Mariam Stepanyan
Armenian Library & Museum of America, Inc.
65 Main Street
Watertown, MA 02472
Contact Person: Mariam Stepanyan
Phone: 617-926-2562 ext. 3
Fax: 617-926-0175
Website:
PRESS RELEASE
September 7, 2006
For Immediate Release
By popular demand, The Arts of Photography, Poetry, and Translation
exhibition returns to the Armenian Library and Museum of America’s
Terjenian-Thomas Gallery. It was first shown for two weeks in May.
The exhibition showcases Armenian women’s voices framed in images and
verse. Featured is photojournalist Armineh Johannes. Illustrating
the photography are selected poems from I Want to Live by Shushanik
Kurghinian, translated by Shushan Avagyan, and from the Other Voice:
Armenian Women’s Poetry Through the Ages, translated by Diana
Der-Hovanessian.
Dates: September 10 – October 8, 2006 during museum hours.
Special Program: Thursday, October 5, 2006, from 7:30 – 8:30 pm.
(video, poetry readings and discussion)
Armineh Johannes is an award-winning photojournalist whose
assignments and interests have taken her to Armenia for the last
seventeen years, and to some eastern and middle-eastern countries as
well. The majority of the photographs in this exhibition are from
her "Transitions" series where she tries to capture the elements in
these societies that may be in the process of disappearing. The
photos, rather than suggesting revolutions or upheavals of the overt
kind, evoke those internal question marks and hidden tumults that are
part of every woman’s and man’s life.
The poetry linked to the images varies. Kurghinian’s, from I Want to
Live volume, deals with social issues, feminism, and confrontation
with established values and oppressive norms. The poetry from the
"Other Voice" extends the spectrum considerably. Juxtaposition of the
photos with the selected poetry provides some unusual tensions.
Hopefully this exhibition will be a beginning exploration for the
viewer of how photography encapsulates thought, and how poetry
captures image content with a minimum of words.
To reinforce the fact that poetry can be accessible to all, a poetry
contest is an integral part of this exhibition. Three of
Kurghinian’s short poems are chosen to expose a lighter aspect of
this poet to the public. The Armenian comes with a rough, nearly
word-by-word translation into English. The best poetic or
literal/poetic translation of just one of three poems, as judged by
an academic jury of three, will receive a $100 (one hundred dollar)
award. Poems are available online on the publisher’s web site, AIWA
Press, For your convenience,
one poem is printed here:
Transliteration on the left, gives you the sound of the Armenian; the
rough translation to the right should be reworked by contestants.
Deadline for submission is October 1, 2006. Email to [email protected],
or mail to ALMA attention: Poetry Contest.
Doo oo yes You and I
Dtoo dsedzetseer doors pag, You knocked at my closed
door
Egar eents mod mets dzampits… Came to me from a great
journey…
goozem hangtsel hargit dag "I want to rest in your
home
dzonel kez eem cern anpits: — Gift you my love pure."
"Akh, dzet chga gantekhoom – "Ah, there is no oil in the
lantern
Tchem entouneer otchvoki… I don’t welcome (let in)
anyone…"
Gdrits antsrev e dezoom, From the roof rain is
pouring,
Veeshde shemkis gchokee: Sorrow on my thresh-hold
is kneeling.
Eesg doo batseer doors pag But you opened my closed
door
Oo ners mdar khisd hoknadz.. and entered in utterly
tired..
Arev dsakets hargees dag, The sun rose in my home,
Veeshs shemkitz oor knats… My sorrow from the
thresh-hold where did it go?
Take the opportunity to view this unusual exhibition once again. Try
out for the contest, deadline October 1st, winner to be announced on
October 5th, during the special program (7:30 – 8:30) at the
gallery. This program will also feature a brief video based on
elements in the exhibition, by art teacher Seda Matevosian, newly
edited by David Elizian, called "Bread Baking: scenes from the road
and villages of Armenia." Poetry readings and discussion will follow
the program.
The two poetry books, published in 2005, are available from AIWA,
information via aiwainc.com; and from NAASR bookstore in Belmont, MA,
as well as other bookstores in the United States and
elsewhere.
The exhibition is at ALMA, 65 Main Street, Watertown, MA.
617.926.ALMA (2562), 3rd Floor galleries are open
during museum hours, Thursday 6 – 9 PM, Friday and Sunday 1 – 5 PM,
Saturday 10 AM – 2 PM.
PHOTO CAPTIONS
Photo:
"Swaddled Armenian infant" Photo by Armineh Johannes.