Displaying “a sweet sense of color,” paintings...

Displaying “a sweet sense of color,” paintings depicting America and Armenia through the eyes of 36 immigrant youths are now on display in Altadena.

The compliment comes from Aldo Novella, a writer and Glendale College instructor, after viewing “The World I See: The Art Exhibition of Armenian Youngsters of Los Angeles” at Altadena’s Beshgeturian Center.

Students of Armenian-born artist Samvel Sevada, who teaches painting, graphics and art history at his Glendale studio, created oils, pastels, acrylics and watercolors, 80 of which went on display last week. Some of Sevada’s works are also on view.

Sevada, 42, said his goal is to help young Armenian immigrants preserve their ethnic identity through art. He encourages the youngsters to focus on their homeland’s artistic traditions.

The paintings are on sale at $100 each. Those that are sold will be replaced in the exhibition, Sevada said. The proceeds will be used to buy art supplies for the Children’s Art School in Gumri (formerly Leninakan) in Armenia, which, the artist said, is “a very famous traditional art city.” The school was damaged in the 1988 earthquake that killed up to 25,000 people.

Sevada, an art teacher in his hometown of Abovian before arriving in the United States in January, 1990, has had three exhibits in the Los Angeles area.

The Altadena show continues through 1 p.m. Thursday in the center, at 1901 N. Allen Ave.

Les Ballets Africains, the national ensemble of the Republic of Guinea, will perform at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, 300 E. Green St., at 2 p.m. today. Tickets for the performance, sponsored by the Ambassador Foundation, are from $16.50 to $22.50.

The ensemble also will perform Tuesday night in Bridge’s Auditorium of the Claremont Colleges. Call (800) 660-0ART.