New England Magazine Selects Armenian Museum as One of 10 Best Places to Visit in Boston

The Armenian Museum was selected by New England Magazine as one of the 10 best places to visit in Boston, alongside events such as the Boston Calling Music Festival and the Arnold Arboretum.

Located in Watertown in Greater Boston, the Armenian Museum of America is home to the largest collection of Armenian artifacts in North America. Among its permanent displays is this exhibition [“Stitching to Survive”] showcasing a sampling of different genres of Armenian women’s art created in the last century. Embroidered clothing, exquisite laces, knitted socks, domestic furnishings, knotted rugs, and other fine examples made for domestic use or to be sold commercially.

Chris Bohjalian to Discuss Latest Novel with Stephen Kurkjian May 18

Twelve years later, New York Times bestselling author of 23 books, Chris Bohjalian, returns to the Armenian Museum of America to talk about his latest novel The Lioness with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Stephen Kurkjian. This event will be held on Wednesday, May 18 at 7:00 pm at the Armenian Museum of America, 65 Main St, Watertown, MA.

The discussion between the two is highly anticipated in Boston and its surrounding communities. Bohjalian’s most recent novel, Hour of the Witch, was published in May 2021 and was an instant New York Times, Publishers Weekly, USA Today and IndieBound bestseller. It's a novel of historical suspense set in 1662 Boston, a tale of the first divorce in North America for domestic violence—and a subsequent witch trial. The Washington Post called it "historical fiction at its best.” The New York Times called it "harrowing."

His 2018 novel, The Flight Attendant, debuted as a New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Publishers Weekly, and National IndieBound Bestseller. It is now an HBO Max series, starring Kaley Cuoco that has been nominated for numerous Emmy, SAG, and Golden Globe awards. It was recently renewed for a second season. Bohjalian’s work has been translated into 35 languages and three times have become movies.

When Bohjalian spoke at the museum in 2012, he discussed the Armenian-themed The Sandcastle Girls, a sweeping historical love story that probes the depths of love, family, and secrets during WWI. Now, in contrast, The Lioness tells the story of a luxurious African safari that turns deadly for a Hollywood starlet and her entourage. Set in 1964 in Tanzania, actress Katie Barstow and her new husband have invited a glittering entourage of co-stars, managers, and publicists for a safari adventure. Envisioning candlelit dinners and capturing wildlife on film, the group instead face a team of Russian mercenaries and a botched kidnapping as violence and rebellion rage next door in the eastern Congo.

Stephen Kurkjian is one of the most acclaimed investigative reporters in the country. A 40-year veteran of the Boston Globe, he is the paper’s former Washington bureau chief and a founding member of its investigative Spotlight Team. Kurkjian has won more than 25 national and regional awards, including the Pulitzer Prize on three occasions.

“We are delighted to host the two esteemed authors under the auspices of the museum’s Library Committee, since books continue to be an integral part of our mission and our collection,” says Executive Director Jason Sohigian. “We are proud to share the launching of on-site events since 2019 with Chris Bohjalian and Steve Kurkjian. We hope you will mark your calendars and join us on this very special evening.”

Signed copies of The Lioness will be available for purchase at the event, which is free and open to the public.

Registration is required via Eventbrite.

New Exhibition Unveiled on The Art of the Armenian Khachkar

Rev. Fr. Torkom Chorbajian blessed the khachkar in a ceremony attended by Museum President Michele Kolligian, Trustee Steve Migridichian, Vice President Bob Khederian, Executive Director Jason Sohigian, and Director of Finance Berj Chekijian

The Armenian Museum of America recently unveiled a new exhibition in our second-floor gallery. “The Art of the Armenian Khachkar” was curated by Helen C. Evans, an Academic Advisor to the Museum who is the Mary and Michael Jaharis Curator of Byzantine Art Emerita at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The khachkar, which literally means “cross stone,” is recognized worldwide as a symbol of the Armenian people. In 2010, UNESCO placed khachkars on the List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Since the 9th century, Armenians have used khachkars as memorials to people and events. Over the centuries, their designs became increasingly elaborate and some even became venerated as miracle-working objects, notes Dr. Evans in the exhibit text.

The khachkar on display has a unique history. It was carved from tuff by Vanadzor-based sculptor Bogdan Hovhannisyan. The 630-pound slab of volcanic stone was shipped all the way from Armenia to Washington, DC, where it was carved during the Smithsonian Folklife Festival held on the National Mall. The 2018 event, “Armenia: Creating Home,” presented traditional crafts and foods integral to the identity of the Armenian people.

“The Armenian Museum was excited to acquire this piece from the Smithsonian Institution because we wanted to highlight the artistry of the khachkar. We wanted an authentic piece,” notes Executive Director Jason Sohigian, “but we did not want to remove a khachkar from its historical location in Armenia. This work has everything going for it because it is intricately carved, and Bogdan is a master carver continuing a tradition of Armenian artisans who have been making khachkars for more than 1,000 years.”

This exhibition is sponsored by Garabed and Aghavny Tovmassian-Kasparian of Worcester, who provided a leadership gift in honor of their ancestors who were survivors of the Armenian Genocide of 1915. Mrs. Tovmassian sadly passed away this week, and the khachkar was blessed in a ceremony at the Museum by her pastor, Rev. Fr. Torkom Chorbajian.

New Exhibition Opened in Third Floor Gallery on Armenian Cartography

The Armenian Museum of America recently announced the opening of a new exhibition in the Terjenian-Thomas Gallery. “Merchants and Maps” highlights 17 original maps from our collection that illustrate Armenian cartography from the 1600’s to the 1900’s.

Curator Gary Lind-Sinanian explains that the art of map-making combines the disciplines of science, history, geography, and artistic calligraphy to depict a three-dimensional world in a two-dimensional form. In recent centuries, people rarely traveled further than 50 miles from their birthplace, so maps provided a glimpse of a vast unknown world of mystery and imagination.

Half of the maps in this new exhibition were produced in Venice by the Mekhitarist Order on the Island of San Lazzaro and were donated by Paul and Vicki Bedoukian. Extensive family networks and a gift for languages allowed Armenian merchants to dominate trade to Southeast Asia for centuries, adds Lind-Sinanian. This trade network understood the value of detailed maps, and many of the world maps on display are in the Armenian language. One large map is from the collection of Arakel Almasian, who is a long-time Trustee of the Museum.

This exhibition is supported by a generous donation made in memory of Alice and John Alabilikian.

Concert to Feature Quartet Led by Artyom Manukyan, One of the Most Innovative Cellists on Music Scene Today

Cellist Artyom Manukyan’s electro-jazz quartet will be streamed by the Armenian Museum of America in Watertown, MA, for its Online Concert on February 27 (Photograph by Hal Masonberg)

The Armenian Museum of America recently announced its 9th Online Concert featuring an exclusive performance by the Artyom Manukyan Quartet. This Armenia-based electro-jazz ensemble features Arman Mnatsakanyan (drums), Arman Peshtmaljyan (keyboards), Karen Mamikonyan (keyboards), and Artyom Manukyan (cello). The concert will be shown online on Sunday, February 27 at 1:00 pm EST (10:00 am PST and 10:00 pm in Yerevan).

Artyom Manukyan made his name as a musician in Armenia and traveled the world as the youngest member of the BBC World Music Award-winning Armenian Navy Band. He has performed internationally with the renowned world music band Night Ark. After the success of his debut album “Citizen,” Artyom performed with artists including rapper Everlast, Kamasi Washington, Melody Gardot, Flying Lotus, and Tigran Hamasyan.

Artyom has shown that the cello can be played in classical music, rock, and as the lead instrument in jazz. His virtuosity is equaled by his creativity and willingness to stretch himself with adventurous improvisations. His second solo album, “Alone,” was released in 2019. In between gigs with different bands, the multi-talented artist has even nurtured another musical passion, hip hop.

“Our Online Concert series has been a great success for highlighting the traditional as well as the new,” says Executive Director Jason Sohigian. “It is in this spirit that we are excited to present this concert by a young jazz quartet led by Artyom that includes the talented percussionist Arman Mnatsakanyan. We’re grateful for the support of the Dadourian Foundation, whose mission is to promote Armenian culture, and which makes the performance available for everyone online.”

“Our members have grown with the expansion of our online programming,” adds Sohigian. “By the end of 2021 we received several leadership gifts including a sponsorship from Michele Kolligian, President of our Board of Trustees, to continue the weekly video series from our curator highlighting objects in our collection, and a grant from the SJS Charitable Trust to support the Sound Archive program to digitize the 78 rpm records in our collection and make them accessible online.”

The Online Concert series is free and pre-registration is not required. The link will be available on Sunday, February 27 on the Museum’s Facebook page, YouTube Channel,

and website ArmenianMuseum.org. The Armenian Museum of America in Watertown, MA, is the largest Armenian museum in the diaspora. Its three floors of gallery space are open Fridays through Sundays from 12:00 noon to 6:00 pm.