“The Armenian Genocide: A Centennial Exhibition, 1915-2015” looks at the leadership role of the clergy during the Armenian genocide as well as the experience of Armenians in Fresno.
The exhibition will run April 10-May 29 in the Leon S. Peters Ellipse (second floor) of the Henry Madden Library at Fresno State.
Presented by the Armenian Studies Program, the free, public exhibition opens with a reception from 6-8 p.m. Friday, April 10, co-hosted with the Friends of the Madden Library. The reception is free, but reservations are requested online (enter code AGR).
A special showing of “Churches of Historic Armenia: A Legacy to the World” photographs from the collection of Richard and Anne Elbrecht also will be displayed on the third floor of the Madden Library.
The exhibition features the newly released “Iconic Images of the Armenian Genocide,” which includes photographs assembled as an instructional guide for human rights education, provided by the Armenian National Institute, the Armenian Genocide Museum of America and the Armenian Assembly of America.
“As more and more photographs of the Armenian genocide are uncovered, and as the ‘Iconic Images’ exhibit illustrates, the general outline of the main events that defined the genocide can now be illustrated with compelling and dramatic images that survive from that era,” said Dr. Barlow Der Mugrdechian, Armenian Studies Program director.
He spearheaded a campaign to collected the photographs from numerous repositories, sources and individuals, including the U.S. National Archives, Library of Congress, Near East Foundation, Oberlin College Archives, University of Minnesota Library, Fresno State Armenian Studies Program, Republic of Armenia National Archives, Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute, AGBU Nubarian Library, Armenian Assembly of America, Armenian National Institute collections, Maurice Kelechian and National Geographic photographer Alexandra Avakian.
Another part of the exhibit, “The First Refuge and the Last Defense: The Armenian Church, Etchmiadzin and the Armenian Genocide,” explains the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin during the genocide.
It examines the intervention of His Holiness Catholicos Gevorg V. Sureniants in alerting world leaders about the massacres, effectively issuing the first warning of an impending genocide, Der Mugrdechian said.
Other sections of the exhibit are devoted to the Armenian immigration story and to the experience of Armenians in Fresno.
Der Mugrdechian noted several individuals helped him make the exhibition possible: Dr. Rouben Adalian of the Armenian National Institute; Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church; historian Randy Baloian and archivist Malina La Porta.
Public parking is free on weekends (Friday 4 p.m. through Sunday evening). Parking lots P30 and P31 at the Shaw and Barton avenues entrance of the University are nearest to the Madden Library. During the week, parking is $3 for a day permit from dispensers on Barton and Maple off Shaw or at the Police Department on Barstow.
For more information about the presentation, contact the Armenian Studies Program at 559.278.2669 or visit www.fresnostate.edu/armenianstudies.
Related links:
- Armenian Studies Program
- Reception reservations
