CONFERENCE OF ARMENIAN WRITERS AT UCLA WITH A CELEBRATION WEEKEND OF ARMENIAN CULTURE. NOV. 6-8
AZG DAILY
04-11-2009
Culture
The public is cordially invited to attend a convention of Armenian
authors writing in languages other than Armenian to be held at UCLA’s
Schoenberg Hall over the weekend of November 6-8. The third bi-annual
conference of its kind is organized by the Writers’ Union of Armenia,
the Ministry of Culture of Armenia and the UCLA Naregatsi Chair of
Armenian Studies.
The Conference is partially funded by Ara Abrahamyan of Moscow,
President of the Union of Armenians of Russia.
The purpose is to draw writers of Armenian descent into dialogue with
each other, with their counterparts writing in Armenian, and with
their readers and potential readers in the wider Armenian community
about the core issues connected with this type of literature. While
the two previous gatherings were held in Erevan, Los Angeles was
selected as the venue this time around in recognition of North America
as the center of this literary activity. In addition to the panels and
readings during the day, the convention will feature a play performance
and chamber concert in the evenings, as well as an ongoing exhibition
of contemporary Armenian art and book exhibit.
The official opening speech by Levon Ananyan, President of the
Writers Union of Armenia, will be followed by an introductory panel
highlighting recent publication trends by Armenian writers in media
other than Armenian by language and region (Europe, the Spanish
World, Russia, North America, and the Middle East). This will then
be paralleled by an update on recent translations of this literature
into Armenian ending with the presentation of a brand new anthology
of translations published specially for the occasion to indicate the
interest these works have generated among readers of Armenian.
Seminal Literary Topics
The ensuing sessions review a range of seminal topics from the
role of family as a core motif in this writing, and the impact of
the Genocide and questions of memory, to different perspectives on
homeland and problems of identity and talking points between writers in
non-Armenian language media and their those writing in Armenian. Each
of these will be addressed in an opening paper by a literary critic,
some more focused reflections by writers, and general discussion. Each
afternoon time has been allocated for writers to read from their recent
works and round table exchange of views. The gathering will conclude
with a consideration of current trends and future expectations that
will include an initial report on the project to designate Yerevan
World Book Capital 2012 in celebration of four-hundred years of
Armenian printing.
Among the academics taking part will be Profs. David Calonne, Barlow
Der Mugrdechian, Alan Whitehorn, and Osheen Keshishian, while the
participating writers include more senior figures like Diana Der
Hovanessian, Peter Sourian, and Alicia Kirakosian, as well as younger
representatives like Mark Arax and Shahe Mankerian, a group of poets
from Greater Los Angeles In addition, a delegation of ten writers,
literary critics, and translators will be participating from Yerevan.
The panels, scheduled to take place in the Jan Popper Auditorium,
will be accompanied by a book exhibit organized by Abril Bookstore,
Glendale.
Cultural Program – Play, Concert and Exhibition
The accompanying cultural program comprises a performance of "The
Hungerers," a powerful play by William Saroyan reflecting on the
hardships of the Depression and the invincibility the human spirit. It
will be staged by Arena Productions on Friday, November 6, under the
direction of Dr. Anahid Keshishian Aramouni. The performance will be
followed by refreshments and a Q & A session with the cast.
On the 7th a concert will be held of contemporary and modern Armenian
music featuring composers and musicians from the Armenian Republic
and various diasporan centers under the direction of Prof. Movses
Pogossian. Apart from renowned exponents like Alan Hovannes and
Tigran Mansurian, currently marking his seventieth anniversary,
the program will grandstand works by younger composers like Vache
Sharafyan (Yerevan), Gregory Ayriyan (Moscow), Kevork Andonian
(Canada), and Ashot Kartalyan (Pasadena), several receiving their LA
premiere. Both the play and concert commence at 8 p.m. Tickets ($10)
can be purchased in advance or at the door.
An exhibition of works by young Armenian artists of Southern California
curated by Vazken Brutian will run in Kerckhoff Gallery over the three
days of the conference after its official opening on the afternoon
of the sixth.
Parking for all these events is available in Parking Structure 2,
UCLA. For further information please call or contact Prof. Osheen
Keshishian at (818) 781-0714 and [email protected] or Prof. Peter Cowe at
(818) 986-0718 and [email protected].