In 1994, Constantine Sidamon-Eristoff, the Founding Chairman of American Friends of Georgia, asked Marusya Chavchavadze to lead the newly formed organization as Executive Director. One of her first tasks was to come up with a logo.
An early idea proposed by AFG’s Vice Chairman was to use a rendition of the Georgian flag. But to Marusya, the flag’s strong symbolism didn’t feel quite right for the mission of AFG. She wanted something more timeless, more symbolic of human connection, and more rooted in Georgia’s rich cultural history.
At the time, Marusya and her young daughter were temporarily living at her grandparent’s home in Massachusetts. One day, she wandered into the study of her late grandfather, Paul Chavchavadze, son of the poet and nobleman Alexander Chavchavadze, and found herself surrounded by the books he had collected over decades. Among them was a 1949 volume titled Georgian Poetry . Marusya’s eye was instantly caught by the beautiful knot motifs drawn throughout the pages. They reminded her of the intricate stone carvings she had seen on the facades of ancient churches in Kutaisi, Georgia. One knot, in particular, stood out. It subtly echoed the shape of a capital “A.” At that moment, Marusya knew she had found the logo.
These were no ordinary designs. Georgian knots, often referred to as ბორჯღალი (Borjgali) and other ornamental patterns, are a deeply significant part of Georgian visual culture. These distinctly native knots serve as spiritual symbols as much as decorative elements. The Borjgali, in particular, represents the sun, eternity, and the cycle of life and rebirth. To her, the knot reflected both the deep historical ties to Georgia and the interwoven mission of AFG’s supporters—a community bound together by shared purpose and love for the country.
In a poetic full-circle moment, Marusya would later realize that AFG had, in many ways, begun in her grandfather’s study. The same room where he had spent over 35 years writing about their family’s history. Now, from that same room, something new was being woven into Georgia’s future.