SOUTHFIELD, Mich. — In their ongoing efforts to preserve Armenian art and artifacts, and to enlighten the community about Armenian culture, the Alex and Marie Manoogian Museum and Richard A. Manoogian, chairman of the Board, Armenian Apostolic Society, will host Dr. Helen C. Evans, at St. John Armenian Church Cultural Hall, on Wednesday, June 12, at 6:30 p.m.
Evans will present a special slide-lecture program based on the recent “Armenia! Art, Religion, and Trade in the Middle Ages” exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
She is the Mary and Michael Jaharis Curator for Byzantine Art, Metropolitan Museum of Art. In addition to the Armenia! exhibit, Evans was curator of several other exhibits, including: for the Morgan Library and Museum, “Treasures in Heaven: Armenian Illuminated Manuscripts” in 1994; for the Metropolitan Museum, “The Glory of Byzantium (843-1261)” in 1997; “Byzantium: Faith and Power (1267-1557)” in 2004; and “Byzantium and Islam: Age of Transition (7th-9th centuries)” in 2012.
Three artifacts from the Manoogian Museum were included in the exhibit and the exhibit catalog: the 18th century Hand Reliquary of Saint Abulmuse; the 18th century Kütahya Egg-Shaped Ornament; and the 18th century Kütahya Hexagonal Tile with Architectural Scene. They will be discussed in the program.
Evans received several awards for her work on the “Armenia!” exhibit: Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, presented her with the Order of Saint Sahak-Saint Mesrob; and the Prelacy of the Great House of Cilicia presented her with the Mesrob Mashtots and Queen Zabel Award as well as the “Spirit of Armenia” Award.
For the occasion, Sylvie Merian, a contributor to the Armenia! catalog, and also one of the editors and contributors to: Testimony to a People–Alex and Marie Manoogian Museum, will read a specially written colophon.
