Genocide Exhibition in Rhode Island Gains Strong Momentum
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By Asbarez Staff on Feb 19th,
BY NAOMI KUROMIYA
PROVIDENCE – Since its announcement, the historically and artistically
important exhibition, `The Armenian Genocide – 95 Years Later, In
Remembrance,’ has steadily been gaining outstanding momentum and
support. The show will mark the 95th anniversary of the atrocities of
the Armenian Genocide and is being curated by Gallery Z director Bérge
Ara Zobian, an Armenian of Providence, RI. Zobian is producing the
show in collaboration with The Urban Arts and Culture Program of the
University of Rhode Island.
Over the past month, Zobian and coordinator Carol Scavotto have
received positive responses from numerous organizations and
individuals, all expressing their strong support for the show. They
have received some financial support as well as many artistic
submissions. As of now, the show will have over forty artists
displaying, with more to be confirmed in the next few weeks.
Notably, two major museums have agreed to work with and be part of the
exhibition: ALMA (Armenian Library Museum of America) located in
Watertown, MA, and the Armenian Genocide Museum and Institute located
in Yerevan, Armenia. These museums will lend artifacts, archival
materials, historic publications, and various display units to bolster
the historical and academic aspects of the show.
The exhibit will be on display from April 1st through April 30th at
the URI Feinstein Providence Campus Gallery, a prominent location
expected to draw many thousands of visitors. There will be two
official events celebrating the exhibition: a Gallery Night opening on
Thursday, April 15th from 5-9pm, and the main event on Saturday, April
17 from 3 p.m. to 5pm.
This main event, at the URI Feinstein Providence Campus Gallery, will
be a brief but significant function packed with educational
presentations. The two hour program will feature, for the first hour
and fifteen minutes, an award ceremony of the State of Rhode Island
Department of Education, a short lecture on Armenian history, a
theatrical production, a performance by a solo singer, and music from
a kamancha (Armenian instrument) player. A program book will be
provided at the function so that guests will be sure not to miss any
parts of the grand event.
A forty-five minute reception will follow this program, providing
guests with an opportunity to peruse the show, which will feature the
artwork of numerous artists, from Armenian and a variety of other
backgrounds, as well as a wall of children’s art. There will also be
archival materials, literature, film, and propaganda art on display as
part of the show. In addition, the reception will boast music and
traditional Armenian food provided by culinary students of Johnson &
Wales University.
Zobian and the Gallery Z staff have also been working to establish
official media and forms of contact dedicated solely to this
exhibition. For basic information and to connect with the staff and
other supporters of the show, please visit the exhibit’s new Facebook
page: search for `Armeniangenocide Ninetyfiveyears.’ The show now has
an official email address as well. Please email
[email protected] with any comments or questions. The
exhibition team is also in the process of launching an official
website: it will be accessible in the near future at
Naturally, a show of such great scale is expected to incur equally
great costs. All the previously mentioned elements of the show will be
vital to its ultimate success but will also be costly to execute. Due
to these large production and operation costs, any and all financial
donation and support would be greatly appreciated and will help this
important exhibition truly come to life. Any donations made can be
sent to Zobian at 17 Amherst St., Providence, RI, 02909, memo:
Genocide Exhibition.
As the first genocide of the 20th century, the Armenian Genocide is a
critical event to affirm, and the surviving culture is essential to
celebrate and spread. Showcasing these two aspects, the past and
present of Armenian culture, is the most important mission of this
exhibition. The show is quickly taking shape and coming to fruition
through donations, submissions, press and media, and with the public’s
continued support, promises to achieve this mission.