PRESS RELEASE
Office of Assemblymember Paul Krekorian
620 N. Brand Blvd. Suite 403
Glendale, CA 91203
Adrin Nazarian Chief of Staff
(818) 240-6330
(818) 240-4632 fax
[email protected]
July 3, 2008
(818) 240-6330
KREKORIAN ANNOUNCES SAROYAN EXHIBITION AT STATE CAPITOL
Author and playwright William Saroyan’s extraordinary contributions to
the cultural history of California will be celebrated in a photographic
exhibition that opens today at the State Capitol in Sacramento,
announced Assemblymember Paul Krekorian (D-Burbank). Assemblymember
Krekorian, who organized the Capitol exhibition in partnership with the
Saroyan Centennial Committee, said that the exhibition is part of a
statewide year-long celebration of the 100th anniversary of Saroyan’s
birth.
"The works of William Saroyan are among California’s cultural treasures
and comprise an important part of our state’s story," said
Assemblymember Krekorian. "Saroyan was one of the Twentieth Century’s
greatest chroniclers of small town life in California and the experience
of hard-working people during the Great Depression. Generations of
Americans have come to know and love the San Joaquin Valley and its
people through the eyes and the pen of William Saroyan. I’m proud that
our State Capitol is appropriately memorializing the centennial of his
birth with this important exhibition."
The son of Armenian immigrants, William Saroyan never lost touch with
his proud heritage. Through his literary genius, he made that heritage
an important part of the American cultural fabric.
Among other things, the exhibition features gallery-quality black and
white photographs of Saroyan that were taken by renowned photographer
Boghos Boghossian during the author’s last two visits to Armenia.
Melded with the writer’s own words, the pictures reflect Saroyan in
action, his emotional expressions and inner life while he interacted
with those around him. Boghossian, who currently resides in Armenia,
poignantly captured these special moments in the life of the renowned
writer.
The exhibition will be housed in the historic State Capitol Museum from
July 2 through August 24, 2008. It was made possible through the
efforts and support of Assemblymember Krekorian, the Assembly Rules
Committee, California State Parks, the Armenian Heritage Museum of
Fresno, the Armenian Technology Group, Inc., and Proteck Imaging of
Burbank. Mr. Varoujan Der Simonian is the Curator of the exhibition.
The exhibition is open to the public and is free of charge.
Assemblymember Paul Krekorian (D-Burbank) represents the cities of
Burbank and Glendale, and the Los Angeles communities of Atwater
Village, Los Feliz, North Hollywood, Silver Lake, Toluca Lake, Valley
Glen, Valley Village and Van Nuys.
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