Armenian American Archives

Officials present updated plans, gather feedback on Armenian American Museum project

March 14, 2018 By administrator

Armenian American Museum project

Officials for the proposed Armenian American Museum held their first community meeting since announcing the museum’s relocation to downtown Glendale’s Central Park.

In 2016, city officials agreed to carve out an area in the Central Park block for the museum and also used the opportunity to reimagine the space so it could integrate nearby facilities as well as create new public and recreational spaces.

The museum was originally set for construction on a 1.37-acre, city-owned parking lot at Mountain Street and Verdugo Road, across from Glendale Community College and near a residential neighborhood.

However, it was relocated to a more nonresidential area after community pushback.

State Sen. Anthony Portantino (D-La Cañada Flintridge) helped secure $3 million for the museum project last year, adding to the already $1 million approved by Gov. Jerry Brown.

The 10 participating organizations that constitute the board of directors and govern the project have already contributed $1 million and collected $1.8 million in 80 individual anonymous donations.

Berdj Karapetian, chairman of the museum’s project development committee, said museum board members hope to raise an additional $2 million by the end of this year, adding that they expect annual operating costs for the museum will total about $1.2 million once it’s open.

Layout plans for the three-story structure include a 300- to 350-seat auditorium on the first floor for performing arts, a still unplanned permanent and rotating exhibition space on the second level and a research learning center as well as a demonstration kitchen on the third floor. The rooftop terrace will include a sculpture garden.

About 20,000 square feet will be dedicated to exhibit space throughout the museum, said lead architect Aram Alajajian with Alajajian Marcoosi Architects Inc.

During the community-feedback portion of the meeting, people raised more questions than concerns. Questions included how much the museum’s admission price will be and who will dictate the theme of the permanent exhibit, but also there were concerns about how officials will compensate for the already limited parking in the area.

According to officials, admission will be free, the museum’s governing committee will decide the narrative for exhibits and the museum will have three levels of underground parking.

Karapetian admitted that the first three community meetings had quite a few negative responses, mostly taking issue with the former proposed location of the museum, but said he was pleased that the meeting on Thursday elicited mostly positive comments about the Central Park relocation.

“We were very pleased at the turnout. It was a good turnout for a community forum of this nature, and we had some very good feedback that will help guide us in finalizing the schematic design and plans for the building,” he said.

Should City Council approve the project some time later this year, officials expect the museum will open by 2023.

Armenian-American jazz producer George Avakian dies at 98

November 23, 2017 By administrator

George Avakian, a Russian-born Armenian jazz scholar and architect of the American music industry who produced essential recordings by Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis and other stars has died at age 98, the Associated Press reported.

Avakian’s daughter, Anahid Avakian Gregg, confirmed that her father died Wednesday morning at his home in Manhattan. No further details were immediate available.

Avakian, an executive at Columbia Records and Warner Bros. among other labels, helped popularize such consumer standards as liner notes, the long-playing album and the live album.

Avakian started out as an Ivy League prodigy rediscovering old jazz recordings and became a monumental industry figure and founder of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, presenters of the Grammys. Through the artists he promoted and the breakthroughs he championed, Avakian helped shape the music we listen to and the way we listen to it, the AP wrote.

His contributions date back to the late 1930s, when he was an undergraduate at Yale and a jazz fan frustrated by the limited availability of his favorite music. He wrote to numerous companies and finally convinced Decca to let him compile “Chicago Jazz,” widely regarded as the first jazz album and among the first jazz records to include liner notes, written by Avakian.

“Decca said in essence, ‘We don’t know quite what jazz in those cities is about but you seem to know so why don’t you go ahead and produce them,’” Avakian told JazzWax in 2010.

Avakian was soon working on new and old music, documenting and making history, and jazz’s stature was changing from popular entertainment to art. He prepared a series of reissues at Columbia that featured recordings by Armstrong, Ellington and Bessie Smith and helped launch the inclusion of alternate takes of individual songs. He produced the classic “Louis Armstrong Plays W.C. Handy” and one of Dave Brubeck’s most popular albums, “Dave Digs Disney.” He also signed up Davis for Columbia and co-produced “Miles Ahead,” the 1957 album that began Davis’ collaborations with arranger Gil Evans and established him as among the first jazz superstars of the post-World War II era.

Avakian’s other achievements ranged from producing Bob Newhart’s Grammy-winning debut “The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart” and Sonny Rollins’ comeback album “The Bridge” to managing Keith Jarrett and teaching, at Columbia University, one of the first courses on jazz.

He was born in 1919 in the Russian city of Armavir, the child of wealthy Armenians who fled from the civil war that followed the 1917 revolution.

Armenian American Orphans Christmas Telethon raised just over $200K

October 4, 2017 By administrator

This year’s Armenian American Orphans Christmas Telethon raised slightly more than $200,000 to help convert an existing facility in Spitak, Armenia, into a kindergarten, recreation center and gymnasium.

The event is hosted by the Armenian American Orphans and Disabled Children Fund.

Glendale resident Ovanes Balayan, who has operated the telethon for almost 20 years, confirmed the donation numbers last week but said the group is still tallying additional donations.

According to telethon spokesman Alex Kojababian, the annual event has raised money to construct nine orphanages and schools throughout Armenia since it began in 1999.

Armenian American Museum unveils concept design animated tour

March 16, 2017 By administrator

Asbarez – The Armenian American Museum unveiled a new animated tour video of the cultural and educational center’s concept design, providing a first look at the project’s iconic design and ambitious program. The video can we watched above.

The animated video tour begins with an aerial view of the Armenian American Museum in the proposed Downtown Glendale location adjacent to the Central Library and Americana at Brand. The tour continues with the interior of the Museum, revealing the grand lobby, state-of-the-art auditorium, and exhibition halls, where Museum officials plan to feature permanent exhibitions on the Armenian American experience and traveling exhibitions on diverse cultures and subject matters that will engage all audiences. The video concludes with an evening shot featuring the rooftop sculpture garden and Museum exterior.

“The Armenian American Museum will be one of the most historic cultural and educational centers built in the region and we are excited to share our vision through the concept design animated tour,” said Museum Executive Committee Chairman Berdj Karapetian. “The Museum will serve students, artists, historians, and diverse audiences from across the Southern California region.”

The vision for the Armenian American Museum is a cultural campus that enriches the community, educates the public on the Armenian American story, and empowers individuals to embrace cultural diversity and speak out against prejudice.

Museum and City officials are on schedule to complete the concept design, traffic, parking, economic, and environmental studies in time for the consideration of the ground lease agreement by the Glendale City Council during the fourth quarter of 2017.

California Governor: Brown Signs Budget With $1 Million Earmark For Armenian American Museum

June 27, 2016 By administrator

Gov. Brown signs state budget

GLENDALE—The Armenian American Museum Governing Board said said that it commends California Governor Jerry Brown for including a $1 million earmark for the Museum in the 2016-2017 California State budget.

“The funding from the State of California at this early stage of the Museum project will give an important boost to securing the approvals and funding needed for the construction of the Armenian American Museum in Glendale,” explained Governing Board Co-Chair Archbishop Hovnan Derderian.

“We are grateful to Senate President Pro-Tempore Kevin De Leon and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon for including funding for the Armenian American Museum in the compromised Budget negotiated with the Governor,” stated Co-Chair Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian.

Archbishop Mardirossian and other representatives of the Museum met with Speaker Rendon (D—Paramount) and worked with Senate President Kevin de Leon (D—Los Angeles) to include the funding request submitted by Senator Carol Liu (D—Glendale) and Assembly Member Adrin Nazarian (D—Sherman Oaks).

Although the funding included in the compromised budget between the Legislature and the Governor is lower than the amount approved by the State Assembly, the Armenian American Museum’s Executive Committee Chair Berdj Karapetian described it as “a sizeable commitment by the State to make the Armenian American Museum a reality.” Karapetian additionally noted, “This is an important first step and we hope that more funding will be available as we move forward with this project.”

The Armenian American Museum is working closely with the City of Glendale to complete the due diligence requirements and feasibility studies for building the Museum in the Arts and Entertainment District of the City.

The mission of the Armenian American Museum is to promote understanding and appreciation of America’s ethnic and cultural diversity by sharing the Armenian American experience.

Armenian Americans discuss Bundestag’s resolution at German consulate in LA

June 11, 2016 By administrator

german consuler Leaders representing a cross-section of Armenian-American community organizations on Friday met with officials at the German Consulate General in Los Angeles to discuss last week’s recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the German legislature–the Bundestag, Asbarez reported.

The community delegation was comprised of Daron Der Khachatourian (ARF-Dashnaktsutiune), Gabriel Moloyan (Social Democratic Hunchakian Party), Dr. Raffi Balian (Armenian Democratic Liberal Party–Ramkavar), Very Rev. Muron Aznikian (Western Prelacy), Father Pakrad Berjekian (Western Diocese), Rev. Berdj Djambazian (Armenian Evangelical Church), Talin Yacoubian (AGBU) and Maro Papapzian (ARS).

The meeting was held with Stefan Biedermann, the acting Consul General who was accompanied by Kai-Uwe Spicher, the Consulate’s head of administration) and Peter Schmitt, the Consulate’s Deputy Cultural Attaché.

The discussion centered on the June 2 Bundestag resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide, with the Armenian delegation highlighting that the comprehensive resolution not only included language about Germany’s recognition of the Genocide, but went further to accept Germany’s complicity in the crime press for reparations and the return of Armenian assets, such as churches.

The delegation also discussed German President Joachim Gauck’s April 2015 speech during a centennial commemoration mass at Berlin’s Oberpfarr and Dom Church recognizing the Armenian Genocide and urging Turkey to follow suit.

The German representatives told the delegation that it was Germany’s historic responsibility to recognize the Genocide and set the historical record straight, through which it hopes to advance the world’s responsibility for justice and human rights.

UNITED STATES The project of the future Armenian-American Museum in Glendale (California) to a new location in the central city park

February 25, 2016 By administrator

arton122585-480x310 The project of construction of the future Museum of Armenian-American Glendale -town located in the suburbs of Los Angeles (California) and that has a very high population arménienne- proposed to change the initial location of the museum. According to Glendale News Press, the Committee of the project Armenian-American Museum now offers the construction of the museum in the Central Park of Glendale. The Committee has been working for over a year with the Organizing Committee for the centennial of the Armenian Genocide. Initially the construction project on an area of 5 hectares was to be held near the intersection of Verdugo Road and Mountain Street in Glendale. The mayor of Armenian origin Ara Nadjarian said for his part that “the idea of the Armenian-American Museum is great. We all seek a suitable place for this museum. “ He also said that the will of the City Council is not to divide communities and that such a project would contribute to strengthening them. Note that almost 40% of the 200 000 inhabitants of Fresno are Armenians.

Krikor Amirzayan

Armenian American Museum Partners to Present ‘Armenia: An Open Wound’

February 23, 2016 By administrator

GLENDALE — The City of Glendale and the Library, Arts & Culture Department are pleased to announce their partnership with the Armenian American Museum to present the exhibition “Armenia: An Open Wound.” The exhibit will be on view at the Brand Library Art Galleries between April 9 and June 11, 2016 during the library’s regular hours: Tuesday and Thursday 12-8 p.m., Wednesday 12-6 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-5p.m. A series of weekly programs will accompany the exhibition. Brand Library & Art Center is located at 1601 West Mountain Street, Glendale, California, 91201.

“Armenia: An Open Wound” debuted in Mexico City at the Museo Memoria Y Tolerancia [Museum of Memory and Tolerance] in April 2015 in honor of the Armenian Genocide centenary. The exhibition explores the intricate history of the Armenian people and creates an interactive experience by illustrating early Armenian culture; it shares the story of Armenian livelihoods on their ancestral lands, and prepares viewers to gain a deeper insight into the events which lead to the 1915 Armenian Genocide.

“[The exhibition] seeks to raise awareness about the Armenian Genocide by inspiring reflection, respect for ethnic and cultural diversity, and upholding human dignity” stated Museo Memoria Y Tolerancia temporary exhibitions director Linda Atach Zaga. “The Armenian Cause is rooted in the universal theme of preserving memory as the first step in mobilizing toward global human rights and this exhibition is uniquely designed to encourage critical reasoning among diverse audiences as they relate the Armenian context to broader social justice themes.”

The mission of the Museo Memoria Y Tolerancia is to preserve, teach, and promote within Mexican society the history and meaning of genocides and crimes against humanity, as well as the importance of diversity and tolerance.

Designed on the basis of a detailed, didactic route, “Armenia: An Open Wound,” sheds light on both the historical and current ramifications of the 1915 Armenian Genocide through survivor testimony, modern-day pursuits for justice, and aims to empower visitors to take responsibility on behalf of all those who have been, and continue to be affected by genocide. In addition to honoring victims and commemorating the Armenian Genocide, this exhibition presents the unique contributions of Armenian Genocide survivors who settled in Mexico during the early 20th century, and the international Armenian diaspora community which have collectively grown to embody the concept of global citizenship.

“It is our honor to announce our partnership with the Museo Memoria Y Tolerancia and we equally commend the City of Glendale Library, Arts & Culture Department for their commitment to engaging diverse collaborative opportunities” stated Armenian American Museum executive development committee chairman Berdj Karapetian. “Armenia: An Open Wound tells the story of Armenians through a multicultural approach, and exemplifies the eclectic programs and exhibitions the Armenian American Museum aspires to bring to the City of Glendale and the broader Los Angeles community.”

The mission of the Armenian American Museum is to promote understanding and appreciation of America’s ethnic and cultural diversity by sharing the Armenian American experience.

City of Glendale Library Arts, & Culture director Cindy Cleary shared her enthusiasm about the opportunity to partner with the Armenian American Museum by noting, “this exhibition supports the Library’s mission to offer our community a diversity of ideas that will inspire curiosity and enrich our daily lives.” Cleary further expressed that she “hopes all members of the public will share in this unique experience that celebrates the history and the resilience of the Armenian people and commemorates the horrific consequences of the Genocide.”

A robust slate of programs that will complement “Armenia: An Open Wound” is being planned by the Brand Library & Art Center and the Armenian American Museum in collaboration with local and regional community partners. The educational experience of visitors will be enhanced by lectures, discussion panels, musical performances and more. All events at Brand Library & Art Center are free and open to the public.

For more information please visit ArmenianAmericanMuseum.org or call (844) 586-4626

Idaho Armenian-American Community Defeats Pro-Azerbaijani Resolution In State Legislature in Less Than 48 Hours

February 17, 2016 By administrator

Thank-You-Idaho-HCR037-Graphic BOISE, IDAHO – The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region (ANCA-WR) announced today that it successfully defeated House Concurrent Resolution 37, which attempted to praise Azerbaijan’s interfaith tolerance and positive multiculturalism. The ANCA-WR led an advocacy initiative and mobilized Idaho’s local Armenian American community to defeat the measure in less than 48 hours.

“The quick defeat of Idaho’s resolution in praise of Azerbaijan is a testament to the strength of American democracy and yet another example

that our well-organized grassroots

efforts will have a stronger resounding effect than that of a foreign paid lobby ,” said Elen Asatryan, Executive Director of the ANCA-WR. “We are proud that the State of Idaho has joined the states of Hawaii, Colorado, California and others to reject the dictatorial regime of Azerbaijan, which is known for its oppression of citizens, press and its persecution of Christian communities.

“A dictatorship that has destroyed more Christian monuments than ISIS and is the world’s fifth most censored country should not be praised for anything, let alone interfaith tolerance.”

HCR 37, sponsored by Representative Thomas Dayley, was introduced by the Idaho House State Affairs Committee on Feb. 11, 2016. Once alerted to the resolution, ANCA-WR immediately alerted the local Armenian American community, submitted testimony to all House members in opposition to the resolution and called upon all members to encourage the withdrawal of this resolution. The complete statement by the ANCA-WR opposing the resolution can be found at www.ancawr.org/Idaho.

Earlier today, the Idaho House State Affairs Committee confirmed that the controversial measure had effectively been withdrawn killed.

“The sponsor of the resolution has requested that I hold the bill and not have a hearing on it,” stated Representative Thomas Loertscher, chairman of the committee, in an email. “That is what will happen and it will not advance and will not be considered for any further action.”

Local activists and ANCA-Idaho Chair Liyah Babayan, who is a well-respected entrepreneur and human rights defender in Twin Falls, commended joint efforts to defeat HCR 37.

“In coordination with the ANCA-WR, we have successfully organized opposition to this mockery of a resolution via phone calls, emails and quick action,” Babayan said. “Once I informed the ANCA-WR of the resolution, they instantly prioritized and pulled their resources together to help us stop this resolution.”

ANCA-Idaho chair Liyah Babayan was assisted by her mother Tamara and daughter Angeli as she shared her story of being a refugee from Azerbaijan with Idaho legislators.

Babayan, herself a refugee from Baku, Azerbaijan met with members of the State Affairs Committee and shared personal stories of persecution at the hands of Azerbaijan. Idaho lawmakers were appalled that they had been misled to believe that Azerbaijan was a utopian society.

Another human rights activist in Idaho, Jo-Ann Kachigian, received the following explanation from her lawmaker as to why the resolution was introduced in the first place: “I think it was well motivated, but with lack of information. [The sponsor] thought that unlike many of the other Islamic nations in the area Azerbaijan had a peacefully coexisting situation among Muslims, Christians and Jews which should be highlighted, but had not considered the Armenian history and had inadequate information on the Christian minorities there. I am not sure where he got his initial information, but I don’t think there was any underlying commercial motive.”

ANCA-WR also mobilized over 90 activists in Idaho, many of whom, with a moment’s notice spoke directly with their lawmakers and received assurance that they would not only vote against HCR 37, but would personally appeal for it to be withdrawn. The numerous calls and emails generated by the ANCA-WR and local residents caused legislators to educate themselves on Azerbaijan’s actual human rights record.

About the Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region

The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.

Thank you

ANCA Western Region

February 17, 2016

Armenian-American professor reaches out to Turks with photography book

January 17, 2016 By administrator

January 16, 2016, Saturday/ 17:00:00/ ARSLAN AYAN | ISTANBUL

“Dildilian Brothers: Photography and the Story of an Armenian Family in Anatolia, 1888-1923,” a book by Armen T. Marsoobian, an Armenian-American professor, has finally been translated into Turkish and is ready to enter the libraries of Turkish bookworms.

Some four years after it was published in 2011 in English, the Turkish translation of the book, produced by the initiative of the Birzamanlar Publishing House, has hit the shelves with a ceremony attended by booklovers in İstanbul on Tuesday.

“This book is just one moment in a long labor of love that I started many years ago. It first began as a private journey in the 1980s. My uncle gave me the collection of photographs, the family archive. And for many years I only shared these photos with family members at family reunions and gatherings. I realized that the family had made great efforts to document and record their lives in Ottoman Turkey. And in one way they were trying to keep the memory of the Armenian community in Anatolia alive and therefore would have been very pleased to make this public,” Marsoobian said in a speech he delivered at the celebration of the book’s launching.

“This is a journey that I am still on. It is nice to start the new year with a new book. I feel very committed to this project and this county. I will be here [Turkey] again and again,” the professor added.

Marsoobian’s book features the story of his forebears, the Dildilian family, who documented their lives in Sivas, Merzifon and Samsun and the surrounding areas of Anatolia from the second half of the 19th century, a period that was full of suffering for Armenians. In the book, from his family archives, the professor presents drawings, maps and photographs that go back as early as 1888.

The historic photos in the book contribute to our imagination of Armenian daily life at that time, the old and rare photographs of places, people and situations (e.g. camel caravans, college workshops, weddings, etc.) concretize a past that is long over and visually under-documented. Thanks to these photos, the reader can observe the sad and happy moments in the family’s history as well as the fear and perseverance that the survivors of 1915 harbored in the post-World War I years.

“During this journey, Ferda [Keskin, a professor of comparative literature and philosophy at İstanbul Bilgi University] and I traveled for the first time to Merzifon in 2011. Then in 2013, we launched an exhibition in İstanbul featuring the photograph archive. We took the exhibition in Merzifon in 2013 and then Diyarbakır in 2014. We were then able to bring the exhibition to Ankara in 2015. The last year was really busy year for me as we launched exhibitions in United States and Yerevan, which was also very important to me,” Marsoobian stated.

Professor Marsoobian previously came to public attention in Turkey after he opened exhibitions in various provinces in Turkey featuring a photograph archive that was collected by his extended family, who documented the social life of Anatolia during the 19th century with their cameras.

So far, he has staged exhibitions in İstanbul, Merzifon, Diyarbakır and Ankara. In an exclusive interview with Sunday’s Zaman, the professor stated that he wanted to exhibit the photos in Turkey because he wanted to show people that “a century ago, there was a rich cultural past in these lands.”

“We wanted to shed light on the forgotten history of the 19th century with these photos. If Armenians had not been forced to leave this area, Anatolia would be much [culturally] richer today,” Marsoobian said.

Sharing details about the intentions of his exhibitions and his book, Marsoobian said: “The exhibition changes a little, depending on the location. But what I would like to do is to expose Turkish citizens, whether they are of Armenian background or not, to the cultural wealth of these lands from which Armenians were removed in 1915 and where, in the years after, they were silenced and repressed.”

Profile

238135 Armen T. Marsoobian is a professor of philosophy at Southern Connecticut State University and chairman of the university’s philosophy department. He defines himself as a child of Turkey, in the sense that both his parents were born in Anatolia. He is a scholar, philosopher and historian who has worked on his family’s history, which is a story of Anatolia and Ottoman history and goes back hundreds of years. In a way, he has a personal and scholarly connection to the Armenian issue, both in the past and today, because he feels that it is important for Armenians to participate in civil society in Turkey, and that is what he has been trying to promote for the past few years.

Source: ZAMAN