MASSACHUSETTS STATE HOUSE EXHIBITS PHOTOS OF GENOCIDE SURVIVORS

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Thursday, March 26, 2009

WATERTOWN, Mass.–The Massachusetts State House this week displayed
"iwitness," a unique photography exhibit of portraits of Armenian
Genocide survivors.

Hosted by State Representative Jonathan Hecht (Middlesex 29) and
sponsored by the Armenian Library and Museum of America (ALMA) and
the Armenian National Committee of Massachusetts (ANC-MA), "iwitness"
is the work of Los Angeles-based photographers Ara Oshagan and Levon
Parian. The exhibit paired powerful black-and-white portraits of the
survivors with their oral histories.

On March 24, Representatives Jon Hecht and Peter Koutoujian and Senator
Steven Tolman hosted a guided tour of the exhibit with photographer
Levon Parian.

(L-R) State Representative Jason Lewis (Middlesex 31), Governor’s
Council member Marily Pettito Devaney, State Representative
Peter Koutoujian (Middlesex 10), photographer Levon Parian,
State Representative Jon Hecht (Middlesex 29), ALMA curator Gary
Lind-Sinanian, and Ara Nazarian at the "iwintess" exhibit

(L-R) State Representative Jason Lewis (Middlesex 31), Governor’s
Council member Marily Pettito Devaney, State Representative
Peter Koutoujian (Middlesex 10), photographer Levon Parian,
State Representative Jon Hecht (Middlesex 29), ALMA curator Gary
Lind-Sinanian, and Ara Nazarian at the "iwintess" exhibit "It is
important that we view these pictures," said Hecht, who spoke of the
history learned through the powerful photographs and oral histories
brought forth in the exhibit.

Koutoujian also spoke at the guided tour, noting that his own
grandfather fled from the city of Marash. "These images are sometimes
difficult to look at but we must look at them. We must see their
faces and read their stories of survival."

Speaking on behalf of the hosts, ALMA and the ANC-MA, Ara Nazarian
noted that in light of the International Criminal Court’s indictment
of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, it is even more important
than ever that we not only view these images but commit ourselves to
ending genocide.

"The kindness and generosity of the American people helped these
survivors to rediscover the beauty in mankind," said Nazarian. But
we know that "mankind has been led down this path time and again by
the silence and indifference of good men and women who are too afraid
to do anything," he added. "We have come together today to stamp out
genocide and genocide denial."

Photographer Parian then spoke of the inspiration behind the
exhibit. "Denial," said Parian. "Denial is the reason that we felt so
compelled to bring this to life." He talked about the denial of the
genocide by the Turkish government and how important it was for them
to document these histories of survival before it was too late. "Soon
these survivors will be gone. We are working to ensure that their
history will be with us forever."

Students, teachers, and parents from the Atlantis Charter School in
Fall River, Mass., viewing the exhibit Students, teachers, and parents
from the Atlantis Charter School in Fall River, Mass., viewing the
exhibit Oshagan and Parian worked with a team of oral historians and
created "iwitness" as part of the Genocide Project, which aims to raise
awareness about the genocide through visual and oral documentation.

"We wanted to do something to somehow artistically reflect upon the
genocide," said Oshagan. "Even though we’re three generations removed
from the actual fact, it is still very much part of our community
and part of our consciousness."

The "iwitness" exhibit was accompanied by ALMA’s traveling genocide
exhibit, which combines statistics and other accounts in text and
photographs in an effort to educate the public about the first genocide
of the 20th century.

Other officials in attendance at the guided tour were State
Representatives Jason Lewis (Winchester) and Alice Wolf (Cambridge),
and Governor’s Council member and Watertown town councilor Marilyn
Petitto Devany.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress