TANKIAN, EGOYAN TO SPEAK AT HAMMER MUSEUM ON APRIL 22
asbarez
Monday, March 19th, 2012
Serj Tankian
Atom Egoyan
LOS ANGELES–Two days before the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide
of 1915, two artists of Armenian descent will come together to discuss
its lasting impact. The Hammer Museum will present filmmaker Atom
Egoyan and musician Serj Tankian in conversation, on Sunday, April 22,
at 3 p.m. Admission is free.
Atom Egoyan’s critically acclaimed films include Chloe, Speaking Parts,
The Adjuster, Exotica, The Sweet Hereafter (nominated for two Academy
Awards), and the award-winning Ararat, a meditation on the Armenian
Genocide. His work has been featured in international retrospectives
including at the Centre Pompidou in Paris and at the Venice Biennale.
Serj Tankian is a Lebanese-born Armenian American singer, songwriter,
activist, and composer. Tankian has released five albums with the
rock band System of a Down, one with Arto Tuncboyacıyan, and two
solo albums. In 2002 Tankian and Rage Against the Machine/Audioslave
guitarist Tom Morello co-founded a nonprofit activist organization,
Axis of Justice. In 2011 Tankian was awarded the Armenian Prime
Minister’s Medal for his contributions to the recognition of the
Armenian Genocide and the advancement of music.
Related Screenings: Ararat: Monday, April 16, 7pm – Billy Wilder
Theater, Hammer Museum Ararat is loosely based on the Siege of Van
during the Armenian Genocide. While exploring the human impact of that
specific historical event, the film also examines the nature of truth
and its representation through art. Ararat stars Charles Aznavour,
Christopher Plummer, and David Alpay and won several awards, including
Best Film on Human Rights by the Political Film Society of Hollywood
and the Freedom of Expression Award from the National Board of Review
in New York. (2002, Dir. Atom Egoyan, 115 min.)
Screamers: Tuesday, April 17, 7pm – Billy Wilder Theater, Hammer Museum
The documentary Screamers chronicles Grammy Award-winning rock band
System of a Down’s efforts to persuade both the British and U.S.
governments to recognize the Armenian Genocide. The film explores why
genocides repeat and features interviews with Pulitzer Prize-winning
activist Samantha Power; survivors from Turkey, Rwanda, and Darfur;
FBI whistleblowers, and Hrant Dink, who was assassinated in Turkey
after appearing in the film. (2006, Dir. Carla Garapedian, 91 min.)
Hammer Conversations This ongoing series pairs creative thinkers from a
range of disciplines for engaging, provocative discussions on culture,
science, and the arts.
All Hammer public programs are free. Seating is on a first come,
first served basis. Hammer members receive priority seating, subject
to availability. Reservations not accepted, RSVPs not required. Parking
is available under the museum for $3 for 3 hours.
About The Hammer Museum The Hammer Museum, a public arts unit of the
University of California, Los Angeles, is dedicated to exploring the
diversity of artistic expression through the ages. Its collections,
exhibitions, and programs span the classic to the cutting-edge in art,
architecture, and design, recognizing that artists play a crucial
role in all aspects of culture and society.
The museum houses the Armand Hammer Collection of Old Master,
Impressionist, and Post-Impressionist paintings and the Armand Hammer
Daumier and Contemporaries Collection. The Hammer’s newest collection,
the Hammer Contemporary Collection, is highlighted by works on paper,
particularly drawings and photographs from Southern California. The
museum also houses the Grunwald Center for the Graphic Arts, comprising
more than 45,000 prints, drawings, photographs, and artists’ books
from the Renaissance to the present; and oversees the management of
the Franklin D. Murphy Sculpture Garden on the UCLA campus.
The Hammer presents major single-artist and thematic exhibitions of
historical and contemporary art. It also presents approximately ten
Hammer Projects exhibitions each year, providing international and
local artists with a laboratory-like environment to create new work
or to present existing work in a new context.
As a cultural center, the Hammer offers a diverse range of free public
programs throughout the year, including lectures, readings, symposia,
film screenings, and music performances. The Hammer’s Billy Wilder
Theater houses these widely acclaimed public programs and is the new
home of the UCLA Film & Television Archive’s renowned cinematheque.
Hammer Museum Information For current program and exhibition
information call 310-443-7000 or visit
Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, 11am – 7pm; Thursday,
11am – 9 pm; Sunday, 11am – 5 pm; closed Mondays, July 4, Thanksgiving,
Christmas, and New Year’s Day.
Admission: $10 for adults; $5 for seniors (65+) and UCLA Alumni
Association members; free for Museum members, students with
identification, UCLA faculty/staff, military personnel, veterans,
and visitors 17 and under. The Museum is free on Thursdays for all
visitors. Public programs are always free.
Location/Parking: The Hammer is located at 10899 Wilshire Boulevard,
at Westwood Boulevard. Parking is available under the Museum. Rate
is $3 for three hours with Museum validation. Bicycles park free.
Hammer Museum Tours: For group tour reservations and information,
call 310-443-7041.
www.hammer.ucla.edu.