WATERTOWN — The Armenian Museum of America is unveiling its vision for the future. Founded in 1971, the museum serves as the largest repository of Armenian artifacts in the diaspora, as well as the largest ethnic museum in Massachusetts. As the Museum builds towards the future, it strives to create a stronger, more connected community through shared exploration of Armenian art and history, both for Armenians and those who are new to Armenian culture.
The museum’s new gallery, “Armenia: Art, Culture, Eternity,” provides an overview of Armenian culture from antiquity to present-day Armenian experience here in the United States. More than 50 objects are on display, illustrating Armenia’s origins in the Asian continent, the invention of a unique Indo-European language and alphabet, the early adoption of Christianity, Armenian medieval illuminated manuscripts, interconnected trade routes, and the tragedy of the Genocide.
“Armenia: Art, Culture, Eternity” is the culmination of 12 months of intense research and design and represents a new level of scholarship and interpretation at the museum. The project was made possible by the support of the Board of Trustees and was spearheaded by Executive Director Jennifer Liston Munson and architect Virginia Durruty, who worked side-by-side with Michele Kolligian, president of the Board of Trustees, on the inspired design.
The gallery is the start of a holistic consideration of the entire museum, which will examine everything from the building’s distinctive Brutalist architecture — including how the hard space is a meaningful metaphor for Armenia’s difficult history — to the museum’s role in telling the modern Armenian-American cultural narrative.
As a major moment in the process of awakening the building and developing a vibrant cultural space, the Museum is proud to welcome the public to its new gallery and invites the community to share in its future.
The opening reception will be held on Thursday, November 15, 6 to 7.30 p.m. A gallery viewing and talk will take place with speakers Michele Kolligian, Jennifer Liston Munson and Virginia Durruty. There will be live music from 7.30 to 9 p.m., with an Armenian-inspired reception in the Adele & Haig Der Manuelian Galleries, 3rd floor.
