BELMONT, Mass. — Prof. Levon Chookaszian will give an illustrated lecture titled, “The Life and Art of Arshag Fetvajian: Master Armenian Artist,” on Thursday, February 7, at 8 p.m. at the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR), 395 Concord Ave. The lecture is co-sponsored by the Armenian Library and Museum of America (ALMA) and NAASR. An exhibition of Fetvajian’s work is currently on display at ALMA’s third-floor gallery, 65 Main St., Watertown.
Fetvajian (1866-1947) was one of the most international of Armenian artists. Though his sophisticated views of late- 19t h- century European and A r m e n i a n scenery and manners have made him the subject of some important exhibitions and studies, there remains a need to take a closer look at Fetvajian. He was born in Trebizond, trained in Ottoman Turkey and Italy, lived in Austria, Russia, Armenia, Georgia, England and the United States and traveled widely. Unfortunately, his works are scattered across the world and many are seldom seen and little known.
Chookaszian’s recent work on Fetvajian is the most comprehensive to date in presenting a large number of his a r t w o r k s, accompanied by a detailed narrative of his life and works in A r m e n i a n, Russian and E n g l i s h . Chookaszian is the UNESCO Professor of Armenian Art History at Yerevan State University and one of the leading authorities in the world on Armenian art. He has taught at Yerevan State University since 1978 and is one of the founders of the department of art history. He is the author of many scholarly books and articles on a wide variety of subjects.
This lecture is being given in memory of Arshag Merguerian (1926-2005), architect and an active member and friend of NAASR for nearly 50 years.
More information about Chookaszian’s lecture may be had by e-mailing hq@naasr.org, or writing to NAASR, 395 Concord Ave., Belmont, MA 02478.
