Armenian Museum of America Leaves a Lasting Impact on Waltham High School Students

Dr. Khatchig Mouradian during a discussion with students

Dr. Khatchig Mouradian during a discussion with students.

By Pauline Getzoyan

The Armenian Weekly

Last Thursday, April 13, was a big day at the Armenian Museum of America as 110 ninth-graders from Waltham High School visited its galleries during the day, followed by more than 50 students from Montreal’s Sourp Hagop Armenian School (L’École Arménienne Sourp Hagop) later that evening. These school visits, which have increased since the end of the pandemic, are part of the museum’s genocide education programming, which is sponsored by a generous grant from the Cummings Foundation. Since 2022, more than 30 groups from elementary and high schools, as well as universities, have visited the museum.

The Weekly joined Waltham High School students studying modern world history, as they made their way through the museum’s galleries, expertly guided by director of building operations Berj Chekijian and collections curator Gary Lind-Sinanian. Overseeing the school visit was executive director Jason Sohigian, who worked closely with history teacher Rachel Unger to create a meaningful experience for the students. “This was an incredible experience for the students, to learn more about the Genocide as it ties to their curriculum but also about Armenian and history and culture in the centuries before the Genocide,” Sohigian told the Weekly. “We appreciate the effort made by Rachel [Unger] and Derek [Vandegrift] to coordinate such a large visit with us.”

Armenian Museum of America Honors Joan Agajanian Quinn for Women’s History Month

Art collector Joan Agajanian Quinn (center) with Armenian Museum President Michele Kolligian (right) and fellow Museum Trustee Sandra Missakian (Photograph by Kenneth Martin)

To celebrate International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, the Armenian Museum of America is honoring Joan Agajanian Quinn, an art collector and a strong advocate on women’s issues. She is a Trustee and member of the Executive Committee of the Armenian Museum of America.

Part of her collection was loaned to the Museum for the exhibitions “On the Edge: Los Angeles Art 1970s – 1990s from the Joan and Jack Quinn Family Collection” and “Discovering Takouhi: Portraits of Joan Agajanian Quinn.” These shows have received rave reviews from WGBH Arts Editor Jared Bowen, Boston Public Radio, WBUR, Art New England Magazine, and many others, and they are extended through March 31, 2023.

“We are grateful to Joan, and to her daughters Amanda and Jennifer, for loaning their art collection to the Museum. This show has been transformative in terms of bringing new people into the Museum and elevating our Adele and Haig Der Manuelian Galleries to a new level for future exhibitions,” states Museum President Michele Kolligian.

“The exhibitions include more than 20 women artists such as Lita Albuquerque, Lynda Benglis, Vija Celmins, and Claire Falkenstein. ‘Discovering Takouhi’ includes Dahlia Elsayed, Silvina Der Meguerditchian, Chris Hartunian, and many more. Boston Globe reviewer Mark Feeney wrote that the Quinns were unconcerned with conventions, which is one reason they were likelier to collect work by women and artists of color than many of their peers,” adds Kolligian. “It is notable that the shows were expertly curated by three women, Rachel McCullah Wainwright, and Natalie Varbedian and Gina Grigorian.”

Joan is the co-host of “Beverly Hills View” and has been the producer and host of the “Joan Quinn Profiles” for more than 35 years. The Los Angeles native was West Coast Editor of Andy Warhol’s “Interview,” Society Editor of the “Los Angeles Herald Examiner,” and the founding West Coast Editor of “Condé Nast Traveler.”

She is an Executive Committee member of the Armenian International Women’s Association and serves on the board of the Women’s Support Center in Yerevan. Joan has been appointed to an array of city and state commissions, and in 2017 she received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

“On the Edge” and “Discovering Takouhi” are presented by the JHM Foundation. The Armenian Museum of America’s galleries are open Thursday through Sunday from 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm, and it is located at 65 Main Street, Watertown, MA.

Joan Agajanian Quinn Donates Paintings by Ruben Amirian to AMA Collection

Two canvases from Ruben Amirian’s 38-part series, “Homage to Mesrop Mashtots,” which was donated to the Armenian Museum of America by Joan Agajanian Quinn in 2023.

Joan Agajanian Quinn recently announced that she is donating a series of paintings by Ruben Amirian to the collection of the Armenian Museum of America. “Homage to Mesrop Mashtots” contains 38 separate abstract paintings representing the letters of the Armenian alphabet. Each canvas is 12.5 by 16.5 inches. Assembled altogether, the series extends to an impressive 12 feet wide by four feet high. One of Ruben’s paintings is included in the “Discovering Takouhi” exhibition of Armenian artists, which will be on display through Spring 2023.

“Our family is honored and excited about the exhibitions at the Museum. As a Trustee, I am proud of the way the Museum offers Armenian art that spans from ancient times to medieval, and all the way to the modern era,” explains Quinn. “My hope was to attract more interest in the galleries and to offer something new to show from our family’s collection, which has not been widely seen or exhibited. I am also happy to expand the Museum’s collection of modern artists with this gift.”

Ruben Amirian left Iran in 1962 for the US to continue his education, earning a bachelor’s degree in Architecture and a master’s degree in City and Regional Planning from Howard University. Ruben pursued his love of art by taking courses in drawing and art history. The National Gallery of Art, Corcoran Gallery, and other galleries became a second home where he was introduced to works by Richard Diebenkorn, Philip Guston, Edward Hopper, and others. He maintains a studio practice in Glendale.

Joan Agajanian Quinn and Artist Ruben Amirian in 2022.

The Most Popular Videos from "Treasures from Our Collection" Series

This month we are celebrating the two-year anniversary of the “Treasures from Our Collection” video series. In 2020, Museum President Michele Kolligian had an idea to produce videos with our Collections Curator about objects in our collection that are not currently on display.

This allows us to share our artifacts virtually with people all over the world,and gives Gary Lind-Sinanian the chance to tell the stories of many of the objects that were donated to the Museum during his tenure.  
 
More than 100 of these videos have already been shared via email and social media, and they are archived on our YouTube Channel under “playlists.” One of the most popular videos is about a giant cooking pot and the other is about village dioramas in our collection.  
 
“Treasures from Our Collection is supported by a leadership donation from Ms. Kolligian, who is the President of the Board of Trustees, for which we are grateful,” says Executive Director Jason Sohigian. “We have feedback on the series from all over the world including scholars, people studying village histories, textiles. As Gary describes it, these objects tell the story of the culture and the social history of the Armenians.”  

Members Christmas Reception & Gallery Stroll

A special thanks to everyone who attended our first annual Members Christmas Reception and Gallery Stroll. It was exciting to show off our three floors of gallery space and offer a few surprises throughout the evening including Christmas caroling by the Homenetmen Scouts. 

During the event, Museum Trustee Charles Hajinian presented a delicate hand-knitted angora shawl to Museum President Michele Kolligian. The shawl was actually worn by Michele's grandmother Araxie Soursourian Kolligian on her wedding day, which happened to fall on the same day as this event but in 1914. Michele accepted the gift and made a wonderful announcement that she is going to donate the shawl to our textile collection. Stay tuned for more details about this story, and a temporary exhibit of the piece in our Family Case in 2023!

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