Armenian History Month

SPECIAL EVENTS
CHILDREN'S EVENTS

ARMENIAN HISTORY MONTH
April 2025

Paying tribute to the local Armenian community in a celebration of history and culture.

 
SPECIAL EVENTS

Author Talk Featuring Nancy Kricorian with Shahé Mankerian

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 2025 ︱ 7:00 – 8:00 PM

CENTRAL LIBRARY

222 EAST HARVARD STREET ︱GLENDALE, CA 91205

Join us for a special conversation with author Nancy Kricorian as we discuss her latest title, The Burning Heart of the World. We will discuss her latest title, her writing process for the book, and much more with author/poet Shahé Mankerian. The Burning Heart of the World is a sweeping saga that takes readers on an epic journey from the mountains of Cilicia to contemporary New York City.

Copies of The Burning Heart of the World are available at Glendale Library, Arts & Culture locations. Additionally, you may pre-purchase The Burning Heart of the World at Abril Bookstore and book sales will also be available for purchase through Abril Bookstore following the discussion.

Armenian influence on Glendale architecture with Armenian American Museum architect, Aram Alajajian

Armenian Influences on Architecture in Glendale April 17, 2025 7:00PM - 8:00pm at Central Library

THURSDAY, APRIL 17, 2025 ︱ 7:00 – 8:00 PM

CENTRAL LIBRARY

222 EAST HARVARD STREET ︱GLENDALE, CA 91205

Join us in celebrating Armenian influence on Glendale architecture with Armenian American Museum architect, Aram Alajajian.   

Reflecting on his architectural journey, Alajajian will share stories about growing up in Yerevan, Armenia and highlighting his deep connection to Armenian cultural landmarks and how that influenced his work on prominent architecture such as the St. Gregory Armenian Catholic Church in Glendale, the Armenian Orthodox Western Prelacy Building in La Crescenta and the highly anticipated Armenian American Museum and Cultural Center of California.   

Biography 

Born on July 31, 1954, in Yerevan, Armenia, Alajajian pursued his passion for architecture at the Yerevan Polytechnic Institute, graduating in 1977 with a degree in Architecture.  In 1986, Alajajian co-founded Alajajian Marcoosi Architects Inc. (AMA Inc.) in Glendale, California, alongside Sako Marcoosi. Serving as President, Alajajian has led the firm in various architectural endeavors, including the design of the Armenian American Museum.  Alajajian’s design for the Armenian American Museum was selected in December 2015. The museum aims to serve as a cultural and educational center, celebrating and preserving Armenian heritage. 

“Embracing Diasporic Art” Artist Panel Discussion

Image: Untitled (Portrait of Joan Agajanian Quinn) by Yolanda González, 1997

TUESDAY, APRIL 22, 2025 ︱ 7:00 – 9:00 PM

CENTRAL LIBRARY

222 EAST HARVARD STREET ︱GLENDALE, CA 91205

Join us for a panel discussion in conjunction with the current exhibition on view at ReflectSpace, Embracing Diasporic Art: Portraits of Joan Agajanian Quinn. Former Director of USC Dornsife Institute of Armenian Studies Salpi Ghazarian will moderate a discussion with exhibition artists Gregory Wiley Edwards, Yolanda Gonzalez, Anna Kostanian, Aram Saroyan, and Hraztan Zeitlian.

Embracing Diasporic Art: Portraits of Joan Agajanian Quinn at ReflectSpace presents thirty-five original portraits of Quinn made by diasporic, immigrant, and culturally diverse artists. Selected from Quinn’s personal art collection and archive of over three hundred works, the exhibition highlights a distinct part of each artists’ unique story and how they capture Quinn’s vital and enduring presence.

This event is part of the Week of Armenian Genocide Commemorative Events. Embracing Diasporic Art is on view through May 23, 2025. For more information, visit ReflectSpace.org.  

Navigate to: Top | Special Events | Maker Events | Children’s Events | Book Lists | Resources

 
MAKER EVENTS

Needle Felted Mount Ararat

Tuesday, April 8, 2025 ︱4:30 - 6:30 PM ︱MakerSpace ︱Central Library︱ REGISTER HERE

Thursday, April 17, 2025 ︱4:30 - 6:30 PM ︱MakerSpace︱Central Library︱REGISTER HERE

In honor of Armenian Heritage Month, we will be using wool to needle felt a small scenic image of Mount Ararat, a national symbol of Armenia that’s also featured prominently in art and literature. Ages 13+.

Make It! - Printmaking with Nelli Astvatsatrian 

Saturday, April 19, 2025 ︱10:30 AM - 12:00 PM ︱Brand Library Courtyard︱Brand Library︱ REGISTER HERE

Join us for a hands-on session where participants will explore the art of monotype printing—a simple and spontaneous technique that allows you to create one-of-a-kind prints on paper. To celebrate Armenian History Month, we will dive into Armenian symbols and themes, using printmaking as a tool to connect with culture, history, and personal expression. No prior experience is necessary—just bring your curiosity! All supplies will be provided. Program will be held in the Brand Library Courtyard.  All ages welcome.

Nelli Astvatsatrian is a multidisciplinary artist and educator working across fiber arts, ceramics, and printmaking. Grounded in Armenian-American identity, her practice integrates traditional craft forms with contemporary techniques to explore themes of cultural memory, displacement, and resilience. Her art has been showcased at the Los Angeles Municipal Gallery, Super House Gallery New York, and Adams Square Historic Gas Station, where she created a community quilt commissioned by the City of Glendale. 

CHILDREN'S EVENTS

Armenian Accessories

Tuesday, April 1, 2025 ︱2:00 - 5:00 PM ︱Pacific Park Library︱ LEARN MORE

Tuesday, April 8, 2025 ︱3:00 - 6:00 PM ︱Pacific Park Library︱ LEARN MORE

Create your own personalized Armenian bracelet or keychain using the supplies provided.  For families with children ages 5 – 12 years.

Armenian Storytime

Saturday, April 12, 2025 ︱10:30 - 11:00 AM ︱Central Library︱ LEARN MORE

Enjoy an Armenian Language picture book read-aloud session with rhymes, poems, letter-learning and games.  Ages Birth – 8 years.

BOOK LISTS

EXPLORE MORE

  • Aravot - Find up-to-the-minute news articles through Armenian-language newspaper Aravot/Առավոտ, which is free to access with your Glendale Library, Arts & Culture library card through PressReader.

  • Search in the Library Catalog Using Armenian Transliteration - Library staff have created this tutorial to help you search Armenian authors, titles, and subjects in the Library’s catalog.

RESOURCES

LOCAL RESOURCES

  • The Armenian Relief Society (ARS) in Glendale is an independent, non-governmental and non-sectarian organization which serves the humanitarian needs of the Armenian people and seeks to preserve the cultural identity of the Armenian nation.

  • The Armenian American Museum in Glendale will be the first world class cultural and educational center of its kind in America.

  • Gay and Lesbian Armenian Society fosters a safe and supportive network for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people of Armenian descent.

  • Homenetmen Western Region, short for Հայ Մարմնակրթական Ընդհանուր Միութիւն, (Armenian General Athletic Union) is a pan-Armenian diaspora organization devoted to sport and scouting.

  • The USC Institute of Armenian Studies is an educational center dedicated to the study of modern Armenia, based at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Explore podcasts from the Institute Studio.

  • IWitness is an educational website developed by USC Shoah Foundation – The Institute for Visual History and Education that provides access to more than 1,500 full life histories, testimonies of survivors and witnesses to the Holocaust and other genocides for guided exploration.

GENERAL RESOURCES

  • The Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) is the world’s largest non-profit organization devoted to upholding the Armenian heritage through educational, cultural and humanitarian programs.

  • The Armenian Bar Association, formed in 1989, the Armenian Bar Association provides an arena for lawyers of Armenian heritage to come together socially and professionally and to address the legal concerns of the Armenian community.

  • The Armenian Museum presents the largest and most diverse collection of Armenian objects outside of the Republic of Armenia. Our updated galleries include ancient Urartian artifacts, medieval manuscripts, Kütahya ceramics, textiles, liturgical objects, and contemporary art.

  • Ararat-Eskijian Museum houses items that represent Armenian heritage from the 17th century till present day and highlight the life, culture and customs of Armenians from their indigenous homeland and across the globe.

  • Project SAVE Armenian Photograph Archives is dedicated to saving the photographic heritage of the worldwide Armenian community by making their repository of original photographs, from as early as 1860, accessible for research, publications and presentations.

  • The Armenian Studies Program at Fresno State University offers courses on Armenian history, Armenian language and literature, art and architecture, film, William Saroyan, the Genocide, and contemporary issues.

  • The Armenian Film Foundation was established in 1979 as a non-profit, educational and cultural organization dedicated to the documentation and preservation of Armenian heritage in multi-media formats. A primary focus of the Foundation has been the interviews of survivors of and witnesses to the Armenian Genocide.

  • Arpa Foundation for Film, Music and Art is a non-profit organization, formed for the purpose of promoting the arts and enhancing the cultural environment of our community by supporting artists who bridge the cultural divide, unifying diverse people and cultures through the arts.

ARMENIAN DIGITAL RESOURCES

 

Click here for more information about the Be The Change Series.