Weekend Fun: Faire on the Square, New Art Exhibit, South Asian Theater, Meet John Hancock

Faire on the Square attendees check out one of the dozens of exhibitors on the field at Salonstall Park. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Quickly, before the library parking lot is shut on Saturday, take your kiddos to the sing-along on Friday morning. The adults in the family could go see the beautiful art exhibit of photo-realistic paintings at the Armenian Museum of America. I love the photo they show on the website.  Saturday afternoon, many in Watertown will be heading to the Faire on the Square. It’s time to grab some free candy or swag at the booths, hang out to hear some music, and hit the rides.

Armenian Museum Hosting Reception for Exhibit of Artist Who Creates Photo-Realistic Paintings

The following announcement was provided by the Armenian Museum of America:

Tigran Tsitoghdzyan is a New York-based artist whose photo-realistic paintings merge an interest in classical and modern art with an emphasis on his own experiences. Tigran’s work is exhibited widely including Art Basel Miami, Cube Art Fair in Times Square, and globally in cities such as Dubai, Singapore, Cannes, Zurich, Monaco, and Brussels. Opening ReceptionThursday, September 196:30 to 8:30 pm

In the Adele and Haig Der Manuelian GalleriesLight refreshments will be served

RSVP by Monday, September 16

RSVP here.

Weekend Fun: Arts Market, Kids Concert, Armenian Art, Pajama Brunch with a Movie & More

The 2024 Watertown Arts Market will take place at Filippello Park on Saturday, Aug. 17. I hope you are staying home this weekend because there’s some fun action in town to join in on. Let’s start Saturday morning with some sweet parent and young child time at the library with the Rockabye Beats. Then in the afternoon, head to Filippello Park for the annual Arts Market.

Armenian Museum Seeks to Fill Three Job Openings

The Armenian Museum of America in Watertown seeks to fill three positions: an administration and development associate, a curator, and a visitor services representative. The following information came from the Museum:

The Armenian Museum of America is recruiting an Administration and Development Associate to support the Executive Director and other team members in implementing an annual plan for events, exhibitions, fundraising, and membership. The ideal candidate will be able to work full-time Monday through Friday with occasional evening and weekend hours. The Curator collaborates with the Museum leadership team and Exhibition Committee on a long-range exhibition program and related curatorial activities. The ideal candidate oversees three floors of gallery space, from a large contemporary art gallery space on the third floor, as well as installations and gallery rotations on two other floors reflecting Armenian history and culture from the ancient period to the present, often in collaboration with Armenian scholars and artists/specialists.

Armenian Museum’s Exhibit Featured in Artscope, Extended Until Aug. 18

Melkon Hovhannisyan’s “The Walk” is one of the pieces in the exhibit at the Armenian Museum of America through Aug. 18. The Armenian Museum of America provided the following information:

Our latest contemporary exhibition has received excellent coverage from Art New England, Watertown Cable News, Armenian Mirror-Spectator, and beyond. The latest is by Artscope critic Erica DeMatos. “The Armenian Museum of America contextualizes Armenia’s lengthy and turmoiled past and presents a more contemporary view of Armenians today,” writes DeMatos in her 1,000-word review.

Weekend Fun: Pride Festival, Tour Town’s Oldest House, Author’s Trip Down Charles River & More

A “Proud” flag is displayed during the 2022 Watertown Pride Parade. Watertown will celebrate its Pride this weekend, with the annual Pride Parade and Festival. History buffs have a couple of options, including taking a look inside a house built in the 1600, and a narrated slide show focusing on the Charles River. Mount Auburn Cemetery has a pair of events: a walking tour and a writing workshop. Also, enjoy Armenian music from the comfort of your home, or wherever, with an online concert.

Armenian Museum’s Statement on the 109th Anniversary of the Genocide

Photo from the Armenian Museum of AmericaAnnually we host thousands of visitors who learn about the Genocide, as well as the history and culture of Armenia thought artifacts and exhibitions; historian Khatchig Mouradian conducted several educational workshops this month with students visiting our galleries. The Watertown-based Armenian Museum of America released a statement on the 109th Anniversary of the Genocide. Read it below. The Armenian Genocide was the attempted annihilation of the Armenian people – physically and culturally – from their ancestral homeland. This brutal murder of the Armenian nation by the Ottoman Turks constitutes the first genocide of the 20th century.

Gandzaran/Treasury Exhibition Spotlights Armenian Museum of America’s Art Collection

Courtesy of Armenian Museum of AmericaMartin Barooshian (1929-2022), “Gomidas Vartabed 4/50,” c. 1970-1979, signed color intaglio etching, 24×22, donated by Haig Der Manuelian. The following announcement was provided by the Armenian Museum of America:

The Armenian Museum of America in Watertown has recently opened its latest exhibition in the Adele and Haig Der Manuelian Galleries, “Gandzaran! Notable Selections from Our Collection.” The show is curated by Ryann Casey, and co-curated by Gary Lind-Sinanian and Elias Trout.  “Gandzaran!” showcases 39 works by 24 artists from around the world. It is scheduled to run through August 4, 2024. In recent centuries, Armenian fine art often focused on illuminations, reliquaries, and other pious objects, the most significant of which were secured and hidden in the gandzaran (գանձարան), or treasury, of a monastery. These treasure vaults were designed to protect religious works, which would be displayed periodically for the faithful, then returned to the vaults to be preserved for the ages.