Armenia
odd: label: Description
content: Nestled at the crossroads of Asia and Europe, Armenia is a small, resilient country. Markers of its complex history punctuate the rugged landscapes: highland slopes sprinkled with thousands of petroglyphs, fortress-like churches from the earliest days of Christianity, and skeletons of enormous Soviet-era factories. Twentieth-century Armenia has been characterized by massive displacement caused by conflict and shifting borders, resulting in one of the world's largest diaspora populations.

It is the Armenian population of the diaspora which is celebrated at the 2018 Folklife Festival program Armenia: Creating Home. Included in the program are two case studies which offer a glimpse into Armenian culture, a culture greatly influenced by its surroundings, heritage, and an ongoing dialogue with its many diasporas. Both the foodways presentations and the artisan craft traditions highlight the importance of economic and cultural sustainability in the face of change. It is these practices which create home—both in concept and in form. 


The exuberant hospitality of Armenian cooking, eating, and drinking is a source of great cultural pride. Both the established traditions of feasting as well as innovative cooking techniques continue to energize the Armenian food scene and engage outsiders. During the Folklife Festival, Armenian cooks taught visitors how to create the essential components of a feast: baking lavash flatbread in tonirs (wood-fired ovens), making traditional cheeses, and grilling khorovats (skewered meats). Winemakers demonstrated both traditional production methods as well as new techniques to create Armenian wines, including cultivation of ancient varietals, the aging of wine in karas (large clay urns), and a pioneering winery incubator model to encourage the growth of small labels. In discussion groups, cooks and winemakers shared their experiences with traditional recipes and the ways in which foodways and wine-related enterprises shape their cultural identity and create a pathway for exchange—both within Armenia's boundaries and across the diaspora communities. 

Music and dance are another integral part of these festivities, including both traditional folk songs and the introduction of jazz. The combination of these two traditions is evident in contemporary music; the collaboration between Armenian and diasporan Armenian musicians resonates with the exchange and influence of diverse musical experiences.

The revitalization of Armenian craft was highlighted in the artisan craft traditions showcased at the Festival, where the intersection of technology and handmade traditions became visible. Working in clay, fabric, metal, stone, and wood, skilled craftspeople incorporated memory and experience into pottery and tonirs (clay ovens), knot-tied carpets and needlework arts, window grates and fences, khachkars (carved cross stones), wood carvings, and jewelry. Visual artists and artisans built interactive installations, juxtaposing tradition and innovation. Discussion sessions explored the function of craft, not only for its utilitarian and economic value, but as a continually evolving cultural expression using tangible objects to craft meaning for their unique way of life.

Particularly in periods of marked change and shifting populations throughout Armenia's history, each of these traditions has been a life-affirming testament to the longstanding power of social and cultural life. From the physical production of food and craft for everyday use to the memories and emotions these traditions convey, the program challenges visitors to explore their own notions of home while experiencing distinctive features of Armenian culture.

Armenia program partners included the Government of the Republic of Armenia, the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography in the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia, the My Armenia Cultural Heritage Tourism Program, funded by USAID and implemented by the Smithsonian Institution, the U.S. Embassy in Armenia, and the Embassy of Armenia to the United States of America.

PRODUCTION

Curators: Levon Abrahamian, Halle Butvin, Satenik Mkrtchyan, Ruzanna Tsaturyan

Program Coordinator: Arlene Reiniger

Armenia-based Program Coordinator: Nairi Khatchadourian

Diaspora Research and Project Coordinator: Milena Oganesyan

Interns: Sofiya Boroday, Armine Kalbakian, Alik Kandakarjian, Micaela Nerguizian, Russell Star-Lack

Presenters: Liana Aghajanian, Niery Grace Bardakjian, Hamazasp Danielyan, Jim Deutsch, Eteri Hovhannisyan, Lucineh Hovhaness Kassarjian, Ashken Khudaverdyan, Hratch Kozibeyokian, Harutyun Marutyan, Sabrina Papazian, Susanna Safaryan, Gayane Shagoyan, Aghasi Tadevosyan, Ruzanna Torozyan, Karine Vann, Rose Abrahamian

Dance Advisor: Carolyn Rapkievian

Program Lead Volunteer: Zakiya Williams

PARTICIPANTS

Ara and Onnik Dinkjian (Music)Onnik Dinkjian, vocals, composer

Ara Dinkjian, oud, composer

Arloopa ExperienceKhazhak Hobosyan

Armen Hyusnunts Quartet (Music) Armen Hyusnunts, tenor and soprano saxophone 

 Joshua Davis, bass 

 Karen Kocharyan, drums 

Vardan Ovsepain, keyboard 

Arto Tunçboyaciyan, vocals, percussion

Ayrogi Shadow Theater (Puppeteers)Sergei Jilavyan

Armen Kerobyan

Armen Kirakosyan

Artur Kocharyan

Karen Mamikonyan

Bakers, Lavash Makers Anna Tepanosyan 

 Hasmik Khachatryan 

Varduhi Poghosyan 

Blacksmith Gagik Martirosyan 

 Garik Papoyan 

 Hovhannes Mnoyan 

CalligraphyRuben Malayan

Carpet weaversDianna Hovhannisyan

Artak Tadevosyan

Sahkanush Stepanyan

 Haykanush Stepanyan

Goris Wool, Goris Women's Development Resource Center

Armine Amaryan

Tatev Hayrapetyan

Cheesemakers Greta Grigoryan 

 Gayane Khachatryan

Chefs, Cooks Antranig Kilislyan 

Gayane Khachatryan (Khatchatryan)

Hasmik Khachatryan

Carrie Nahabedian

Hripsime Toumanyan

Clay, Pottery, Tonir (Bread Oven)Vahagn Hambardzumyan

Zara Gasparyan

Harutyun Marutyan

Gegham Gharibyan

Gyumri is Our Home Public Art Initiative (Shirak)Stepan Kakosyan

Gagik Mkhitaryan

Lilit Simonian 

Arsen Vardanyan

Mamikon Varderesyan

Larisa Zhamakochyan

Hrayrq Dance GroupStepan Kakosyan

Arsen Vardanyan

Mamikon Varderesyan

Larisa Zhamakochyan

Kayt Band (Music)Grigor Davtyan 

Grigor Kartashyan, zurna

Vache Pashinyan, drums

Menq Dance GroupMariam Hovhannisyan

Stepan Toroyan

Miqayel Voskanyan and Friends (Music)Gurgen Ghazaryan, bass

Movses Ghazaryan, drums

Davit Melkonyan, saxophone 

Arman Pestmaldjyan, keyboards

Lusine Voskanyan, manager 

Mikayel Voskanyan, tar

NeedleworkArmine Poghosyan

Ayda Sandurian

Gayane Hovsepyan

Houri Iyjian Abkejian

Salbie Iyjian

Maral Shohmahlian-Berberian

Seda Hovakimyan

Nur Qanon Ensemble (Music)Eteri Hovhannisyan 

Tsovinar Hovhannisyan 

 Meri Musinyan

 Kristine (Christine) Yengoyan 

PANALÎ Panali (Music) Arman Jalalyan, drums

Vahagn Hayrapetyan, piano 

Armen Hyusnunts, tenor and soprano saxophone 

Gagik Khodavirdi, electric guitar

Edgar Sahakyan, bass 

Arto Tunçboyaçiyan, percussion, vocals

Artak Gevorgyan

Samvel Galstian Group (Music)Joshua Davis, bass 

 Samvel Galstian, vocals 

Karen Kocharyan, drums 

Vardan Ovsepian, keyboards

Secret Trio (Music)Ara Dinkjian, oud 

Ismail Lumanovski, clarinet

Tamer Pinarbasi, ganon (qanun, kanun, ganoun) 

Stone carvingBogdan Hovhannisyan

Gayane Manucharyan

Karen Ghazaryan

Ruben Ghazaryan

Time Out (Music)Joshua Davis, bass 

Vahagn Hayrapetyan, piano 

Armen Hyusnunts, tenor and soprano saxophone 

Karen Kocharyan, drums

Vahagn Hayrapetyan AVA Trio (Music) Vahagn Hayrapetyan, keyboard, saxophone

 Armen Hyusnunts, tenor and soprano saxophone

Arto Tunçboyaciyan, vocals, percussion

Vardan Ovsepian Trio (Music)Joshua Davis, bass 

Vardan Ovsepian, keyboards

Karen Kocharyan, drums

WinemakersNicole Hassoun, Jos. A. Magnus, Co. Distillery, DC

Vahe Keushguerian, WineWorks, Yerevan

Victoria Aslanian, ArmAs, Aragatsotn

Grigori Avetisyan, Kataro, Syunik

Juliana Del Aguila, Karas, Armavir

Varuzhan Mouradian, Van Ardi, Aragatsotn

Hovakim Saghatelyan, Trinity Canyon Vineyards, Vayots Dzor

Woodcarving Armen Ohanyan 

 Vahagn Amiryan 

Zulal (Music) Teni Apelian 

Yeraz Markarian 

Anaïs Tekerian
setName: label: See more items in
content: Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 2018 Smithsonian Folklife Festival
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections
identifier: label: Identifier
content: CFCH.SFF.2018, Series 2
objectType: label: Type
content: Archival materials