Arts Calendar Profile: Armenian Museum of Fresno
Established in 2003, the Armenian Museum of Fresno highlights the contributions of Armenians and Armenian Americans to California and the Central Valley, signifying the collective responsibility to preserve and complement the cultural fabric of these communities.
The museum promotes and showcases rotating exhibitions of fine arts and provides a forum for the visual and performing arts, including music and literature, and holds workshops and symposiums.
The current exhibitions are as follows.
Toumanian and Eclipse. Armenia, an ally of the West at the beginning of the 20th century, struggled to maintain its independence against the forces of Bolshevik/Communist Russia, led by Lenin and Stalin on one end and their ally, Mustafa Kemal (Atatürk) of Turkey, on the other. As a result, Armenia became fragmented and the consequences are still being felt.
Spirit of Artsakh. The panels display images highlighting the history, faith, geography, culture and heritage of the most eastern province of the historic Armenian highlands. The exhibition was prepared in 2016 on the 25th anniversary of the independence of Artsakh from the Soviet Union.
Armenian Journey: From Shattered Past to Prosperity. The panels represent a brief outline of the reasons the Armenians migrated to California and their accomplishments. The contributions of Armenian Americans are highlighted in agriculture, industry, civic service and philanthropy, as well as their involvement in art, music and entertainment.
The museum is located at the UC Center (550 E. Shaw Ave., Suite 130) and is open 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Monday–Friday. Learn more at armof.org.
