Monument to William Saroyan unveiled in Yerevan

2008-12-13 22:59:00

ArmInfo. A monument to prominent Armenian-American writer William
Saroyan was unveiled in Yerevan, Saturday. Armenian President Serzh
Sargsyan, Culture Minister Hasmik Poghosyan, US Ambassador to Armenia
Marie Yovanovitch, and other officials attended the unveiling ceremony.

Sculptor David Yerevantsi, the author of the monument, said that with
his work he strove to embody Saroyan’s light and humanness. The
sculptor knew Saroyan personally. "He never forgot his roots, and
though he lived and created in the United States, he remained a real
Armenian in his heart and soul",- Yerevantsi said.

The work at the monument lasted two years. The gypsum model, which is
3.2 meters high, was made at the Prague Academy of Fine Arts. The
monument was cast in bronze in Vrchlabi, Czech Republic. The unveiling
of the monument became a worthy completion of events timed to the 100th
anniversary of Saroyan. The writer’s 100th anniversary was included in
the UNESCO honorary list of anniversaries for 2008-2009. The "festive
year" started in Fresno, the writer’s native town, and continued in
Armenia.