URI Providence Campus to Commemorate

THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
95 Years Later, In Remembrance

The First Genocide of the 20th Century

Exhibit runs April 1-30, 2010
Gallery Night Reception April 15 5:00-9:00 pm
Special Performance & Reception April 17 3:00-5:00 pm

The URI Feinstein Providence Campus has invited Gallery Z director Bérge Ara Zobian, an Armenian of Providence, RI, to curate a historically and artistically important show: THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE – 95 YEARS LATER, IN REMEMBRANCE including original art works by more than 40 artists and 100 school children along with photographs, posters and artifacts from ALMA Armenian Library Museum of America and, Armenian Genocide Museum Institute of Armenia and private collections.

The exhibit includes works by Adrienne Der Marderosian, Armen Garo, Arpi Dadoyan, Astrid, Berge Ara Zobian, Beth Ferreira, Carol Scavotto, Chris Gasparian, Chris Murphy, Cynthia Motian McGuirl, David Ayirian, Medina Topalian, Emma Grigoryan, Greg Chopoorian, Hagop B.Aprahamian, Hrair B. Aprahamian, Ian Mohon, Jason Roberts, John Avakian, Judith Ferrara, Julian Penrose, Kevork Mourad, Lara B., Lidya Tchakerian, Marsha Nouritza Odabashian, Nilton Cadenas, Norma Papazian Akkelian, Daniel Varoujan Hejinian, HAWK, Sevan Naccachian, Nareg Haroutunian, Simon Samsonian (b.1915 d.2003), Sirapi Heghinian Waltzer, Sossy Narcessian, Stephen Koharian, Sylva Portoian, Taylor Manter, Yevkeen, Varky, Tigran Tsitoghdzyan, Alexander Grigorian, Dorothy Abram, Larry Sykes. Plus over 100 children's art ages ranging from 6-16 and, Genocide artifacts, books and displays from ALMA Armenian Library Museum of America,Armenian Genocide Museum Institute of Armenia and private collections.

Today, the horrors of the Armenian Genocide are commemorated annually on April 24th, the date in 1915 where the terrible intentions of the Turkish government for the Armenians first came to light. On April 24th 1915, over one and one half million Armenians perished in the Armenian Genocide, the first genocide of the 20th century. Committed by the political party of the Ottoman Empire commonly known as the Young Turks, the killings and abuse occurred during World War I from 1915-1918 before being renewed once again from 1920-1923.

The Turkish government had grown increasingly suspicious of the minority Armenian population who they feared had become too powerful and nationalistic, and they therefore planned a deportation and extermination program disguised as a resettlement plan. The deported Armenians suffered massacres, starvation, disease, torture, and confiscation of all their possessions. The few that survived became refugees in neighboring countries.

As a result of this horror, a vibrant community of Armenian citizen’s settled in the Rhode Island area. Berge Zobian and Steven Pennell, Coordinator of Urban Arts and Culture at the URI Feinstein Providence Campus have planned to celebrate Rhode Island’s Armenian Community for some time by sharing various aspects of Armenian culture and history including artwork, artifacts, posters, objects and photographs that illustrate home life, community life, religious and political life in order to provide a comprehensive representation of the Armenian Genocide and the dynamic community that settled in this region and the contributions they have made to the greater community.

URI Feinstein Providence Campus Gallery
1st and 2nd floor lobby
80 Washington Street
Providence RI 02903

Hours:
Monday – Thursday 9-9
Friday and Saturday 9-4, closed Sunday and holidays

For information call Steven Pennell 277-5206

Steven Pennell
Coordinator, Arts and Culture Program
URI Feinstein Providence Campus
80 Washington St
Rm 214
Providence, RI 02920
401-277-5206 spennell@etal.uri.edu