US Fed News
March 28, 2010 Sunday 7:10 AM EST
UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND PROVIDENCE CAMPUS TO COMMEMORATE ARMENIAN
GENOCIDE, APRIL 1-30
PROVIDENCE, R.I., March 26 — The University of Rhode Island issued
the following news release:
The University of Rhode Island Feinstein Providence Campus has invited
Gallery Z Director Berge Ara Zobian, an Armenian who lives in
Providence, R.I., to curate a historically and artistically important
show: The Armenian Genocide – 95 Years Later, In Remembrance.
The exhibit includes original art works by more than 40 artists and
100 school children along with photographs, posters and artifacts from
ALMA Armenian Library Museum of America and, Armenian Genocide Museum
Institute of Armenia and private collections.
Today, the horrors of the Armenian Genocide are commemorated annually
on April 24th, the date in 1915 when the terrible intentions of the
Turkish government for the Armenians first came to light. On that
date, over one and one half million Armenians perished in the Armenian
Genocide, the first genocide of the 20th century. Committed by the
political party of the Ottoman Empire commonly known as the Young
Turks, the killings and abuse occurred during World War I from
1915-1918 before being continued from 1920-1923.
The Turkish government had grown increasingly suspicious of the
minority Armenian population whom they feared had become too powerful
and nationalistic, and they therefore planned a deportation and
extermination program disguised as a resettlement plan. The deported
Armenians suffered massacres, starvation, disease, torture, and
confiscation of all their possessions. The few that survived became
refugees in neighboring countries.
The exhibit includes works by the following artists. Adrienne Der
Marderosian, Armen Garo, Arpi Dadoyan, Astrid, Berge Ara Zobian, Beth
Ferreira, Carol Scavotto, Chris Gasparian, Chris Murphy, Cynthia
Motian McGuirl, David Ayirian, Medina Topalian, Emma Grigoryan, Greg
Chopoorian, Hagop B.Aprahamian, Hrair B. Aprahamian, Ian Mohon, Jason
Roberts, John Avakian, Judith Ferrara, Julian Penrose, Kevork Mourad*,
Lara B., Lidya Tchakerian, Marsha Nouritza Odabashian, Nilton Cadenas,
Norma Papazian Akkelian, Daniel Varoujan Hejinian, HAWK, Sevan
Naccachian, Nareg Haroutunian, Simon Samsonian (b.1915 d.2003), Sirapi
Heghinian Waltzer, Sossy Narcessian, Stephen Koharian, Sylva Portoian,
Taylor Manter, Yevkeen, Varky, Tigran Tsitoghdzyan, Alexander
Grigorian, Dorothy Abram, Larry Sykes. Plus over 100 childrens art
ages ranging from 6-16 and, Genocide artifacts, books and displays
from ALMA Armenian Library Museum of America and, Armenian Genocide
Museum Institute of Armenia and, private collections.
A vibrant community of Armenian citizen’s settled in the Rhode Island
area. Berge Zobian and Steven Pennell, coordinator of Urban Arts and
Culture at the URI Feinstein Providence Campus have planned to this
exhibit to celebrate Rhode Island’s Armenian Community by sharing
various aspects of Armenian culture and history. The exhibit includes
artwork, artifacts, posters, objects and photographs that illustrate
home life, community life, religious and political life to provide a
comprehensive representation of the Armenian Genocide and to show the
dynamic community that settled in this region and the contributions
they have made to the greater community.
For more information, please visit armeniangenocide95years, contact
Steven Pennell, spennell@etal.uri.edu, 401-277-5206.
Hours M-TH 9-9, F 9-4, (closed Saturday & Sunday)
Call 277-5206 for more information.
URI Providence Campus Gallery is located in the 1st and 2nd floor
lobbies, 80 Washington St. Providence RI 02903.