Day: February 6, 2024

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After the completion of long-awaited renovations, the permanent exhibition of renowned Armenian artist Ivan Aivazovsky (born Hovhannes Aivazian) has reopened at the National Gallery of Armenia in Yerevan. The exhibition is the marine artist’s most significant collection in terms of quantity and artistic worth, containing over 50 paintings and graphic works.

Born in Theodosia on the Crimean coast, Aivazovsky grew up by the sea, which sparked his inclination for arts from a young age. Aivazovsky studied at the Simferopol Gymnasium (1831-1833) and then at the Imperial Academy of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg (1833-1839). 

Statue of Aivazovsky at the National Gallery of Armenia

In 1837, the Saint Petersburg Academy of Arts awarded Aivazovsky a gold medal and sent him to study abroad. In 1840, Aivazovksy set off to Italy and later traveled to England, the Netherlands and France. In 1868, Aivazovsky went to the Caucasus, and in 1869 he participated in the opening ceremony of the Suez Canal. When he was 75, he took the longest journey of his life and traveled to America by steamboat with his wife Anna Burnazian.

Aivazovsky’s works were admired everywhere, and he was elected a member of the academies of Paris, Rome, Amsterdam, Florence and Stuttgart. He was also awarded the French Legion of Honour and received the highest rewards.

Haykuhi Sahakyan, art historian and curator of the exhibition, told the Weekly, “The collection of Hovhannes Aivazovsky of the National Gallery of Armenia is one of the richest collections of the world-famous sea painter and is extremely diverse both in terms of genre and exhibits.” Sahakyan added that a large number of the pieces from the collection were laid in the very first years of the museum’s foundation between 1924 and 1985. The first exhibits were transferred to the museum from the Armenian House of Culture in Moscow (former Lazarian Seminary). Throughout the years, the collection has grown rapidly through donations and acquisitions.

Aivazovsky’s artwork at the National Gallery of Armenia

The current Aivazovsky exhibition aims to introduce visitors to the museum’s collection and many of Aivazovsky’s masterpieces that demonstrate virtuosity. Consisting of four sections, the main element of the exhibition is light, which in its various manifestations is the main idea in many of Aivazovsky’s paintings. Aivazovsky used the technique of glazing, which is masterfully demonstrated in his paintings of sunrise and sunset scenes. 

“It is possible to single out the painting ‘Descent of Noah from Ararat’, painted by Aivazovsky in 1889. It symbolizes the beginning of a new life and seems to be imbued with biblical light,” Sahakyan said. Originally, the painting was exhibited in Paris, but later it was brought to Armenia through the efforts of Martiros Saryan. 

Aivazovsky’s artwork at the National Gallery of Armenia

Although consistent, Aivazovsky’s sea paintings are distinguished by a variety of genres and themes, and the stormy scenes especially reflect Aivazovsky’s temperament, according to Sahakyan. Contrary to many beliefs, Aivazovsky did not like working in the open air, as he believed that the elements of nature were constantly changing, and it was impossible to capture the wind, cloud movements and the sea. “He watched the sea for a long time, which, according to him, changed every second, and once he went back to his studio, he began to depict it in such a way that it seemed that the waves were moving in his canvases,” Sahakyan said.

The sea and the storm were Aivazovsky’s creative passions, especially depicting when the natural forces reach their maximum tension. The intense confrontation between humanity and the forces of nature is also a prominent theme in his artwork. In 1844, a ship sailing from England to Spain and struggling against a storm, with young Aivazovsky among its passengers, miraculously came ashore in the Bay of Biscay. “Fear was not able to suppress the ability to perceive that living picture and to imprint it in my memory,” Aivazovsky wrote. As a witness of the untamed elements of nature, Aivazovsky later created many works that conveyed his admiration for all things natural. “In his paintings, the ever-present ray of light, the symbol of hope and salvation, foreshadows an optimistic ending even for the most terrible storms,” as stated in the exhibit.

Aivazovsky’s artwork at the National Gallery of Armenia

The relationship between man and nature, optimism and humanism are the basis of Aivazovsky’s art, as evident in the exhibition. Aivazovsky loved to travel to different countries, paint new seashores and introduce his works to art lovers everywhere. The fourth and final section of the exhibition features nighttime seascapes, which convey the mystery and charm of moonlit seascapes typical of Romantic art. “Both Armenian and foreign visitors are always curious to discover new aspects of his art and leave the museum filled with the greatest admiration for Aivazovsky’s art,” Sahakyan said.

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Within the wide array of podcasts, books, Hollywood movies, Academy Award film nominees and humanitarian initiatives, there are very few accounts of Armenians publicly recognized across the board. Aurora Mardiganian’s harrowing story is one of the few.  

Storytelling of her traumatic life has existed for over a century, beginning in 1918 with the publication of the book Ravished Armenia: The Story of Aurora Mardiganian, The Christian Girl Who Survived the Great Massacres. Just over 100 years later, Aurora’s Sunrise, an animated film about her life, premiered in 2022 and was Armenia’s entry to the Academy Awards for 2023. Also in 2023, Uncovering Roots launched a three-part podcast series titled, The Lost Voice – Aurora Mardiganian. 

Aurora Mardiganian

Born Arshaluys (Aurora) Mardiganian in 1901 to a prosperous Armenian family in Chmshgatsak in the Ottoman Empire, she miraculously survived the 1915 Armenian Genocide but witnessed the tragic deaths of her family members. Like many Armenians of the time, she endured a harrowing march of thousands of miles, subjected to unspeakable cruelties by Turkish gendarmes.

Sold into slavery for a mere 85 cents to a tribal leader’s harem, Mardiganian escaped multiple abductions. Finding refuge in an American mission home in Diyarbakir, her courage was kept alive with caring visits from Armenian General Andranik. He referred to her as his “little girl” and restored her spirit by allowing her to care for other girls liberated from harems. Strengthened, she was aided by General Andranik in reaching New York City with the support of the Near East Foundation, holding onto hope of finding her brother who reportedly escaped to America.

As a parting gesture, General Andranik gave her a ring that had belonged to his father and grandfather. He implored her, “When you reach that beloved land, tell its people that Armenia is prostrate, torn and bleeding, but it will rise again – if America will only help us – send food for the starving and money to take them back home when the war concludes.”

Mardiganian answered the call. Boarding the ship without a place to call home, she carried her strong Christian faith that God would guide her in fulfilling the mission she had pledged to her hero, General Antranik. Broken, traumatized and fearful, Mardiganian was hopeful that she was sailing toward a safer life. 

But that hope didn’t last long.  She could never have imagined the horror that awaited her. 

Cover of 1918 book “Ravished Armenia” showing Aurora Mardiganian (Wikimedia Commons)

Once in America, Mardiganian shared her story with newspapers with the hope of finding her brother and fulfilling General Antranik’s mission. Her story caught the attention of screenwriter Harvey Gates and his wife, who did not have her best interests in mind. Gates convinced her to write Ravished Armenia, with promises that he and his wife would care for her. Unfortunately, without comprehending the contracts she signed naming them as legal guardians, Mardiganian unknowingly became the star of the 1919 silent film Auction of Souls, a cinematic portrayal of her traumatic experiences. Soon, she found herself reliving the most agonizing events of her life on a Hollywood film set. By all accounts, the movie was a blockbuster and broke box office records. Through high-society charity screenings nationally and internationally, the movie raised $30 million to rescue 60,000 Armenian orphans through Near East Relief. 

Forced to address audiences after each film premiere, Mardiganian’s traumatic past caught up with her, and she collapsed during a 1920 screening in Buffalo. This incident marked her final public appearance. With Mardiganian absent from the stage, both Hollywood and the world gradually lost interest, and her story faded into obscurity. Unfortunately, the book and film also vanished, with no known complete print of the movie.

In her later life, Mardiganian married and had a son, but the relationship was estranged after her husband’s death. She never located her brother and lived out the rest of her life haunted by memories, paranoia and in fear of danger lurking at her door and windows.

In light of the recent resurgence of remembering Mardiganian, I implore you to witness the astonishing story in mediums that are accessible and appealing to a broad range of listeners, viewers and readers.  

Listen, watch, read:

• The Lost Voice – Aurora Mardiginian; “Uncovering Roots” Podcast
  
  “Uncovering Roots” is characterized as an exploration into lesser-known narratives that deserve to be heard. For podcaster Max Saakyan, the story holds personal significance, living in the United Kingdom as an Armenian, a region where awareness of the Armenian Genocide is limited. Saakyan engages listeners with his compelling voice, incorporating oral testimonies and interviews with people who knew Mardiganian. The podcast is accessible on all major podcasting platforms.
• Aurora’s Sunrise  
  
  Armenian director Inna Sahakyan blends storybook adult animation, video testimony and rediscovered footage from Mardiganian’s lost silent epic and revives her forgotten story. The footage is brilliantly edited together with animation made using paper cutouts and characters who act out Mardiganian’s story. 
• “Ravished Armenia – The story of Aurora Mardiganian, the Christian girl who lived through the great massacres” by Aurora Mardiganian
  
  A grueling first-hand account from Mardiganian of her life before the United States. It is painful to read, but critically important to understand the depth of the horrors she experienced.  

Advertisement for the American drama film “Auction of Souls” (1919) with Aurora Mardiganian at the Royal Theater in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on page 51 of the August 2, 1919 Exhibitors Herald (Wikimedia Commons)

In honor of the 100th anniversary of the 1915 Armenian Genocide, the Republic of Armenia chose to make Mardiganian the face of the “Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity,” an esteemed humanitarian initiative founded by visionary philanthropists Vartan Gregorian, Noubar Afeyan and Ruben Vardanyan, who have been joined by thousands of supporters and partners. Thousands of Armenian families like mine owe gratitude to Mardiganian for her efforts in raising funds for Near East Relief, which played a crucial role in rescuing orphans and reuniting them with their families, including my grandfather. 

While Mardiganian was once a Hollywood star, the screenplay of her full life does not have a storybook ending. I can only hope that when Mardiganian passed away in solitude in 1994, she wore General Antranik’s ring, a symbol of the promises kept from a bygone era.

Let’s continue to honor her legacy of resilience and deep commitment to God and to her Armenian people.

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NEW YORK, NY – The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center is pleased to welcome Cam Ward, director of the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles, as the organization’s new Advisory Board Chair and Middlesex County, MA, Sheriff Peter Koutoujian as Advisory Board Vice Chair. Director Ward, nationally recognized for his leadership on criminal justice reform, is set to lead the organization’s next phase.

“I am honored to work with this outstanding, bipartisan organization,” said Director Ward. “I believe our work is vital to the national effort to enhance public safety, promote best practices in the criminal justice system, and save taxpayer dollars through meaningful rehabilitation programs. I look forward to serving as chair of the CSG Justice Center Advisory Board.”

Additionally, Sheriff Koutoujian, with his distinguished track record in law enforcement and criminal justice policy, brings a wealth of experience to his new role as vice chair. “The CSG Justice Center has a vital mission and stands as the premier association of its kind in the country. Its efforts to improve public safety and justice across the United States are essential now more than ever,” said Sheriff Koutoujian. “I have seen firsthand the high level of professionalism and expertise that the CSG Justice Center can bring to states and communities, and I am excited to work with Director Ward and the Advisory Board members to build upon these tremendous successes and further evidence-based programs across the nation.”

These leadership changes come at a vital time in the national conversation about what works to keep communities safe and ensure that the justice system is effective and fair. Megan Quattlebaum, director of the CSG Justice Center, praised the new appointments, stating, “Director Ward and Sheriff Koutoujian are incredible leaders who have shown what is possible when policymakers bring urgency and optimism to the table. The innovations they have made in their own states have become national models. We are very fortunate to have Director Ward and Sheriff Koutoujian as part of our team as we continue to support effective, evidence-based policies and practices. Both of these positions reflect the organization’s commitment to leadership that is bipartisan and well-versed in policy development, system oversight, and the advancement of justice reforms.”

The CSG Justice Center also welcomes Marsha Curry-Nixon to the executive committee. Founder and director of AMiracle4Sure, Inc., her work with individuals who are reentering their communities after incarceration, her roles on various boards, and her academic achievements in public service leadership make her an invaluable addition to the team.

In addition to these leadership changes, the CSG Justice Center is proud to introduce four new esteemed members to the Advisory Board:

• Nicholas Deml, commissioner of the Vermont Department of Corrections, whose leadership and track record of innovation will inform our corrections and reentry

initiatives.

• Christelle Perez, division chief for Violence Prevention and Crime Victims Services at the Office of the Illinois Attorney General, brings an invaluable perspective on victim services and violence prevention.

• Sheryl Victorian, chief of the Waco Police Department in Texas, whose experience in law enforcement will enhance our public safety strategies.

• Nan Waller, judge at the Multnomah County Circuit Court in Oregon, offers her judicial expertise, as well as her experience with courts as leaders of justice reform initiatives.

The diverse perspectives that these new members bring to the table will enrich the Advisory Board’s deliberations and ensure the CSG Justice Center continues to be positioned to advance consensus around successful approaches to safety and justice. The Advisory Board will be convening in the Spring of 2024, in Washington D.C. for its first committee meeting.

To view the full list of the CSG Justice Center Advisory Board members, visit https://csgjusticecenter.org/advisory-board.

The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center is a national, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that combines the power of a membership association, serving state officials in all three branches of government, with policy and research expertise to develop strategies that increase public safety and strengthen communities. For more information about the CSG Justice Center, visit www.csgjusticecenter.org.

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Azerbaijani Foreign Minister welcomes head of TURKPA observation mission  Trend News Agency

All polling stations in Azerbaijan fully prepared for snap presidential election: CEC  News.Az