May 14, 2002

Armenian Art Showcased At San Francisco City Hall

San Francisco, April 25, 2002 - Portraits of Armenian Genocide survivors and large-scale color photographs of Armenian churches are on display at the San Francisco City Hall now through June 30th.

The opening reception of the exhibit, held on April 25th, drew a multi-ethnic crowd of more then 150 people, and included the presentation of official city proclamations to the artists presenting the two photographic series, "I Witness" and "Legacy."

"I Witness," a collaborative series by the Genocide Project, portrays the harrowing story of the Armenian Genocide through the portraits and oral histories of the survivors. Initiated by community activist Ara Oshagan, The Genocide Project was joined by professional photographer Levon Parian and a team of interviewers. This team combined the written word with powerful images of survivors, presenting through a new artistic perspective, those who experienced the atrocities of 1915 (which saw the destruction of 1.5 million Armenians, half of the entire Armenian population) and lived to tell about it.

The work has been featured on National Public Radio and in Los Angeles Times Sunday Magazine, as well as other media, and has been exhibited in the California State Capitol Building, Los Angeles, City Hall, The Downey Museum of Art, Washington D.C., as well as countless galleries, libraries, and public exhibit halls.

The accompanying exhibit, "Legacy," is the result of local photographer Kevork Boursalian's multiple trips to Armenia and his expertise as an award-winning photographic portrait artist. His stunning photos of centuries-old Armenian churches, monasteries and other cultural icons provide a beautiful glimpse into the rich cultural tradition of Armenia. Boursalian's photographs have been on the cover of Professional Photographers of the Greater Bay area (PPOGBA) on three occasions, and his photographs have been exhibited in Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.

"Legacy" photographer Kevork Boursalian was presented a proclamation from San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, proclaiming April 25th, 2002, "Kevork Boursalian Day." Representing The Genocide Project, photographer Levon Parian received a certificate of honor from Mayor Willie L. Brown Jr.

This exhibition is presented by the Arts Commission Gallery, a program of the San Francisco Arts Commission, and is funded in part by the Grants for the Arts program of the San Francisco Hotel Tax Fund. It is also sponsored by the Bay Area Hamazkayin Armenian Cultural Association and the Bay Area Armenian National Committee, which received a proclamation of recognition from California State Assembly Majority Leader Kevin Shelley.