, engineer (Imperial College, London), deceased in 1999.

Married to Alexandra G.Paspati. Divorced. One daughter, Isabella, Art Historian, BA History of Art and French, University College, London

Citizenship: Romanian and Greek

Studies

• 1956 - French Baccalaureate, French Institute in Athens
• 1958 - General Certificate of Education (GCE), Advanced Level, Tutorial College, London
• 1959 - Certificate of Mechanical Engineering Drawing, University of Durham, King's College, Newcastle upon Tyne
• 1966 - Diploma in Architecture, Oxford Brookes University (former Oxford Polytechnic)

Professional Career

• September 1982-1990 - Part-time Instructor, University of La Verne, Athens
• 1989-1990 - Chairperson Humanities Department, University of La Verne, Athens
• 1990-1992 - Senior Lecturer, University of La Verne, Athens
• 1990-1997 - Chairperson Fine Arts Department, University of La Verne, Athens
• 1992 - Assistant Professor
• 1995 - Associate Professor
• 2001-2004 - Full Professor, University of La Verne, Athens. Teaches art history, drawing, painting, Greek Architecture, History of Byzantine Art and Culture and the Arts

Creative Activities

- as registered architect

• designed numerous private houses in Greece and abroad, a university in Pakistan, international airports in Libya and a housing project in Botswana
• contributed to urban research projects (City of the Future, Athens)
• participated in international competitions (Centre International d'Art et de Culture Georges Pompidou, Paris)

- as an interior designer

• involved in the decoration of several homes, boutiques and offices in Athens

- publications, interviews and lectures

1980 - Poems on Greece (published also in the Romanian literary review Steaua 1990 - "Arion! The Art of Freedom", published in LaVerniCa, November 1990, 4th Edition, 2nd Issue 1998 - "The Janus - faced gaze of an expat", published in Athens News, arts & Entertainments, Sunday, 15 February, 1998 1998 - Of Greece and Romania (poems and reflections) 1999 - "Another Angle, Another Pace" - study published by LaVerniCa and Romanian Civilization (Volume VIII, Number 3, Spring 1999, Iasi February 21, 1999 - interview published by the Romanian daily newspaper Curierul National 1998 - "Another Angle, Another Pace" - about his sabbatical experience in Romania, published in LaVerniCa 1999 - "Little Girl from Bukovina", a photography included in Encyclopedic Survey of Romania, Bucharest 1999 - "Scarlat Radu Arion, A Romanian Living in Greece" - one hour long interview by Romanian Television (TVR) at the Goulandris Cycladic Museum in Athens 1999 - "One Life for Romania", an interview, in Greek, by Romanian Radio International, translated also in Romanian and published in two consecutive issues of weekly "Radio Romania" (nr.166 and 167, 20 and 27 March 1999 Articles and studies published in Athens News, Tipos Kifissias, Museum of Cycladic Arts News, LaVerniCa and University of La Verne Yearbook 2000 (Perception of Blue") 2000 - Interview in Dreptatea, entitled "A Second Romania: Country Lost and Rediscovered" 2001 - Interview for TVR International: "Romanians Living Abroad" 2001 - Lecture at the Embassy of Romania, entitled: "Constantin Brancusi, Pioneer of Modern Sculpture" 2002 - Lecture at the National Hellenic Research Foundation, entitled:  The Parthenon - Culture and Courage" 2002 - Lecture at the Embassy of Romania: "Unirea si Reunificarea" 2002 - Lecture at the University of La Verne for the Art and Politics Seminar, entitled "Pablo and Salvador" 2004 - Lecture for the Titulescu Hellenic Circle at the Embassy of Romania, entitled "Europe after the Rain" (published in Curierul Atenei and in the International Tribune Athens) 2004 - "Greek Painter George Mavroides", interview published in LaVerniCa 2007 - "The Ancient Moderns. From Old Europe to Constantin Brancusi: Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, Minds and Hands" - Lecture presented at the International Center for Hellenic and Mediterranean Studies  (DI.K.E.ME.S), Athens (for a better resolution click here!)

Presenting an exhibition of photographs  taken in Romania during his sabbatical, 1999, Town Hall Kifissia, Athens

- exhibitions

• 1998 - a multi-media exhibition entitled "Scarlat Arion - A Retrospective View of Art & Architecture" (including poetry, photography, architectural projects and paintings) at Jannis Spiropoulos Museum at Ekali, Athens
• 1999 - S.Arion Sabbatical Trips to Romania - a photographic exhibition-cum-lecture, held at Kifissia Cultural Center, Athens
• 2000 - Cycladic Experience - a photographic exhibition-cum-lecture at the University of La Verne
• 2001 - The Longest Day Experience - a photographic exhibition at the University of La Verne
• 2002 - Folegandros Experience - a photographic exhibition-cum-poetry and music

Other Activities

• Abstract paintings in oils and acrylics. Collages and photomontages
• Numerous senior art student exhibitions (Hellenic American Union, Kouvousaki Museum and Cultural Center of Kifissia)
• Numerous field trip exhibition (Santorini, Crete, Naxos, Monemvasia, Stalactites & Stalagmites, The Cycladic Exhibition etc)
• Lectures by visiting Greek and foreign artists living in Greece

Co-presenting with his brother the book "The Archives of Radu Sc.Arion" at the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bucharest. From left to right: Christos Alexandris, Greek Ambassador to Bucharest, Gabriel Gafita, Secretary of State, Georgeta Filitti and Ion Brad, former Romanian Ambassador to Athens

• 1993 - organizer of the Art Auction, the total amount of the proceeds (800,000 drs) was donated to the Students' Scholarship Program and the Rice Collecting Campaign for the Children of Somalia (seven tons of rice collected and sent to the country)
• 1994 - Graduation Convocation Faculty Address, Address delivered at the Athens College Theater, Saturday, 18 June 1994
• Sits on several committees such as Major Issues Forum, Faculty Scholarship Fund, Summer Studies Abroad Program, Faculty Personnel and Writing Across the Curriculum

Affiliations

• Technical Chamber of Greece (TEE)
• Architects Association SADAS
• Panhellenic Union of Architects
• since 1991 - member and the first President of "La Verne's Art Club". Today acts as its advisor
• Faculty Honor Roll Donor. The Art Club is an Associate ULV Donor Club. On behalf of the Art Club, donated to the Library of La Verne University 15 art books (total value 150,000 drs)
• Founding Member of the Titulescu Hellenic Circle

Prizes and Awards

• French Institute in Athens - First Prize in Natural Sciences
• Oxfordshire Society of Architects' Prize for outstanding First Year Work
• University of La Verne Athens Campus Award in appreciation for services on the University of La Verne Faculty Scholarship Committee, 1992-1995
•  University of La Verne Athens Campus Award in recognition for leadership in the "Save the Children of Somalia" Campaign, 1993

Foreign Languages

• English, French, Greek and Romanian

Hobbies

• Photography and music

Address

• 6, Heracleitou St, Kolonaki Square, 10673 Athens, Greece, Phone: +30-210-36.45.431