PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Library & Museum of America, Inc.
65 Main Street
Watertown, MA 02472
Phone: 617-926-2562 ext. 3
Fax: 617-926-0175
Website: <;
Contact: Mariam Stepanyan
March 3, 2006
Contact Person: Mariam Stepanyan
Phone: 617.926.2562 , ext. 3; Email: [email protected]
REFLECTIONS & EXPRESSIONS BY MEGERDITCH TARAKDJIAN
Armenian Library & Museum of America (ALMA) hosts sculptor and painter
Megerditch Tarakdjian’s exhibit “Reflections & Expressions”. After
numerous solo and group art exhibits in Canada, Tarakdjian opens his
first exhibit in New England area at ALMA’s contemporary art gallery.
Tarakdjian is originally from Syria, but has been living in Montreal,
Canada since 1982. While being a graduate of the Saryan Academy of Arts
in Aleppo, Syria, Tarakdjian started his artistic ventures relatively
later in life. Tarakdjian finds that his profession as a medical doctor
helps him to better understand and later reflect different facets of
human condition in his sculptures or painting. His oil paintings are
mostly in vibrant and unique combination of colors. The subjects in his
paintings are naïve in serene life scenes.
Tarakdjian’s bronze and fired clay figurines depict the various states
of the human condition. His treatment of the eyes of his subjects brings
to life the richness of the subject’s character in the sculptures: the
viewer can see a smile, a tear, or a deep thought in their depth. Arto
Tchakmakchian, sculptor and member of The Royal Canadian Academy of
Arts, finds Tarakdjian’s art “original in conception” and with “a unique
style of composition”.
Tarakdjian’s sculptures are on permanent display at the College des
Médecins du Québec in Montreal and the Embassy of the Republic of
Armenia in Ottawa.
The artist reception is scheduled for 4-7pm March 18 at ALMA’s
contemporary art gallery (in the heart of Watertown Square, 65 Main
Street, Watertown MA). It is open to public. The exhibit will last
through April 30. Gallery hours are Thursday 6-9pm, Friday and Sunday
1-5pm, and Saturday 10am-2pm. For more information about this and other
exhibits on display at the gallery this spring please visit
<; or call 617.926.2562.
Attached is an image of Tarakdjian’s bronze sculpture “Cuddle”.
About ALMA
Founded in 1971, ALMA’s mission is to present and preserve the culture,
history, art and contributions of the Armenian people to Americans and
Armenians alike. Since its inception, ALMA’s collection has grown to
over 22,000 books and 20,000 artifacts, making it perhaps the largest
and most diverse holding of Armenian cultural artifacts outside of
Armenia. As a repository for heirlooms, the collection now represents a
major resource not only for Armenian studies research, but as well as
for preservation and illustration of the Armenian heritage. In 1988,
ALMA acquired a 30,000 square foot facility in Watertown, MA – one of
North America’s oldest and most active Armenian communities. The
facility includes exhibition galleries, Library, administrative offices,
function hall, climate-controlled vaults and conservation lab.
ALMA is the largest ethnic museum in New England and the only
independent Armenian Museum in the Diaspora funded solely through
contributions of individual supporters. An active Board of Trustees and
volunteer base augments the museum’s staff. Museum’s active schedule of
changing exhibits includes the use of the library primarily by
researchers and interested general public seeking research materials on
Armenians. In addition, the museum sponsors lecture and presentation
program on related topics.
Hours: Friday and Sunday, from 1-5 P.M., Saturday 10AM-2PM and Thursday
evenings from 7-9 P.M. Admission: ALMA members are free/ $5 for
non-members. Children under 12 get in are free.
For more information please visit our website
<; , or call 617.926.ALMA (2562).
Directions
Driving: Take route 95 to 128 to 90 (Mass Pike East) towards Watertown.
Take exit 17- Watertown/Newton. Go North 1 mile towards Watertown
Square. As you cross the small bridge, get into the 2 left lanes. Turn
left on Main Street. Turn right on Church Street, and then turn right
into the municipal parking lot.
MBTA: Buses 71, 70/70A, 57, 52, 59, 502, 504. Please visit
<; for schedules and maps.