From: "Katia M. Peltekian" <kpeltekian@yahoo.com>
Subject: Glendale: Culture’s storied past

Glendale News Press, CA
Nov 15 2008

Culture’s storied past

Photo: Arin Keshishian, Soseh Keshishyan and Aram Pirjanian practice a
scene by Armenian poet Hovhannes Toumanian that will be performed at
the Abril Bookstore’s 30th anniversary celebration on November
22. (Roger Wilson/News-Press)

Festival at Glendale bookstore celebrates Armenian literature with an
emphasis on teaching community.

By Joyce Rudolph
Published: Last Updated Friday, November 14, 2008 10:32 PM PST

The owners of Abril Bookstore in Glendale hope to entertain and
educate others about Armenian literature during a two-day celebration
showcasing play readings, art workshops and dance.

Store owner Harout Yeretzian and his son and store manager, Arno
Yeretzian, are sponsoring the event, `Abrink: Festival of Armenian
Literature and Culture,’ Nov. 22 and 23 at the Glendale Central
Library Auditorium.

The festival’s purpose is to introduce the community to the culture of
the Armenian people, Arno Yeretzian said.

`We wanted the segments to be educational and informative so people
will learn from it,’ he said. `We will give a sampling of our culture
and history. Most of the presentations are in English so non-Armenians
are welcome, too, to learn about our literature and culture.’

But it’s also a chance to teach Armenians who haven’t been exposed to
Armenian literature, said Edwin Avaness, of Burbank, who is producing
the video of the festival through his production company, EOS
Entertainment.

`It’s an opportunity for people to get together from the community who
don’t know about Armenian culture, to explore and better understand
the culture,’ he said.

The event is also a way to recognize the 30th anniversary of the
store, said Arno Yeretzian. The store was in Hollywood for 20 years
before moving to Glendale 10 years ago.

`A lot of people come to our store to learn about the culture of the
Armenian people because they work or go to school with them,’ he
said. `And some people are preparing to marry into the Armenian
culture.’

The father and son have been thinking about what they could do to
honor their anniversary, Arno Yeretzian said.

`We didn’t want to do a fancy banquet,’ he said. `We thought it would
be better to spend the money on a festival for the community.’

The store’s name Abril in Armenian means `to live,’ and the store
owners have named the event Abrink, which means `let’s live,’ Arno
Yeretzian said.

`We thought that would be an appropriate name for the festival because
we are trying to bring everything ‘ Armenian literature, culture and
art ‘ to life,’ he said.

A special guest attending the event at 8 p.m. Nov. 22 is author and
playwright Aram Saroyan, son of Armenian American novelist and
playwright William Saroyan (1908-1981). The festival is also being
held to coincide with this year’s centennial celebration of William
Saroyan’s birth, Arno Yeretzian said.

Aram Saroyan is bringing a troupe of actors he knows from Los Angeles
to do a play reading in English of his piece `The Evening Hour.’

The play is loosely based on a time when he, his sister and his father
were together in 1966 in London.

`It is about the period of the ’60s and the crazy scene at the time,’
Aram Saroyan said.

Some of the stars in the cast are Alley Mills from the TV series `The
Wonder Years’ and D.W. Moffett from the TV series `Skin.’

`There is a lot of interest in William Saroyan in the Armenian
community, so this seems to be the most appropriate play ‘ I’ve
written eight ‘ for this event,’ Aram Saroyan said.

Adding an interactive touch to the weekend is artist Seeroon
Yeretzian, owner of Roslin Art Gallery in Glendale. She will be giving
a workshop on illuminated manuscript style painting at 12:30
p.m. Nov. 23.

`Each person who comes will paint their initials in the old Armenian
manuscript styles, and I will give a lecture, too,’ Seeroom Yeretzian
said. `I’m bringing the old art to the 21st century.’

Seeroom Yeretzian has conducted workshops at the Getty and the Los
Angeles County Museum, Arno Yeretzian said.

`When they paint their letters, they are totally at peace,’ he
said. `It’s sort of meditative.’

Another highlight is a tribute to Armenian poet Hovhannes Toumanian
(1869-1923) by Arena Productions at 2 p.m. Nov. 22.

The group is made up of 15 actors who also write original works and
translate Armenian and Persian works into English, said Anahid
Aramouni Keshishian, president and artistic director.

`They call [Toumanian] the writer for all Armenians, because he
touches people’s life, from the village to the city, everywhere,’ she
said. `He is looked upon as a father figure by the Armenian people.’

He writes a lot of poems and stories that poke fun at ignorance and
ignorant people, Keshishian said.

`It’s fun,’ she said. `It makes you laugh but makes you think a
lot. You contemplate good, bad and ignorance. So, I thought it was a
nice plan to bring it into the festival.’

She’s happy to be able to present this performance in honor of Abril
Bookstore’s anniversary because the store has meant a great deal to
her over the years, she said.

`When I came here in 1980, the bookstore was the only place to satisfy
my desire to be connected with Armenian literature,’ she said. `It
became more than a bookstore. It was a place to find part of your
soul.’

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