Los Angeles Shoah Launches Query Portal on Armenian Genocide

June 12, 2015 By administrator

Armenian Genocide refugees (Photo by Armin T. Wegner, from the Wegner Foundation)

LOS ANGELES—The University of Southern California Shoah Foundation launched its Armenian Genocide Collection in the Visual History Archive in April. Now, a new information Quest Activity about the Armenian Genocide is available for students and educators to view in IWitness.

The Armenian Genocide Information Quest introduces students to the context of the Armenian Genocide and includes clips of survivor testimonies about deportation, forced marches, hiding and perpetrators. Students engage with the testimonies using a built-in tool that enables each to construct a word cloud, a fitting title, a meaningful quotation, and a personal response to reflect individual feelings and perceptions about the story.

Through this activity, students will learn about the history of the Armenian Genocide, learn to identify the differences between sources of information on the same topic, and recognize the value of multiple perspectives in the learning process.

Weeks after the first 60 testimonies of the Armenian Genocide Collection were incorporated in the Visual History Archive, 12 of those testimonies were added to IWitness. The 12 full testimonies include survivors such as Samuel Kadorian and Haroutune Aivazain, as well as witness Nium Sukkar and Henry Morgenthau III, grandson of U.S. ambassador to the Ottoman Empire Henry Morgenthau.

All the testimonies are fully indexed. IWitness now includes 26 new indexing terms that are used in the Armenian testimonies, such as “Young Turks,” “Tehcir Law,” “gendarme,” and “Euphrates River.”

Los Angeles Times: Review An eloquent remembrance by Armenian National Philharmonic

May 14, 2015 By administrator

By Mark Swed,

Armenia’s struggle for international acknowledgment that the extermination of more than a million Armenians by the Ottoman Empire during the First World War was genocide has been the work of historians and politicians. But it is also a job for art, especially with the recent 100th anniversary of the first deportations from Turkey.

On Tuesday, Armenia was awarded the Venice Biennale’s Golden Lion for best national pavilion, “Armenity,” which addresses the Armenian diaspora. Armenia is also a musical nation, and on Tuesday, the Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra made its first appearance in Walt Disney Concert Hall with “A Concert of Remembrance.”

Founded in Armenia’s capital of Yerevan 90 years ago, shortly after the country was incorporated into the Soviet Union, the orchestra had the reputation as a solid Soviet band while still maintaining its spirited national identity.

Nearly all of its artistic directors and principal conductors, as well as its players, have been and continue to be Armenian. An important exception was the twentysomething Valery Gergiev, who led the orchestra in the early 1980s.

The Disney Hall program, conducted by Eduard Topchjan (artistic director and principal conductor since 2000), represented both the orchestra’s Armenian and Soviet heritage. Splashy potboilers — the most popular numbers from Khachaturian’s ballet “Spartacus” and Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony — opened and closed the concert.

It was a notably less ambitious, or commemorative, occasion than the imaginative and comprehensive all-Armenian gala program given last week in Washington, D.C., the orchestra’s only other U.S. stop on its first North American tour in 19 years.

But there was also Tigran Mansurian’s significantly somber Concerto for Violin and String Orchestra, featuring an eloquent young soloist, Anush Nikoghosyan. The 76-year-old composer, who divides his time between Yerevan and Glendale, represents both to his country, where he is a national figure, and the international music community, the soul of Armenia.

Like much of Mansurian’s work, this 1981 violin concerto is interior music. The orchestra is small, only 18 strings. There is an underlying quality of dirge. Melodies are made of few notes, but they are so intensely beautiful that they seem to capture the very essence of beauty. The tempo is always slow. For much of nearly 30 minutes, the dynamics remain ethereally soft, except for explosions of shocking anger, which are breathtaking in their violence.

As far as can be determined, this was the first time any of Mansurian’s music, a mainstay of the Dilijan chamber music series at the Colburn School across the street, has been played at Disney. It is a perfect venue for it, but a half-hour of demandingly serious music between showpieces was not a good idea for an antsy, gregarious crowd, which added a percussion section of shuffled feet and coughing.

The orchestra, on the other hand, does not give a gregarious impression. Topchjan, who led the program without scores, is an unsmiling, serious, commanding conductor. His orchestra is a serious, stony-faced group as well. Not a single player broke a hint of a smile, even when showered with enthusiastic bravos and whistles.

The seriousness did help, though, with Khachaturian. A sugary Adagio was tart and grand. Spartacus’ garish victory music was stern and compelling.

The debate continues about what Shostakovich meant with his 1937 Fifth Symphony, whether the composer acted as a sop to Stalin or employed surreptitiously dissident context to harmonic consonances. Topchjan’s approach suggested the latter.

There were few sweet sounds. The strings produced a Russian bite. The winds avoided mellowness. Brass could be edgy. Climaxes were permitted to hurt ears. The orchestra did produce some surprising humor in a drunken rendition of the Allegretto, but that vanished with an intently sorrowful slow movement. Shostakovich’s bombastic victory march at the end had the character of tanks not stopping for man, woman or child.

The mournful encore was “Shushani” by Edvard Mirzoyan, chosen to commemorate the late composer’s 94th birthday Tuesday. The audience had the last word when cheers, which sounded more celebratory than impatient, interrupted Mirzoyan’s quiet close.

Source LA Time

LOS ANGELES: City Officials Raise Number of Armenian Genocide March for Justice Participants to 160,000

May 8, 2015 By administrator

City officials upped the number of March For Justice participants to 160,000 (Graphic by Steve Artinian)

LOS ANGELES—The city police and fire officials, as well as department of transportation representatives confirmed Wednesday that the actual number of participants in the April 24 March For Justice to commemorate the Armenian Genocide Centennial eclipsed the initial 130,000 reported by the Los Angeles Times. The agencies place the official total at more than 160,000.

Following the march, which was one of the largest in Los Angeles history, the Los Angeles police, fire and transportation departments reviewed the footage captured by the city helicopters and based on a commonly-used equation, which is used to tabulate crowd numbers, concluded that the actual number of participants exceeded 160,000.

Aram Sahakian, Senior Transportation Engineer In Charge of Special Traffic Operations and Emergency Response at the Los Angeles Department of Transportation, confirmed the new tally to officials of the Armenian Genocide Centennial Committee of Western US, which organized the March For Justice as the sole commemorative event in Los Angeles on April 24.

The police, fire and transportation agencies also commended and praised the March For Justice organizing committee for their diligence in securing volunteer monitors, who were for the most part members of the Armenian Youth Federation, and who, along the route of the march, worked with law enforcement and transportation officials to ensure the smooth progression of the event.

Captain Dave Storaker of the Los Angeles Police Department, who was in charge of the overall march on April 27 tweeted to the AYF saying: “My compliments to the Monitors. You all did a wonderful job on what the news reports the largest event of its kind.”

The March For Justice started at the intersection of Western Avenue and Sunset Boulevard, where an opening program featuring remarks by LA Mayor Eric Garcetti, California Senate President Pro Tempore Kevin de Leon and Los Angeles City Councilman Mitch O’Farrell kicked off the march.

Marchers headed west on Sunset Boulevard, then south on La Brea Avenue and then west on Wilshire Boulevard, where the crowd gathered in front of the Turkish Consulate building for a rally that included remarks by Representative Adam Schiff and Los Angeles City Councilmembers Paul Krekorian and Paul Koretz, whose passionate speeches elevated the event’s importance and highlighted the need for justice for the Armenian Genocide.

“This further shows the strength of our community,” said Garo Ghazarian, co-chair of the AGCC Western US. “It also highlights the resolve of the Armenian-American community to fight for our national aspirations and demands in the name of justice for the Armenian Genocide.”

“We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all the city and county officials and agencies who came together on that day and were part of the March for Justice,” said Talin Yacoubian, the co-chair of the AGCC Western US. “We especially thank the Los Angeles Police, Fire and Transportation departments for their support and utmost professionalism, which made the march a tremendous success.”

USA-LA Thousands to March From Hollywood to Turkish Consulate on Anniversary of 1915 Armenian Genocide

April 24, 2015 By administrator

Thousands are expected to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide by walking the streets of Los Angeles in a “March for Justice.”

Los Angeles: 2015 ANCA WR Advocacy Day 100th Anniversary

March 22, 2015 By administrator

The ANCA-WR hosts an annual Advocacy Day in Sacramento, CA where hundreds of Armenian-American activists from around California visit the State Capitol and advocate for issues of concern to the community. Equally important, they meet activists from every corner of the state, exchanging ideas and thoughts, thus strengthening the network of grassroots activism which forms the foundation of the ANCA-WR.

Join us and the California State Legislature in commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide at the State Capitol in Sacramento. http://www.ancawr.org/AdvocacyDay/

A great opportunity to become active in the community as well as in the California state wide political realm awaits all members of the Armenian community on April 19-20, 2015.

Itinerary

We will depart from the Los Angeles on Sunday, April 19 and arrive in Sacramento that night. After breakfast on April 20, we will go to the Capitol for Advocacy Day (see below).

We will depart from Sacramento in the late afternoon on Monday, April 20 and be back in the Los Angeles that night.

Advocacy Day will include:
– The Genocide Commemoration on the Assembly and Senate Floor in the California State Legislature
– A reception with state senators, assembly members, and activists from all over California
– Potential meetings with your state representatives
– Time to explore Old Sacramento
– Joining other activists for social justice

LOS ANGELES: On April 24 March for Justice Route Announced

March 20, 2015 By administrator

The March for Justice route starts in Little Armenia and ends at the Turkish Consulate

LOS ANGELES—On April 24, Armenian-Americans worldwide will commemorate the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide. The Los Angeles-based Armenian Genocide Centennial Committee of the Western United States (AGCC-WUSA) is organizing a the March For Justice, which will unite people of different backgrounds as they come together to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. The March for Justice will be the only commemorative event taking place on April 24.

The March for Justice is the largest in the series of AGCC-WUSA hosted events. Participants will gather at 10 a.m. in Little Armenia, the March will begin at the corner of Western and Sunset Boulevard. Participants will march in solidarity for 6 miles to the Turkish Consulate in the Wilshire District to protest the Turkish government’s continued denial of the Armenian Genocide. This Pan-Armenian March will unite, without exception, the Armenian community in its quest for justice while demonstrating collective strength and spirit. Members of other ethnic organizations will also be joining the March to stand in solidarity against the Turkish Government’s continued denial of the Armenian Genocide. Protesters will thank those who have helped to spread awareness of the Armenian Genocide, and those who work tirelessly to prevent genocide elsewhere in the world.

In remembrance of the 1.5 million victims of the Armenian Genocide at the hands of the Ottoman Turkish Government, the AGCC-WUSA encourages all businesses to close their stores and join the March for Justice. In order to obtain signage showing that your business is closed for the commemoration, you may contact the ANCA-WR office at (818) 500-1918.

The AGCC-WUSA has launched a social media campaign asking individuals to publish a short video stating that they will be “marching to justice on April 24.” To participate in this campaign, individuals can tape a short video of themselves on their cellular devices and post it on their personal social media account with the hashtag #MarchForJustice and #ArmenianGenocide.

In the coming weeks the AGCC-WUSA will be announcing bus and parking locations for those traveling to Little Armenia. For more information about the March for Justice please visit march4justice.org or visit facebook.com/agccwusa. Updates about the March for Justice, including parking locations will be posted both on the website and on Facebook.

The AGCC-WUSA was established to steer and coordinate the multifaceted commemorative activities in the Western United States and is composed of nineteen Armenian organizations, including religious institutions. The 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide signifies a global demand for justice by Armenians worldwide and all people of good will. The Centennial marks one of the 20th century’s greatest crimes against humanity. In 1915, the Turkish Government began a premeditated and systematic campaign to uproot the Armenian population from its ancestral homeland and slaughter 1.5 million defenseless men, women and children. Turkey must finally acknowledge its responsibility for the Genocide and make appropriate moral, financial and territorial restitution, as mandated by the fundamental norms of international law and civilized society.

LOS ANGELES: Paul Krekorian Leads LA’s Sponsorship of Genocide Centennial Events

February 27, 2015 By administrator

LA City Councilmember Paul Krekorian (center) with ANCA leaders at the Los Angeles City Hall

Los Angeles City Councilmember Paul Krekorian is spearheading the City of LA’s sponsorship of events commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Krekorian, the first Armenian-American ever elected to the City Council, has introduced motions that show the city’s commitment to human rights and justice. Here’s what the city is doing:

–City Sponsorship of Events: Designating Armenian Genocide Centennial observance activities as official citywide special events.

–“America We Thank You” Library Exhibit: Providing funding for and co-sponsoring the Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region’s “America We Thank You: An Armenian Tribute to Near East Relief” exhibit at the Los Angeles Central Library in March and April. The exhibit highlights the outpouring of generosity by the American people and government during and in the immediate aftermath of the Armenian Genocide.

–March for Justice: Providing funding and support for the “March for Justice” on April 24 that begins in Little Armenia.

–Street Banners Across the City: Providing street banners positioned around the city to promote the March for Justice.

–Centennial Art Contest: Hosting the Centennial Art Contest with the winner’s artwork to be featured on city buses in April.

–Turning City Hall Purple: Lighting City Hall’s façade in purple for the week of April 24 to symbolize the forget-me-not, the official emblem of the worldwide observance of the Armenian Genocide Centennial.

–100 Pomegranate Trees: Planting 100 pomegranate trees in parks throughout the city, including at City Hall.

“The City of Los Angeles is committed to recognizing the Armenian Genocide and educating people throughout the city about our continued struggle for justice,” said Councilmember Krekorian. “There will be an extraordinary exhibit at the city’s Central Library that highlights America’s generous support for the Armenian people, along with banners advertising the ‘March for Justice’ across the city. Because of my efforts, we will also light City Hall in a purple glow to symbolize forget-me-nots, display art commemorating the centennial on city buses, and plant pomegranate trees throughout LA’s parks. This is an unprecedented commitment by Los Angeles to our community and to telling our story. I’m proud to have helped make it happen.”

Hammer Museum to Mark Genocide Centennial with Year-Long Film Series

January 28, 2015 By administrator

LOS ANGELES—Throughout 2015, the Hammer Museum will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide with a yearlong film series, “I Am Armenian: A Year of Armenian Culture and History on Film,” and a Hammer Forum discussion, “The Armenian Genocide: A Century of Denial.” The year will be dedicated to exploring the many facets of Armenian culture, history and landscape beginning with the screening of “Calendar” (1993) on Wednesday, Jan. 28, at 7:30 p.m.

Attending a Hammer public program is free and tickets will be available on site at the Hammer Museum’s Billy Wilder Theater Box Office one hour before the program begins. More information about admission is below and online at hammer.ucla.edu.

Announced Films:

“Calendar”
Wednesday, Jan. 28, 7:30 p.m.
A photographer traveling in Armenia for a calendar project realizes that his wife, an Armenian translator, is falling in love with their driver and unofficial tour guide. The Academy Award-nominated director, Atom Egoyan (“The Sweet Hereafter”), reveals the unraveling of a marriage through a series of flash-forwards. (1993, Dir. A. Egoyan). Question and answer session with Dr. Carla Garapedian and Robert Lantos, producer of Ararat, to follow.

“The Lark Farm” (“La Masseria Delle Allodole”)
Wednesday, Feb. 4, 7:30 p.m.
An Armenian family becomes caught up in the Ottoman Turkish government’s annihilation of the Armenian people between 1915 and 1923. This Italian film by brothers Paolo and Vittorio Taviani is adapted from the best-selling novel by Antonia Arslan. (2007, Dir. P. & V. Taviani). Question and answer session with Dr. Carla Garapedian and Dr. Siobhan Nash-Marshall to follow.

“Ravished Armenia”
Wednesday, March 25, 7:30 p.m.
The 1919 silent film Ravished Armenia tells the incredible story of Aurora Mardiganian, an Armenian girl caught up in the 1915 Armenian Genocide. After witnessing the murder of her family, Aurora was kidnapped, forced to march over fourteen hundred miles and sold into slavery before finally escaping to Europe and then the U.S. Her story was the basis for a hugely popular book and film, starring Aurora herself, which was seen by thousands of people around the world. Filmmaker Carla Garapedian, from the Armenian Film Foundation, and Anthony Slide, author of “Ravished Armenia and the Story of Aurora Mardiganian” and former film historian of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, bring Aurora’s story to life with rare film clips and photos.

“Aghet – Ein Völkermord”
Tuesday, April 14, 7:30 p.m.
The prizewinning film “Aghet” (Armenian for “the catastrophe”) by acclaimed German filmmaker Eric Friedler tells the story of the Armenian genocide, one of the darkest chapters of the First World War. Though there is an international consensus that up to 1.5 million Armenians died in the Ottoman Turkish Empire, the Armenian genocide is still not recognized by Turkey as a historical fact. “Aghet” deals with the political motives for this continuing silence. This innovative German documentary relies on authentic testimonies by European and American personnel stationed in the Near East at the time and Armenian survivors. Famous German actors give these eyewitnesses finally the opportunity to make their voices heard. (2010, Dir. E. Friedler). Director Eric Friedler will join for a discussion following the screening.

Upcoming 2015 screenings, for which dates and information are to be announced, include “The River Ran Red,” “The Color of Pomegranates,” “Without Gorky,” “The Last Tightrope Dancer in Armenia,” “Vodka Lemon,” “Here,” “Silk Stockings,” and “A Story of People in War and Peace.”

Hammer Forum: The Armenian Genocide: A Century of Denial

Wednesday, Feb. 11, 7:30 p.m.
Armenians and human rights advocates around the world commemorate the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the Armenian genocide, in which an estimated 1.5 million people were killed between 1915 and 1923. Richard Hovannisian, a professor of Armenian and Near Eastern History at UCLA, and David L. Phillips, director of the Peace-building and Rights Program at Columbia University, offer an in-depth look at the Turkish refusal to recognize the genocide and efforts to foster dialogue and reconciliation between Turks and Armenians. Hammer Forum is moderated by Ian Masters, journalist, author, screenwriter, documentary filmmaker and host of the radio programs Background Briefing, Sundays at 11 a.m., and The Daily Briefing, Monday through Thursday at 5 p.m., on KPFK 90.7 FM.

Hammer Forum is made possible in part by Bronya and Andrew Galef.

Hammer Presents: Honoring the Armenian Masters

Sunday, April 19, 2:00 p.m.
Co-presented by the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music
Members of the Armenian Music Ensemble at UCLA and the VEM String Quartet present a chamber music program of masterworks by Armenian classical music in commemoration of the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

All Hammer public programs are free. Tickets for assigned seating in the Billy Wilder Theater are required and available at the Box Office one hour before each program. Early arrival is recommended. Tickets are available one per person on a first come, first served basis.

As a benefit for their support, members enjoy priority ticketing and seat selection, subject to availability.

Parking is available under the museum for a flat fee of $3 after 6PM.

All Hammer public programs are free and made possible by a major gift from the Dream Fund at UCLA.

Generous support is also provided by Susan Bay Nimoy and Leonard Nimoy, Good Works Foundation and Laura Donnelley, an anonymous donor, and all Hammer members.

Visit hammer.ucla.edu for current exhibition and program information and call 310-443-7041 for tours.

Over $57,000 Collected by Armenian Schools in Calif. for Their Syrian Counterparts

December 31, 2014 By administrator

LOS ANGELES—When the Executive Committee of the Syrian Armenia Relief Fund (SARF) appealed to the daily Armenian Schools in California to help their brothers and sisters in Syria, it did not take long for 11 of them to start various fundraising activities in their respective schools. Under the slogan of “A small gift from my school to yours,” they organized various fundraising events, ranging from bake sales and car washes to dances and walkathons, raising a total of $ 57,613.03. Student clubs enjoyed the blessings and full support of their respective school boards, administrations and faculties, as they raised funds earmarked exclusively for the academic needs of Armenian Schools in Syria.

Beyond its financial purpose, this endeavor served an educational purpose as well, as it taught our students the importance of giving to those who are less fortunate than us, and how our efforts can help make a difference in the lives of our Armenian brothers and sisters abroad. Many schools reported that their students had gone so far as to give up their lunch money for this worthy cause.

“This experience has encouraged and made us more optimistic,” said SARF chairperson John Titizian. He added, “We are proud of our schools and of our students.”

Below are the funds raised by each school:

Chamlian: $21,128
Ferrahian: $10,000
AGBU Manougian-Demirdjian: $7,357.39
A & M Hovsepian: $5,000
Alex Pilibos: $4,000
Mesrobian: $3,300
Ari-Giragos Minasian: $2,000
Merdinian: $1,500
Krouzian-Zakarian-Vazbouragan: $1,250
Sahag Mesrob: $800
AGBU Vatche and Tamar Manougian: $382.64

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE 100th ANNIVERSARY A competition for a table on the Armenian Genocide which is reproduced on all buses, Los Angeles, April 2015

December 24, 2014 By administrator

Paul Kerkorian, a member of the City Council of Los Angeles (California) announced that on the occasion of the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide April 24, 2015, a competition was launched to address all artists, painters and photographers so that they participate in the development of a painting or picture on the Armenian genocide. The work selected following the competition would be posted for one month on all buses in the city of Los Angeles. The final date for the submission of works is 15 February. Paul Kerkorian called that “all artists interested in Human rights and help the struggle of the Armenian people.”

Krikor Amirzayan

The Armenian Genocide (1915-23) was the deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I. It was characterized by massacres, and deportations involving forced marches under conditions designed to lead to the death of the deportees, with the total number of deaths reaching 1.5 million.

The majority of Armenian Diaspora communities were formed by the Genocide survivors.

Present-day Turkey denies the fact of the Armenian Genocide, justifying the atrocities as “deportation to secure Armenians”. Only a few Turkish intellectuals, including Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pamuk and scholar Taner Akcam, speak openly about the necessity to recognize this crime against humanity.

The Armenian Genocide was recognized by Uruguay, Russia, France, Lithuania, the Italian Chamber of Deputies, majority of U.S. states, parliaments of Greece, Cyprus, Argentina, Belgium and Wales, National Council of Switzerland, Chamber of Commons of Canada, Polish Sejm, Vatican, European Parliament and the World Council of Churches.