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Zareh Khrakhuni Centennial Tribute

ArmenianArts Gallery
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Zareh Khrakhuni Centennial Tribute

The California Armenian Writers Association presents a special commemorative evening celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of Zareh Khrakhuni—one of the most influential and innovative voices in modern Western Armenian literature.

Born in Istanbul in 1926, Khrakhuni was a poet, essayist, translator, editor, and literary theorist who played an important role in revitalizing postwar Western Armenian literature. A leading figure in the “new poetry” movement, he developed a distinctive literary approach known as “objective symbolism” and published 26 volumes encompassing poetry, prose, drama, and translations.

Through reflections on his life, poetry, and enduring literary legacy, the evening will honor Khrakhuni’s contribution to Armenian letters and his lasting influence on generations of writers and readers. Join us in remembering a remarkable intellectual whose work expanded the expressive possibilities of Western Armenian poetry.

Date: Friday, November 20, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: The Center for Armenian Arts | 250 N. Orange Street, Glendale, CA 91203
Parking: 90-minute free parking is available at 222 N. Orange Street.
Admission: Free

An Attempt to Digitize the Works of Marxism-Leninism and Their Followers — An Exhibition by Zaven Khachikyan

ArmenianArts Gallery
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An Attempt to Digitize the Works of Marxism-Leninism and Their Followers — An Exhibition by Zaven Khachikyan

The Center for Armenian Arts presents a conceptual exhibition by Zaven Khachikyan exploring the transformation of political ideology, historical memory, and printed material in the digital age. Through a process of visual repetition and reinterpretation, the exhibition examines what happens when influential texts and ideas are removed from their original physical context and converted into new forms.

The featured works invite viewers to reflect on the ways political thought is preserved, reproduced, and reshaped over time. Khachikyan’s restrained imagery and repeated human form suggest themes of conformity, identity, authorship, and the individual’s relationship to systems of collective belief. The exhibition creates a space for thoughtful engagement with the visual and ideological legacy of Marxism-Leninism and its followers.

Exhibition Opening: Friday, November 6, 2026 | 7:00–10:00 PM
Exhibition Continues: Saturday, November 7, 2026 | 3:00–6:00 PM
Location: The Center for Armenian Arts | 250 N. Orange Street, Glendale, CA 91203
Parking: 90-minute free parking is available at 222 N. Orange Street

“Expectations” — A Solo Exhibition by Peto Poghosyan

ArmenianArts Gallery
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“Expectations” — A Solo Exhibition by Peto Poghosyan

The Center for Armenian Arts is pleased to present Expectations, a solo exhibition by Armenian artist Peto Poghosyan. The exhibition invites visitors into a world shaped by atmosphere, memory, and anticipation, where familiar streets and architectural forms are transformed through the artist’s expressive vision.

Through layered textures, softened forms, and a subdued yet luminous color palette, Poghosyan captures the quiet emotional presence of urban spaces. His paintings move beyond literal representation, suggesting moments suspended between reality and imagination—places that feel both recognizable and deeply personal. Together, the works create a reflective visual journey centered on stillness, longing, and the possibilities held within moments of expectation.

Exhibition Opening: Friday, October 23, 2026 | 7:00–10:00 PM
Exhibition Continues: October 24-25, 2026 | 3:00–6:00 PM
Location: The Center for Armenian Arts | 250 N. Orange Street, Glendale, CA 91203
Parking: 90-minute free parking is available at 222 N. Orange Street

The Kaleidoscope of Destiny — Book Presentation with Sarah Ignatius

ArmenianArts Gallery
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The Kaleidoscope of Destiny — Book Presentation with Sarah Ignatius

Join author Sarah Ignatius for a presentation of her debut novel, The Kaleidoscope of Destiny, a powerful coming-of-age story set during the Armenian Genocide. The novel follows fourteen-year-old Arakel, who dreams of traveling the Silk Road with his two closest friends—one Armenian and one Turkish. When the events of 1915 tear his world apart and force his family into exile across the Syrian desert, Arakel must depend on strangers from different faiths, cultures, and backgrounds to survive.

Blending historical fiction with themes of courage, conscience, trust, and human connection, The Kaleidoscope of Destinyexplores how hope and compassion can endure even during humanity’s darkest moments. Through Arakel’s journey, the novel brings an often-overlooked chapter of history to life for contemporary readers while examining questions that remain deeply relevant today.

Sarah Ignatius is a former human rights lawyer and nonprofit executive director who most recently led the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research. She taught immigration and asylum law at Boston College Law School and coauthored Immigration Law and the Family. A graduate of Stanford University and Georgetown University Law Center, Ignatius draws upon her Armenian heritage and extensive work in human rights to create a moving story of survival, resilience, and shared humanity.

The conversation will be moderated by Dr. Arpi Sarafian, an author, literary scholar, and retired professor of English Language and Literature at California State University, Los Angeles. Her publications include Endless Crossings: Reflections on Armenian Art and Culture in Los Angeles and The Second Endless Crossings: Reflections on Armenian Art and Culture. She also writes regularly for The Armenian Mirror-Spectator.

Date: Monday, October 19, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: The Center for Armenian Arts | 250 N. Orange Street, Glendale, CA 91203
Parking: 90-minute free parking is available at 222 N. Orange Street.

Level 50: Born of Childhood — A Solo Exhibition by Gayane Aslamazyan

ArmenianArts Gallery
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Level 50: Born of Childhood — A Solo Exhibition by Gayane Aslamazyan

The Center for Armenian Arts presents Level 50: Born of Childhood, a solo exhibition by Gayane Aslamazyan. Marking a significant personal and creative milestone, the exhibition returns to childhood as a source of memory, imagination, and artistic renewal. Through vibrant colors, decorative patterns, and symbolic imagery rooted in Armenian visual culture, the works explore how our earliest experiences continue to shape the people we become.

Known to Armenian audiences as an art historian, journalist, television host, actress, and cultural figure, Aslamazyan has spent much of her career engaging with art from several perspectives. She has also served as director of the Aslamazyan Gallery, carrying forward a family connection to Armenian artistic life. In Level 50, she steps forward through her own visual language, transforming personal recollections into vivid works that connect the innocence of childhood with the perspective of the present. As the exhibition’s message suggests: art remembers, and memory becomes tomorrow.

Opening Reception: Friday, October 16, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM–10:00 PM

Additional Viewing: Saturday, October 17, 2026
Time: 3:00 PM–6:00 PM

Location: The Center for Armenian Arts, 250 N. Orange Street, Glendale, CA 91203
Parking: 90-minute free parking is available at 222 N. Orange Street.

The Shepherd of the Song

ArmenianArts Gallery
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The Shepherd of the Song

Join renowned Armenian folk singer and educator Hasmik Harutyunyan for The Shepherd of the Song, a special musical evening dedicated to Komitas and the enduring beauty of Armenian traditional music. Named after a poem by Levon Mirijanyan, the program will begin with the voice of Komitas, followed by a short film exploring his life, work, and invaluable role in preserving Armenia’s musical heritage.

Hasmik Harutyunyan and her students will then perform a selection of traditional songs, carrying forward the music that has connected generations of Armenians. The evening will conclude with an interactive workshop led by Harutyunyan, during which guests will be invited to learn and sing Armenian folk songs together, with the lyrics displayed on screen.

A Meritorious Artist of the Republic of Armenia, Hasmik Harutyunyan is a leading interpreter and teacher of Armenian folk music. She is the artistic director of the Hayrik Mouradian Children’s Folk Song and Dance Ensemble and an invited vocal mentor for UCLA’s Armenian Music Program. Through her performances and teaching, she continues to preserve ancestral songs and pass them on to new generations.

Date: Thursday, October 8, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: The Center for Armenian Arts, 250 N. Orange Street, Glendale, CA 91203
Parking: 90-minute free parking is available at 222 N. Orange Street.

Thoughts: We Are What We Think — An Exhibition by Avo Khalatyan

ArmenianArts Gallery
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Thoughts: We Are What We Think — An Exhibition by Avo Khalatyan

The Center for Armenian Arts presents Thoughts: We Are What We Think, an exhibition featuring the work of acclaimed Armenian actor and visual artist Avo Khalatyan. Through vivid colors, layered imagery, expressive figures, and theatrical compositions, Khalatyan transforms thoughts and inner emotions into striking visual narratives. The exhibition invites viewers to consider how our perceptions, memories, and private reflections shape both who we are and how we experience the world around us.

Born into a family of artists in Yerevan, Khalatyan studied at the Hakob Kojoyan Art School and the Yerevan State Institute of Theatre and Cinematography. An Honored Artist of the Republic of Armenia, he has been a prominent performer at the Hakob Paronyan State Musical Comedy Theatre since 1998. His visual art draws deeply from this theatrical background, bringing the drama, movement, and storytelling of the stage onto the canvas. Recent presentations of his work include solo exhibitions in Yerevan and appearances in California and at The Other Art Fair Dallas.

Opening Reception: Friday, October 2, 2026 | 7:00 PM–10:00 PM
Additional Viewing: Saturday, October 3, 2026 | 3:00 PM–6:00 PM

Parking: 90-minute free parking is available at 222 N. Orange Street

Self Recognition Movement Launch

ArmenianArts Gallery
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Self Recognition Movement Launch

Join Vardan Hakobyan for the official launch of the Self Recognition Movement—an Armenian cultural and civic initiative dedicated to preserving and advancing Armenian identity, culture, and shared values. Guided by the message “Know your roots, recognize yourself, and shape our shared future,” the movement seeks to connect Armenians in the homeland and throughout the diaspora through cultural exchange, mutual support, and active participation in national life.

During this special gathering, attendees will learn more about the movement’s mission, principles, and vision for Armenia’s future. The presentation will explore the importance of education, civic responsibility, cultural awareness, and stronger cooperation between Armenia and the diaspora in building a more conscious society and a stronger nation. Guests will also have an opportunity to discover ways to become involved in the movement and its future initiatives. (Self Recognition Movement)

Date: Saturday, September 19, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: The Center for Armenian Arts, 250 N. Orange Street, Glendale, CA 91203
Admission: Free
Parking: 90-minute free parking is available at 222 N. Orange Street.

The Woman — An Exhibition by Lilit Melikyan

ArmenianArts Gallery
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The Woman — An Exhibition by Lilit Melikyan

The Center for Armenian Arts is pleased to present The Woman, an exhibition by Armenian artist and designer Lilit Melikyan, Director of the Teryan Cultural Center NGO. Melikyan’s long-standing artistic practice is dedicated to the revival and contemporary reinterpretation of Armenian national costume, with a special place in her work reserved for the art of batik.

At the heart of The Woman is the Armenian woman as seen through Lilit Melikyan’s eyes—strong, creative, and life-giving, carrying within her the memory, colors, culture, and future of Armenia. Each work tells the story of a woman while simultaneously telling a story about Armenia. The Glendale exhibition will present a selection of works from Melikyan’s 2025 solo exhibition in Armenia, where she showcased 50 works of art. This selection will be presented in Glendale for the first time.

The exhibition will also introduce a new coloring book inspired by Melikyan’s artwork, created for both children and adults and inviting audiences to engage with Armenian culture through color, collage, and creativity.

The Glendale presentation marks the beginning of a new journey for the artist—a series of exhibitions of her paintings and Armenian national costumes across the United States, sharing the story of Armenia through art, fashion, and cultural heritage.

Opening Night: Friday, September 18, 2026 | 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Second Day: Saturday, September 19, 2026 | 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Location: The Center for Armenian Arts
250 N. Orange Street, Glendale, CA 91203

Parking: Parking is available at 222 N. Orange St., Glendale, CA 91203. The first 90 minutes are free, with parking available for $3.00 per hour thereafter.

Yes, We Have: Criminals — Book Launch & Birthday Celebration

ArmenianArts Gallery
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Yes, We Have: Criminals — Book Launch & Birthday Celebration

I invite you to join me for a very special evening at the Center for Armenian Arts as I celebrate my birthday with the launch of my newest book, Yes, We Have: Criminals, part of the ongoing Yes, We Have series.

Every community has its heroes, artists, scholars, entrepreneurs, and individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to society. The Armenian community is no exception, and we have much to be proud of. But if we are going to tell our story honestly, we must also be willing to acknowledge its uncomfortable chapters. Yes, We Have: Criminals is not intended to embarrass Armenians or judge an entire community by the actions of a few. Rather, it documents individual cases involving fraud, deception, corruption, and criminal activity while recognizing that those actions do not represent the Armenian people as a whole.

This book continues the mission of the Yes, We Have series: to document Armenian life and contributions honestly and preserve our stories for future generations. Celebrating our accomplishments should not require us to hide our failures; acknowledging both is part of preserving a complete and truthful history.

The evening will also feature other books from the Yes, We Have series, including Yes, We Have, Yes, We Have: Expanded, Yes, We Have: Women and also The Armenian in America and Monasteries and Churches of Artsakh + Map of Artsakh.

Most importantly, all funds raised from book sales during the event will go toward supporting student tuition, making this celebration not only about looking back at our stories, but also about investing in the next generation.

I hope you will join me for an evening of conversation, books, community, and, of course, a little birthday celebration.

Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: The Center for Armenian Arts
Address: 250 N. Orange Street, Glendale, CA 91203

Parking: Parking is available at 222 N. Orange St., Glendale, CA 91203. The first 90 minutes are free, with parking available for $3.00 per hour thereafter.

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