1997_05 Hye Sharzhoom Newspaper May 1997

              8
Hye Sharzhoom
May 1997
Professor Kouymjian Participates in Three May Conferences
The Center for Near Eastern Studies ofthe University of California, Los
Angeles sponsored a special colloquium entitled "Renegotiating Identity
in Terms ofthe Other: Armeno-Islamic
Interchange in Anatolia during the Second Half of the Thirteenth Century,"
on Friday May 2, 1997 on the UCLA
campus. Following a UCLA tradition,
Dr. Peter Cowe, Visiting Associate
Professor of Armenian Studies in the
Department of Near East Languages,
invited one other specialist, Prof.
Dickran Kouymjian, to consider in
depth the role of Armenians in Asia
Minor after the Mongol invasion. The
two papers were prepared in advance
and distributed to faculty and graduate
students for study. The focus of the
conference was on the writers
Yovhannes and Konstantine Erzinkats' i
and their relationship and assimilation
of trends in Islamic culture.
The first paper entitled "Urban
Brotherhoods in the Thirteenth Century and the Canons of Yovhannes
Erzinkac'i" was present by invited guest
Dr. Kouymjian, Haig & Isabel
Berberian Professor of Armenian Studies and Director ofthe Armenian Studies Program, California State University, Fresno. He discussed in detail the
Constitution written by Yovhannes
Erzinkats'i in 1280 for the Armenian
Brotherhood of Erzinjan and its relation to similar Islamic fraternal organizations.
The second paper "Poetic Renewal
as Indicator of Societal Redefinition"
was given by Dr. Peter Cowe, who
considered the poetics of the both
ASP ANNUAL FUND
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Patrons
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friends
Chevron Products Co
Bob & Norma Der Mugrdechian
Stanely Gajarian
Paul & Betty Jane Geragos
Peter Giragosian
Michael & Jackline Matosian
Steve Saroyan
Edward L. Sornigian
M/M Ralph Tufenkian
Sponsors
J. Agajanian
M/M Norman A. Avedian
Tarjian Bedoian
M/M Kenneth Chooljian
Richard & Armon Darmanian
Sam & Betty Farsakian
Dr/Mrs. Ara Hairabedian
Al & Isabelle Kabrielian
George & Valentin Kapanagian
Dr/Mrs Sarkis Karayan
Rosellen & Mike Kershaw
Harold & Elizabeth Manselian
Robert & Jackie Manselian
Charles & Zabelie Melkonian
Donald Missirlian
Rose Narlian
Sona Saroyan
Mr. Ralph Setian
M/M Ed Shirin
Arminee & Leo Shishmanian
Simonian Farms
Konstantine and Yovhannes and their
interchange with Islamic culture.
Prof. Leslie Pierce, Visiting Professor of Ottoman History at UCLA,
was the chair and discussant of the
Colloquium. She emphasized how
important it was to make available this
rich Armenian source material to specialists of medieval Islamic history and
literature because it presented a fascinating insider's view of what urban life
was like in the transition period after
the Mongol conquest and before the
rise of the Ottomans.
A lively discussed ensued around
a number of questions related to early
Armenian-Mongol, Armenian-Islamic
and Armenian-Turkic relations in the
pre-Ottoman period. Topics ranged
from the preservation of minority cultural monuments, in this case Armenian, to statistics on population and
demography. Both Profs. Cowe and
Kouymjian spoke about the influence
of literary and historical conventions
from die Islamic world on Armenian
intellectuals. Dr. Kouymjian explained
that the cultural borrowings which took
place in both directions illustrates how
vibrant Armenian culture was in those
years. "Armenians were players in the
game," he said, "sometimes minor,
sometimes major, but always present.
It was only 1915 and the Genocide
which took them out of the great cultural exchanges in Asia Minor, to the
apparent loss of Anatolian culture which
is poorer now than ever before."
Professor Kouymjian will participate in two other conferences in May.
On Saturday, May 10th he will present
a paper entitled "Who Reads Saroyan
Today" at a conference on "William
Saroyan and Contemporary Scholarship," sponsored by the Stanford University Libraries. The conference,
which begins at 10 AM and continues
into the afternoon, is part of a celebration of the consolidation of the William
Saroyan Literary Collection at Stanford
University. It is open to the public.
The following weekend. May 17-
18, he will participate at the special
conference "Armenian Van/
Vaspurakan" organized by Prof. Richard Hovannisian at UCLA. On Saturday, May 17 he will give a paper entitled "Van under Mongol-Turkmen
Domination," and on the following day,
Sunday May 18, he has been invited to
give an illustrated lecture on "Pictoral
Memories of Armenian Van." The
UCLA Van Conference will be held
from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM on Saturday
and 1:30 to 5:30 PM on Sunday in 1200
Rolfe Hall. It is free and open to the
public.
Donors
John Antoyan
Nevart Apikian
Lolla & Satenig Arabyan
Albert Avedikian
Vahe Baladouni
M/M Bill Bohigian
Mark Bohigian
M/M Martin Bohigian
Kay Cloud
Arten J. Avakian
Hrant Darakjian
M/M Richard Elbrecht
Gloria Enochian
Linda Garabedian
M/M Hagop Ghajanian
Douglas Gilio
Dr. Gayane Hagopian
George & Julia Hagopian
Carol A. Harootian
M/M Sam Hokokian
M/M John Jarahian
Samuel G. Kadorian
Malcolm Kasparian
Harry Kazarian
Alex Kouymdjian
John Krikorian
George A & Rita E. Larchian
Alma Margosian
Margaret Mazmanian
Vahe Meghrouni
John & Lucille Melkonian
Charles & Mary Merzian
Penny Mirigian-Emerzian
Mary R. Mooradian
Le Roy & Becky Naman
M/M Richard Nikssarian
Richelle Noroyan
Ellen Ohan
Leo & Marlene Philbosian
Henry & Nancy Sanoian
Armen & Rose       Sarquis
Armen Berge Sarrafian
Lusya Tokhian
Robert Topoozian
Martin Tourigian
Bess P. Vickery
Harry Zekian
John H. Zerounian
The Fresno Art Museum
• Reuben Nakian: Sculpture
A Centennial Survey
• Sam Tchakalian: Paintings
May 16 -Through August 17,1997
Opening Reception
Thursday, May 22,1997
5:00-7:00 PM
The Public is Invited-Free Admission
Fresno Art Museum
2233 N. First St. • Fresno, California
IN MEMORY OF ISABEL BERBERIAN
Donations as of 4-23-97
Rev Fr & Mrs Shahe Altounian
Barbara V. Ishkanian
James & Pamela Ardaiz
Deran & Mimi Koligian
Vera & Helen Atamian
Arkie & Rose Margosian
Norman & Rose Marie Avedian
Peter & Barbara Nishanian
Marvin & Jane Baxter
Dr & Mrs. Rodney Paloutzian
Russ & Margie Baxter
Baxter Ranch
Krikor & Katherine Bedrosian (in
honor of Diane Gazarian's birthday)
Robert & Elna Richards
Berge & Alice Bulbulian
Gary & Elaine Simonian
Gloria Enochian
Robert Vanspronsen
Dr. Martha Googooian Ensher
Rafael Zaratzian
Aram & Barbara Garabedian Rita & Harry Zaratzian
Wayne V. Hotzakorgian, DDS, MSCD
The Reuben Nakian: A Centennial Survey exhibit will see the
Museum examining the work of one of the most original and innovative
sculptors of this Century. During his career, Nakian was recognized with
a Whitney Fellowship, a Guggenheim Grant, and Ford Foundation
recognition. His United States representation at the San Paulo( 1961) and
Venice(1968) biennials, his retrospectives in Los Angeles, Washington,
D.C, and at the Museum of Modern Art in New York along with
installation and purchases of major works are the measure of his importance as one of the links to the great art-making traditions of past
centuries. *
Even though Nakian studied sketching, clay sculpture and red
French-chalk drawing at Art Students League, Independent Art School
and Beaux Arts Academy between 1912 and 1915, his background, like
that of this friends Arshille Gorky, Willem de Kooning and Franz Kline,
was much like a Renaissance apprenticeship rather than the typical art
school training. He studied in studios where artists made a living (with
Manship and Manship's chief assistant Lachasie). The metamorphosis
from craftsman into artist was a slow one though Nakian accepted early
on the idea that sculpture is concerned with the great myths and that art
is permeated with history.
Nakian's work in this centennial survey will be represented by
examples of clay and bronze, drawings on paper and clay as well as small
terra-cotta figures and examples of printmaking.
Sam Tchakalian: A Fifteen Year Survey will feature this San Francisco
painter who is known for his large scale work which reveals both an
expressionist approach and an emphasis on the paintings surface, which
could be interpreted as a kind of sculptural relief.
Tchakalian has been an influential teacher since the early 1960s
at the San Francisco Art Institute. Trained at San Francisco State College
as a teacher, he returned to earn a MFA though his earlier studies were
completed in psychology. Born in 1929 in Shanghaim, China, his
interests extend to that of the Eastern viewpoint* however, many of
Tchakalian's works present a "place -of-meeting" between the East and
the West.
As mentioned earlier, the Museum will use these two exhibitions as a catalyst to involve the large number of citizens in our community of Armenian decent. We are planning an Armenian Cultural Day at
the Museum that will feature music, dance, food, traditional costumes, ad
discussions about Armenian heritage.
Thank You Donors
Milton Avakian
Dr. Armand Bedikian
Lilyan Chooljian
M/M Gerard & Josephine Chahmirian
Mr. & Mrs. Armen Dildilian
Robert & Christine Enochian
Mr. Ray Ensher
John & Lucile Melkonian
Dianne & Arnold Gazarian (In memory ofNuvart Nishanian)
Rose Nevart Jerzyk
Arax Kaloustian
Rosellen Kershaw
Alan Koobatian
Hagop Kouyoumdjian
Harold & Elizabeth Manselian
Harry Mardirosian
Alma Margosian
Jackie Matosian
Richard & Vartouhy Pandukht
Irene M. Peloian
Jack & Victoria Peloian
Helen H. Sevagian
Vernon & Sylvia Shahbazian
Michele Sigler
Mrs.B. Sofian
Miss Shohig Sherry Terzian
David & Sandra Vartanian
Madeline Adrian
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