Kahvedjian’s Photos MAY 15, 2014 THE CALIFORNIA COURIER, PAGE 13 Of Pre-Israel Jerusalem On Exhibit in Bay Area SAN FRANCISCO (San Fran- cisco Chronicle) - As a child, Elia Kahvedjian (c. 1910-1999) ar- rived in Nazareth, an orphaned refugee of the Armenian geno- cide. Finally settling in Jerusa- lem, he set up as a photographer and began making and collecting images of the city in the first half of the 20th century. A The selec- tion of his photos comes to San Francisco for the first time. Sara Cohen presents a three-hour workshop about the experience They are on exhibit through of Armenian Genocide orphans for approximately 40 students in the June 21, Monday-Friday, at the LCO volunteers leaning the church's interior. San Francisco Bay Area. Jewish Community Center of San Francisco, 3200 California St. LCO Continues Historical Restoration Bay Area Youth Learn About (414) 292-1233. It was a miracle that he survived In Northern and Southern Armenia Armenian Genocide Orphans and lived to create such photo- SAN FRANCISCO - The serlian, who told students his graphic masterpieces. PASADENA – Last month, the More campaign information can Genocide Education Project grandmother's survival story: His archive in Israel consists of Union International de Organisa- be found at www.lcousa.org. (GenEd) recently presented a Ovsanna Misserlian was three 3,000 images. tion Terre et Culture (UIOTC)/ As the Armenian nation contin- three-hour workshop about the years old when she, her mother, Land and Culture Organization ues to struggle with many chal- experience of Armenian Geno- and her older sister were forced to Art Review (LCO) chapters from France, the lenges in Syria, Karabagh, and cide orphans for approximately leave their home in Izmit, Turkey. US, United Kingdom, Belgium Armenia, LCO strives to be dili- 40 high school students from all Ovsanna's mother did not survive Why Narine Isajanyan’s and Armenia held this year's an- gent in solidifying the Armenian over the Bay Area. The students the death march, and her sister nual meeting in France. Projects historical presence and remains were among more than 700 youth sought to protect her by placing Art Should be in Every and plans for the upcoming 2014 committed to the restoration and educators from more than her in an Arab home until she campaigns were reviewed. Mem- of Armenian cultural heritage. 100 schools participating in the could retrieve her. Ovanna's sis- Museum, Gallery, Home bers of the Lyon Armenian com- These landmarks are the only "Day of Learning," a program of ter never returned, and eventually munity attended a fundraising tangible, physical proof of Arme- By Nickolas Chelyapov the Holocaust Center of the Jew- French troops found Ovsanna cultural program at the AGBU nians’ existence on the land. When you enter a gallery har- Armenian Center for a presenta- For over 36 years, LCO has ish Family Children's Services in and placed her in an orphanage boring a group show and start San Francisco. in Aleppo, Syria. She was later tion about the OTC/LCO mission been one of the earliest volunteer scanning the walls filled with and its projects. groups in Armenia and Karabakh Sara Cohan, Education Direc- placed in the Armenian home of paintings, at some point you no- The board discussed the status working to restore, renovate, and tor for The Genocide Education the Misserlian family as a house- tice something that attracts your Project presented the interactive keeper, and she married the fami- attention. You return to that piece of ongoing projects, including rejuvenate the historical monu- workshop focusing on the fate ly's older son, Mihran Misserlian. and continue scanning. If your Syria. In the 1980-1990s, OTC/ ments and sites of the Armenian of more than 200,000 Armenian Students also watched a video eye catches a piece by Narine Isa- LCO restored Karadouran's vil- nation. It has performed this mis- Genocide orphans. interview of 101-year old Arme- janyan – you stop. lage church and three traditional sion through its summer cam- "I thought that the workshop nian Genocide orphan survivor, If you want to construct a glos- Armenian dwellings in Kessab, paigns, by volunteers of every was very interesting and I wish Almas Avakian, from the docu- sary to describe the reason for one of which is used as the Kes- age from the Diaspora and Arme- that, the following nouns will be we had more time to spend! It was mentary film, "Orphans of the sab ethnographical museum. Dur- nia. To learn more about LCO or used: roots, mystery, earth, phi- ing this current crisis in Syria, join in its summer volunteer pro- incredibly informative, beautiful- Genocide," produced by Bared losophy, spirit, depth, energy, ly worded, and I've taken a great Maronian. GenEd board member, Armenian refugees from Aleppo, gram, contact www.lcousa.org. cosmos, ground, beauty, space, Yacoubiyah, and other areas interest in the Armenian Geno- Roxanne Makasdjian, and Sara emotion, Armenia, universe, and found shelter in these homes until cide now, not only for our proj- Cohan told the stories of their many more. A list of adjectives ect, but also from pure personal grandparents' escape from the Ar- will include: harmonious, sin- the recent attack on Kessab. L.A. Times' Ken interest," said Leeshia Rocha of menian Genocide. cere, open, captivating, charged, During the 2013-summer cam- Moreau High School in Hayward, The workshop included a sec- balanced, restrained, borderless, paign, 20 volunteers from Cana- Dilanian Jumps to AP free, infinite, and a plethora of da, England, France, Russia, and CA. "The speakers/hostesses tion about the problem of con- By Dylan Byers were lovely and the presentation tinuing denial of the Armenian others. If you look at Narine’s the US launched a new project in was perfect and answered all the Genocide and the current con- pieces from afar, sometimes not southern Syunik region in Shika- much is happening on the canvas questions I had. I hope the Arme- troversy over the White House's hogh, located in Armenia's second LOS ANGELES - Ken Di- at first sight, but something draws largest forest reserve. Volunteers lanian, an intelligence and na- nian Genocide gains more aware- "Orphan Rug," handmade in the you to that. When you approach ness because I truly believe it is 1920s by Armenian orphans as a lived in the village while renovat- tional security reporter, has left it, the whole world, her world, ing the 16th century Sourp Stepa- worth learning about!" gift to the United States. During very much related to your world the Los Angeles Times for the nos Nakhavegah Church with in- After a brief history of the an activity session at the end of appears in front of you as you Associated Press, the latest in a Armenian Genocide, students the workshop, students broke up come closer and closer. scriptions from the 13th century. string of notable departures for learned how orphans mostly died into groups to devise some kind Her usage of quite raw earthly The 2013 group cleared the site the beleaguered newspaper. along deportation routes, or were of action they would take to ex- materials, such as soil and sand and conducted archaeological ex- Dilanian, who spent two years taken by Turks or Kurds, or put press or respond to what they had on the one hand, brings you clos- cavations. Swords and artifacts at the Times, will join AP's na- in orphanages run by Americans, learned. er to Mother-Nature in its physi- from the 17-18th century era tional security team, where he Europeans, or "Turkification" In addition to attending individ- cal manifestation, but the materi- of David Beg were discovered will cover the CIA and the NSA, als transformed by the soul and centers to transform them into ual workshops, students attending during the digs. In 2014, a new among other areas. He will also spirit of the artist now disappear group of volunteers will start on team with Eileen Sullivan on sto- Turks. the Day of Learning gathered to as such and become a new entity "It was gratifying to see how hear testimony from a Rwandan the restoration phase of the proj- ries about surveillance, privacy defining sacred message of eter- ect. engaged the students were in the genocide survivor and watch a nal values. and intelligence-gathering. Another ongoing project is the stories of the Armenian Geno- short film about the experience of One more important observa- The Tribune Company, which cide orphans," said Cohan. "Their a Jewish family in Poland during tion regarding the artist’s impact. 7th-10th century Tchitchkhana- owns the Times, restructured its questions were so insightful and the Holocaust. She not only teaches us by con- vank in Shirakamut, near Spitak. entire business late last year to the carried out their workshop as- Educators interested in obtain- veying her message, but draws LCO already completed archaeo- accommodate falling revenues in signments with interest and imag- ing instructional materials about out of us emotions, thoughts, and logical excavations in 2011 and print advertising at its newspa- ination." the orphans of the Armenian contemplations and invokes our 2012 with the restoration phase pers, which also include the Chi- Students heard from San Fran- Genocide are welcome to contact spiritual forces. beginning this summer. Comple- cago Tribune and the Baltimore That’s why Narine Isajanyan’s cisco Armenian-American com- The Genocide Education Project tion date is expected to be summer Sun. The company slashed a total Art should be in every Museum, munity member, Mihran Mis- at [email protected].