Member Event Mixes Art, Philanthropy & Community in Our Galleries

Our second annual Members Reception and Christmas Gallery Stroll was a huge success with more than 125 members in attendance. It was a lively evening of networking, enjoying art, and supporting our compatriots in Armenia who were displaced from Artsakh.

Guests enjoyed Armenian and Christmas songs performed by pianist Levon Hovsepian and were welcomed by remarks from Museum President Michele Kolligian and Executive Director Jason Sohigian. A number of Museum Trustees were in attendance along with artist Ara Oshagan, so members had an opportunity to meet him and discuss his “Disrupted, Borders” installation in the Adele and Haig Der Manuelian Galleries.

Last month we announced a fundraising drive which was offered to everyone in attendance and is still available online (click here). 100% of proceeds from the purchase of the new line of Michael Aram ornaments in our Gift Shop will go towards humanitarian relief for the Armenians of Artsakh. Dozens of ornaments have been sold and the charity will be selected by our Board of Trustees in the coming weeks.

We’re Sharing Armenia’s History & Culture With the World

We wish to express our sincere gratitude to you for helping us with our mission of sharing Armenia’s history and culture with the world. When the ethnic cleansing and cultural erasure of Armenians began again in 2020, we redoubled our commitment by presenting even more in our galleries and online.

Our galleries and our digital content are both educational and thought provoking. Many of the themes are universal and can be appreciated by visitors from all corners of the world. Here are just a few examples:

• Contemporary Art

• Textiles & Rugs

• Ancient & Medieval History

• Illuminated Manuscripts

• Genocide & Human Rights

• Folk Music

• The History of Christianity

People are responding positively to our exhibitions that highlight our history, Artsakh and human rights, and our artistic and spiritual contribution to world civilization. Our role in the community is more important now than ever.

Please consider a donation to the Armenian Museum of America today, so you can be a part of this national success story. Thank you and Merry Christmas!

Above image: This image depicting the Nativity Scene, shepherds and the Magi worshipping is from a priceless Hymnal in our collection completed in the year 1488. Our illuminated manuscripts, including this one, are currently being restored by experts from the Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts (Matenadaran) as part of Bank of America’s 2023 Art Conservation Project. Gift of Robert and Gail Bedoukian. 

Armenian Museum of America Presents "Early Recordings of Armenian Classics" by Ara Dinkjian on November 9

Musician and composer Ara Dinkjian will play Armenian recordings made over 100 years ago and share vintage photographs from that time period.

The Armenian Museum of America is elated to present "Early Recordings of Armenian Classics" featuring the eminent musician and composer Ara Dinkjian, on November 9, 2023, at 7 pm. In this distinctive event, Ara Dinkjian will discuss early recordings of well-known Armenian songs, play recordings made more than 100 years ago, and share historic photographs.

"We invite music enthusiasts from all backgrounds, both Armenian and non-Armenian, to join us for this unique exploration," says Jason Sohigian, AMA’s Executive Director. "Our Sound Archive, a digital repository of rare historic recordings, offers an auditory journey through time. The experts behind this significant endeavor, Jesse Kenas Collins and Harout Arakelian, are the nation's foremost experts in the domain of vintage audio preservation and the history of Armenian-American music. With support from the SJS Charitable Trust, their expertise has transformed a heritage that was once confined physically in 78 rpm records, making it universally accessible under the Virtual Resources tab of the Museum’s website. 

Recently, the museum hosted an evening with Ian Nagoski of Canary Records. This memorable event revolved around the enchanting tale of soprano Zabelle Panosian, a distinguished Armenian talent who migrated to Boston in 1907. Those in attendance were captivated by audio tracks that had been meticulously restored, some of which took hundreds of hours to perfect in sound quality.

Composer and instrumentalist Ara Dinkjian, an alumnus of the Hartt School, boasts the distinction of earning the nation's singular specialized degree in the oud. Recognized globally as one of the premier oud players, Dinkjian’s compositions have graced movie soundtracks and have been embraced by artists in a staggering 16 languages. His melody “Homecoming (Dinata, Dinata)” resonated globally during the closing ceremonies of the 2004 Athens Olympics. Furthermore, his astounding compilation of over 6,000 Armenian and Turkish 78 rpm records stands as one of the grandest archives of its kind.

Mark your calendars for November 9, 2023, at 7 pm for an evening with Ara Dinkjian and “Early Recordings of Armenian Classics” at the Armenian Museum of America. Experience a celebration of the profound influence of Armenian music and tradition. Your participation and backing are pivotal in ensuring the continued vibrancy and accessibility of this treasured archive.

This event is free for members and $20 for non-members (click here to join or renew). The Museum will also be raising funds for humanitarian relief for the Armenians of Artsakh. All gifts will be matched by an anonymous donor.

Membership Supports Our Mission to Share Armenia’s History & Culture with the World

Dear Friend,

Greetings from the Armenian Museum of America. During this challenging time, we stand with Armenia in the face of ongoing aggression. Our thoughts are with the people of Artsakh. We must take action to support Armenia and Artsakh and sometimes that starts by learning more.

In our galleries you can view the NFL Artsakh Cleats (click here) and Ara Oshagan’s larger-than-life Shushi Portraits, while our online exhibition dedicated to the Armenian heritage of Artsakh includes 50 artifacts that are safeguarded in museum collections around the world (click here).

Our exhibitions and programming are growing by the day and we are welcoming more people to the museum than ever before. The galleries--with a mix of contemporary, medieval, and ancient art--are on par with the country’s top museums. We have become a destination in Boston for Armenian and non-Armenian visitors. A few highlights:

• Youth visits have blossomed, and we are hosting hundreds of kids from private and public schools.

• We opened a major new exhibit "Ara Oshagan: Disrupted, Borders" in our contemporary art gallery.

• Our online programming is bringing our collection to members across the country and beyond.

We have expanded our cooperation with the Matenadaran. Bank of America selected us as one of 23 cultural institutions across America for its Art Conservation Project. This grant supports our work with conservators from Yerevan who will restore 21 rare, illuminated manuscripts in our collection, the oldest of which dates to the 13th century.

Membership is at an all-time high, but we count on your support to continue this growth. Being a part of the Museum offers a range of benefits:

• Free admission to our galleries

• Discounts of 10% to 25% in our Gift Shop and online

• Invitations to Members Only events such as our annual Christmas Reception and Gallery Stroll in December

Your membership supports our Mission to share Armenia’s history and culture with the world. I hope you will respond today and be a part of this success story in our community.

Respectfully yours,
Jason Sohigian
Executive Director

PS: If you received our membership letter in the mail, please keep in mind that it was sent to print before the attacks on Artsakh restarted in September. Our thoughts are with our fellow Armenians who have been killed, injured, or displaced, and our work takes on a renewed importance in the face of Genocide and cultural erasure.

Panel Discussion Coverage from 'Ara Oshagan, Disrupted, Borders'

We hosted a panel to discuss Ara Oshagan's exhibition, Disrupted, Borders. Panelists included art critic Hrag Vartanian of Hyperallergic and Prof. Christina Maranci, Mashtots Professor of Armenian Studies at Harvard, moderated by Ryann Casey.

The event was well attended and included insights into the current situation in Artsakh since Oshagan's larger-than-life Shushi Portraits are a key element of this show in our contemporary gallery.