Abilene Reporter-News, TX
May 7 2008

Student draws on his Armenian roots for inspiration

By Rebel Taylor
Special to the Reporter-News
Tuesday, May 6, 2008

>From the sound of his soft West Texas drawl, one would never guess
Michael Karabegov, 18, is a native of Armenia.

Michael, a senior at Abilene High School, and his professor parents,
Dr. Alexander Karabegov and Dr. Anna Saghatelyan, moved to Abilene in
2002. Michael was 12, and the move was one of several major
transitions he had made during his young life. It proved to be a
difficult one.

"I have had a hard time adapting to the cultural changes. The people
here are very nice, but I just didn’t feel like I fit in at first," he
said.

Michael has started expressing himself — and his Armenian roots —
through art. His charcoal drawing, "Portrait of an Armenian," recently
won best in show, and a $2,000 scholarship, at the Young Masters
Juried Art Exhibition in Abilene.

The teen said his art is deeply influenced by the Armenian genocide of
1915 and the plight of his people for "recognition and restoration."

Michael’s mother said his talent may be something he inherited from
his grandmother, Elizabeth Grigoryan.

"His grandmother is a very talented artist, and she tried to teach him
art when he was young," she said. "I believe she most definitely
passed the artistic ability on to him."

Saghatelyan said Grigoryan is an artist and professor at an Armenian
arts academy, where she teaches graphic design.

Michael said it wasn’t until a couple of years ago that he shared his
grandmother’s passion for art.

"When I was very young, she would teach me the basics, but I didn’t
really care then," he said. "But she came to visit two years ago and
taught me many things that I now understand and have an interest in."

The family’s first move was to Russia after the breakdown of the
Soviet Union in 1993, when Michael was 3 and his brother Vladimir was
8. The fall of the Soviet Union created political changes effecting
job opportunities for Michael’s father that led him to accept a
research position in Russia.

While in Russia, the family encountered a group of Texans who had
planted a Church of Christ fellowship.

They started attending the church and were part of the church
fellowship over the next few years until they returned to Armenia in
1999.

After two years back in Armenia, Alexander Karabegov was invited for a
one-year visiting professor position at Penn State University, where
he would teach math. They arrived Sept. 9, 2001, just two days before
terrorists would strike at the heart of the nation.

She said that in addition to the stress of the terrorist attacks, the
change was difficult on the family.

Michael said the language barrier was easier to overcome than the
emotional issues he grappled with in adjusting to a new
country. Language is still no problem for Michael, who is fluent in
Armenian, Russian and English. He is now learning Spanish.

Saghatelyan said the family’s encounter with God in Russia would
eventually lead them to Abilene in 2002.

"We most definitely believe God brought us to Abilene," she said.

She teaches biology at McMurry University. Her husband teaches math at
Abilene Christian University.

Michael plans to attend ACU in the fall and major in art and computer
science.

Photo: Courtesy photo Michael Karabegov’s "Portrait of an Armenian,"
an 18-by-24 inch charcoal on paper drawing, won best in show recently
at the Young Masters Juried Art Exhibition.

Photo: Reporter-News Photo by Ronald W. Erdrich Michael Karabegov’s
"Portrait of an Armenian," an 18-by-24 inch charcoal on paper drawing,
won best in show recently at the Young Masters Juried Art
Exhibition. Karabegov is a senior at Abilene High School.

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