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CULTURAL EVENTS CELEBRATE ARMENIAN SPIRIT, REMEMBER GENOCIDE
Fresno Bee, CA
April 9 2015
By Donald Munro
With April 24 fast approaching, there is a flurry of cultural
commemorations of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide. Some
have direct allusions to the genocide itself while others celebrate
the Armenian spirit. Here are some highlights:
Historic
* "The Armenian Genocide: A Centennial Exhibition, 1915-2015"
at Fresno State's Henry Madden Library, includes a wide array of
compelling and dramatic images. The exhibition features the newly
released "Iconic Images of the Armenian Genocide," which features
photographs of the Armenian genocide assembled as an instructional
guide for human rights education.
The photographs were collected from numerous repositories, sources
and individuals, including the U.S. National Archives, Library of
Congress, Near East Foundation, Oberlin College Archives, University
of Minnesota Library and the Fresno State Armenian Studies Program,
which is presenting the exhibition.
Another part of the exhibition is "The First Refuge and the Last
Defense: The Armenian Church, Etchmiadzin, and the Armenian Genocide,"
which details the importance of the church during a horrific time.
The exhibition opens 6-8 p.m. Friday, April 10, in the Leon S. Peters
Second Floor Ellipse Gallery with a reception co-hosted with the
Friends of the Madden Library. The reception and the exhibition
are free and open to the public, but reservations are needed (go to
www.pawsforms.csufresno.edu/rsvp/reply and enter code AGR).
The show runs through May 29.
* At the Jewel fm Gallery, a searing painting titled "Massacre" by
Arshag Amirkhanian is featured in an exhibition with works by noted
local artist Nancy Youdelman, his grand-niece. It depicts Turkish
soldiers killing Armenians with Mt. Ararat as a backdrop. Amirkhanian
was an untrained artist who began painting in early 1960s after he
retired from a long career as a house painter. The painting's graphic,
primitive style adds to the emotional pull of the piece.
Art
* Many of Fresno's art galleries and cooperatives are marking the 100th
commemoration this month by featuring Armenian artists. One of the best
works is found at Gallery 25: a multi-media installation by Lorraine
Peters (who has a separate show of intriguing paintings) and Carol
Tikijian. Their "An Armenian Experience," consisting of three richly
dressed mannequin forms representing the past, present and future
"Armenian woman," is laden with symbolism, such as a raven perched
near the headless form of the "past" woman. It's a powerful piece.
* I could find some direct references to the genocide in Ronald
Dzerigian's "Allegorical Portraiture: New Paintings" at 1821 Gallery
& Studios, but mostly the show is a musing on the general human
condition in terms of family, loss, love, judgment, evaluation,
intimacy, aloneness and history. Immersive and disturbing, the show
has a lot of impact.
Music
* There have already been a number of musical events commemorating
the 100th anniversary events. The big one still to come is the Fresno
Philharmonic's "Witness & Rebirth: An Armenian Journey" featuring
soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian. The program includes Kradjian's "Cantata
for Living Martyrs." The performance is 7:30 p.m. April 25 at the
Saroyan Theatre.
Remembrance
* A Requiem service will be held 5 p.m. April 23 at Ararat Cemetery,
1925 W. Belmont Ave.
* The Armenian Genocide Centennial -- Fresno Committee will unveil
a monument dedicated to the victims and survivors of the Genocide
in a 7:30 p.m. ceremony April 23 at Fresno State near the Satellite
Student Union.
* A flag-raising ceremony at Fresno City Hall will be held 9
a.m. April 24.
* A traditional community commemoration will be held 7:30 p.m. April
24 at St. Paul Armenian Apostolic Church, 430 S. First St.
http://www.fresnobee.com/2015/04/09/4469973_cultural-events-celebrate-armenian.html?rh=1
Fresno Bee, CA
April 9 2015
By Donald Munro
With April 24 fast approaching, there is a flurry of cultural
commemorations of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide. Some
have direct allusions to the genocide itself while others celebrate
the Armenian spirit. Here are some highlights:
Historic
* "The Armenian Genocide: A Centennial Exhibition, 1915-2015"
at Fresno State's Henry Madden Library, includes a wide array of
compelling and dramatic images. The exhibition features the newly
released "Iconic Images of the Armenian Genocide," which features
photographs of the Armenian genocide assembled as an instructional
guide for human rights education.
The photographs were collected from numerous repositories, sources
and individuals, including the U.S. National Archives, Library of
Congress, Near East Foundation, Oberlin College Archives, University
of Minnesota Library and the Fresno State Armenian Studies Program,
which is presenting the exhibition.
Another part of the exhibition is "The First Refuge and the Last
Defense: The Armenian Church, Etchmiadzin, and the Armenian Genocide,"
which details the importance of the church during a horrific time.
The exhibition opens 6-8 p.m. Friday, April 10, in the Leon S. Peters
Second Floor Ellipse Gallery with a reception co-hosted with the
Friends of the Madden Library. The reception and the exhibition
are free and open to the public, but reservations are needed (go to
www.pawsforms.csufresno.edu/rsvp/reply and enter code AGR).
The show runs through May 29.
* At the Jewel fm Gallery, a searing painting titled "Massacre" by
Arshag Amirkhanian is featured in an exhibition with works by noted
local artist Nancy Youdelman, his grand-niece. It depicts Turkish
soldiers killing Armenians with Mt. Ararat as a backdrop. Amirkhanian
was an untrained artist who began painting in early 1960s after he
retired from a long career as a house painter. The painting's graphic,
primitive style adds to the emotional pull of the piece.
Art
* Many of Fresno's art galleries and cooperatives are marking the 100th
commemoration this month by featuring Armenian artists. One of the best
works is found at Gallery 25: a multi-media installation by Lorraine
Peters (who has a separate show of intriguing paintings) and Carol
Tikijian. Their "An Armenian Experience," consisting of three richly
dressed mannequin forms representing the past, present and future
"Armenian woman," is laden with symbolism, such as a raven perched
near the headless form of the "past" woman. It's a powerful piece.
* I could find some direct references to the genocide in Ronald
Dzerigian's "Allegorical Portraiture: New Paintings" at 1821 Gallery
& Studios, but mostly the show is a musing on the general human
condition in terms of family, loss, love, judgment, evaluation,
intimacy, aloneness and history. Immersive and disturbing, the show
has a lot of impact.
Music
* There have already been a number of musical events commemorating
the 100th anniversary events. The big one still to come is the Fresno
Philharmonic's "Witness & Rebirth: An Armenian Journey" featuring
soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian. The program includes Kradjian's "Cantata
for Living Martyrs." The performance is 7:30 p.m. April 25 at the
Saroyan Theatre.
Remembrance
* A Requiem service will be held 5 p.m. April 23 at Ararat Cemetery,
1925 W. Belmont Ave.
* The Armenian Genocide Centennial -- Fresno Committee will unveil
a monument dedicated to the victims and survivors of the Genocide
in a 7:30 p.m. ceremony April 23 at Fresno State near the Satellite
Student Union.
* A flag-raising ceremony at Fresno City Hall will be held 9
a.m. April 24.
* A traditional community commemoration will be held 7:30 p.m. April
24 at St. Paul Armenian Apostolic Church, 430 S. First St.
http://www.fresnobee.com/2015/04/09/4469973_cultural-events-celebrate-armenian.html?rh=1