Category: 2017

Remembrance service, book launch, and art exhibition on Saturday, December 9

On Saturday, December 9, the first anniversary of the passing of Hrach Lukassian will be marked with a remembrance service at St. Mary’s Armenian Church in Glendale, California, beginning at 11:30 am. The service will be followed by the launch of a newly-published book in honor of Lukassian as well as an exhibition of his photographs and paintings, during a reception that will take place at the adjacent Glendale Youth Center.

Hrach Lukassian was a man of many talents. A naturalist, mountain climber, photographer, and artist, he traveled throughout the globe, climbed some of the world’s highest mountains — including Kilimanjaro, Everest Base Camp, Ararat, Damavand, and Whitney — and took thousands of breathtaking photographs of the wondrous places he visited. Lukassian’s art encompasses intricate watercolors of Armenian churches, birds, and other animals, as well as museum-quality handicrafts, including nature-inspired sculptures and backgammon sets. A large selection of his creations, comprising nature photographs and various watercolors, will be on view at the December 9 event.

Lukassian was also a beloved humanitarian and community volunteer. A lifelong supporter of the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry (ABMDR), he regularly photographed its events and donated many of his artworks to the organization for raising funds through silent auctions. In recognition of his extraordinary dedication to ABMDR’s life-saving mission, he received the ABMDR Special Pride Award in 2014. Lukassian was likewise a noted supporter of the Glendale Police Department, greatly contributing to its archives with his photography of various public events. In addition to recognizing Lukassian’s work with Certificates of Appreciation during his lifetime, the Glendale Police Department posthumously honored him with a special ceremony and the placement of his name on a remembrance plaque.

This year, Hrach Lukassian’s family published a volume of photographs, artworks, and memories in celebration of his life and multifaceted work. Titled Hrach Lukassian: At Home in the World, the book was released in November.

A large-format, full-color book printed on high-quality stock, Hrach Lukassian: At Home in the World includes a dazzling selection of Lukassian’s photographs, with subjects ranging from the California Sierras and Yellowstone National Park to lakes, creeks, waterfalls, forests, mountains, and natural monuments throughout California, Arizona, and Utah. Other photography chapters feature Lukassian’s loving tributes to trees, flowers, autumn, and winter.

The book includes substantial sections dedicated to Lukassian’s mountain-climbing expeditions, and the many voyages of discovery which he embarked on with his wife and children. Among the highlighted journeys are those to Armenia, Western Armenia, Artsakh, Africa, the Central and Southern Americas, Jordan, Russia, and Alaska.

These sections are complemented by chapters devoted to Lukassian’s paintings and hand-crafted wood creations; his work as a tool-maker, industrial photographer, and trade-show organizer; his involvement in community and humanitarian causes; and his fondly remembered legacy as a devoted husband and father.

As Dr. Vergine Madelian, a member of the ABMDR Board of Directors, has written, “Hrach lived his life as a rich man: rich in interests, rich in talent, and rich in experiences.”

Copies of Hrach Lukassian: At Home in the World will be available for guests attending the December 9 book presentation and art exhibition. Guests will also be welcome to make contributions in memory of Hrach Lukassian. All proceeds will be donated to the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry.

St. Mary’s Armenian Church is located at 500 South Central Avenue, Glendale. The Glendale Youth Center is located at 211 West Chestnut Street, Suite 302, next to St. Mary’s Armenian Church. Parking will be available at the church parking lot.

Workshop Focuses on Communicating with Teens Outstanding Speakers and Personal Parental Observations Shared with Parents
GLENDALE—State Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D – La Cañada Flintridge) was joined by more than 40 Armenian parents at the Glendale Youth Center on November 17 for his “Communicating With Your Teen as an Armenian Parent” workshop.

Presenters Dr. Ilin Magran, Assistant Director of Student Support Services at Glendale Unified School District, and Lieutenant Lola Abrahamian from the Glendale Police Department discussed effective tools of communication, social media usage, bullying and drug use among teens. Parents engaged in conversation, sharing their own experiences and offered advice to one another. The Senator also shared some of his own observations as a father.

“As the father of a teenage daughter, I always feel there is more to learn about communicating with our kids. I was very happy to host an event for parents of teens with such amazing speakers. The discussion was very robust, honest and heart-wrenching. I’m looking forward to our next one,” commented Portantino.

Portantino, a strong advocate for education and our students, chairs the Budget Subcommittee on Education. Senator Portantino plans to hold similar workshops in the future to continue the conversation on helping parents and students better communicate with one another and keeping our youth out of harm’s way to ensure they have the necessary tools to succeed.

Sen. Portantino represents nearly 930,000 people in the 25th Senate District, which includes Altadena, Atwater Village, Bradbury, Burbank, Claremont, Duarte, Glendale, Glendora, La Cañada Flintridge, La Crescenta, Lake View Terrace, La Verne, Los Feliz, Monrovia, Montrose, Pasadena, San Dimas, San Marino, Shadow Hills, Sierra Madre, South Pasadena, Sunland-Tujunga, and Upland.

NEW YORK—The late singer Christ Cornell and Armenian conductor Constantine Orbelian were among performers nominated for Grammy awards when the roster was announced Tuesday morning on CBS “This Morning.”

Cornell was nominated in Best Rock Performance category for his song, “The Promise,” which was the theme song for the eponymous film about the Armenian Genocide that premiered in April in the United States.

Cornell, who was best known as the lead vocalist, primary songwriter, and rhythm guitarist for the band Soundgarden and as lead vocalist and songwriter for Audioslave, died in Detroit on May 17. He was 52.

Last month the Armenian National Committee of American-Western Region honored Cornell with a special tribute during its annual gala. Earlier this month, Cornell was honored at the Arpa International Film Festival 20th anniversary banquet and was posthumously awarded.

Orbelian  was nominated along with the late Russian opera singer Dmitri Hvorostovsky Best Classical Solo Vocal Album category for “Russia Cast Adrift,” the world premiere orchestral recording of neo-romantic composer Georgy Sviridov’s song cycle set to the vivid and moving poetry of Sergei Yesenin.

Orbelian conducted the St. Petersburg State Symphony Orchestra and the Russian folk music ensemble Style of Five for Hvorostovsky’s latest album “Russia Cast Adrift.”

Orbelian’ is the General and Artistic Director of the Yerevan Opera House, which in 2018 will mark the establishment’s 85th anniversary as well as the 150th anniversary of Armenian opera

Another album featuring Orbelian was nominated for Grammy 2015.

The 60th Grammy Awards will be held on January 28 at Madison Square Garden in New York and will be broadcast live on CBS.