CULTURAL MISAPPROPRIATION:

THE THREAT TO ARMENIAN TEXTILE ARTS

​TURKISH AND AZERI CAMPAIGNS AIM TO HIJACK ARMENIAN WOVEN ARTS

The Armenian Rugs Society has been nurturing Armenian woven arts culture among academics and artisans alike, worldwide, for nearly 40 years and continues to support Armenian woven arts internationally through a number of programs, symposia, lectures, and exhibitions that aim to build textile arts communities and consciousness in Armenia and around the world.

Armenian woven arts traditions have been passed from generation to generation for thousands of years by highly skilled artisans who have produced stunning works of staggering beauty. Fortunately, Armenian millennial woven arts culture has continued to flourish over these many years despite the manifold life-threatening obstacles it has faced.

However, and unfortunately, its detractors and their attempts at destroying Armenian arts have grown, as well...

VOICE OF AMERICA TV BROADCASTS RUSSIAN LANGUAGE SEGMENT ON ARMENIAN CARPET WEAVING TRADITION 

MORE THAN 90,000 FACEBOOK VIEWS and over 700 shares... and climbing at the time of this newsletter! 

Voice of America TV, Russian language section, visited Hratch Kozibeyokian, president of the Armenian Rugs Society Board of Directors at his home studio to conduct an in depth interview about the history of the Armenian carpet weaving and its symbolism.
The segment was aired by Voice of America TV (Голос Америки) for its Russian speaking audience. 

BECOME A MEMBER OF THE ARMENIAN RUGS SOCIETY, TODAY, AND DO YOUR PART IN SUPPORTING ARMENIAN ARTS AND ARTISANS EVERYWHERE...!

ARMENIAN RUGS SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP DUES AND DONATIONS: PAY PAL OR REGULAR MAIL, IT'S AS EASY AS 1-2-3..!​​

The Armenian Rugs Society Pay Pal account is now up and running...!
Donations, membership fees, and other transactions can now, once again, be made seamlessly through our Pay Pal account via the many DONATE and BECOME A MEMBER buttons throughout the site, as well as through our CONTRIBUTIONS and MEMBERSHIP pages. 

The Armenian Rugs Society extends its heartfelt apologies for any difficulties our members and site users may have encountered in the past while attempting to make donations or remit membership fees via Pay Pal. 

We would also like to take this opportunity to remind our members and site users that donations, membership fees, and other remittances can also be made using traditional mail, if necessary, by downloading and completing our Membership Form and sending the completed form with check or money order to our address, Armenian Rugs Society P.O. Box 21104 Glendale, CA 9120.

Please do not use registered mail or similar postal services that require in person signing at a local or regional post office.

​We greatly appreciate all the gracious efforts of our fine members, future members, and our generous donors.
Thank you for your continued support of the Armenian Rugs Society...!

LOS ANGELES PUBLIC LIBRARY HOSTS ARMENIAN RUGS SOCIETY LECTURE SERIES AT SUNLAND-TUJUNGA BRANCH ​

​​The Sunland-Tujunga Branch of the Los Angeles Public Library recently played host to a three-part lecture series presented by renowned carpet expert and President of the Armenian Rugs Society Board of Directors, Hratch Kozibeyokian.

The lectures took place once a month at the Library during April, May, and June 2019, in tandem with an on-going exhibition of Armenian rugs, textiles and artifacts provided by Mr. Kozibeyokian.

The first of the three-part series took place on April 27, 2019 and was called "Weaving for Survival," dedicated to the woven arts of the Armenian orphanages and refugee camps from the Hamidian Massacres (1886) to the 1930s.

The second lecture, which took place on May 25, 2019, was entitled,"Armenia as a Cradle of Civilization" and included a discussion of both Armenian textile arts and Armenian cultural development.

The third, and final, lecture in the series took place on June 22, 2019 to a capacity audience and its topic was "The Woven Arts of Armenia: 1820 to the Present."    ​

ARMENIAN RUGS SOCIETY ADORNS SECOND ANNUAL GINIFEST WITH STUNNING COLORS AND ARMENIAN TEXTILES

  The second annual GiniFest, Armenian Wine & Spirits Festival, took place on Sunday, May 19, 2019 from 2 pm to 9 pm at the beautiful Chevy Chase Country Club
in Glendale, CA, showcasing premier wines, spirits, and cigars from Armenia and international companies of Armenian heritage.

   This year's festival was especially noteworthy since our own Armenian Rugs Society President and master weaver Hratch Kozibeyokian transformed the already stunning venue into a veritable museum wonderland of Armenian carpets, rugs, and artifacts. 

   Attendees at the sold-out event were able to enjoy Armenian wines, spirits, and culinary delights from Armenia and the Diaspora while within an unparalleled collection of fine, handmade Armenian rugs and textiles exhibited throughout the venue. 

 Proceeds from this years event were earmarked to support Knowledge Truck, Inc., a US based non-profit whose mission is to to disseminate knowledge and information regarding Armenian issues and history.

Please enjoy the photos of from the event below and especially the gorgeous Armenian woven works of art!

"ADOPT-A-LOOM" INITIATIVE A GREAT SUCCESS IN ARMENIA'S TAVUSH REGION 

FOLK ARTS HUB, SILK ROAD HOTEL, AND ARMENIAN RUGS SOCIETY LAUNCH JOINT INITIATIVE IN MGASHEN

The Folk Arts Hub Foundation, in conjunction with the Silk Road Hotel and the Armenian Rugs Society, recently launched its "Adopt-a-Loom" initiative in Armenia's Tavush region with a series of events and classes at the Noyemberyan Cultural Center.

Bringing this jointly sponsored "Adopt-a-Loom" initiative to Armenian border towns and villages has always been of primary importance to both sponsor organizations and initiative participants.

Tavush's Mgashen community played host to representatives of more than 15 communities from Noyemberyan invited to participate in Armenian rug and carpet weaving classes and workshops, as well as other classes in traditional Armenian arts and culture.

The main goal of the initiative was to train participants in both weaving techniques and education, so they would to return to their respective communities and in turn teach students in local schools and cultural centers.

All these activities are part of an overall concerted effort to provide greater education and training opportunities to cultivate cultural and economic programs in the Tavush region, focusing on the revival and development of traditional Armenian crafts and customs.

The "Adopt-a-Loom" initiative has been launched in a slew of communities and regions across Armenia with great success, providing trainees the wherewithal to be able to produce high quality woven arts from the Armenian tradition, with an eye towards economic sustainability for individuals and the community.

ARMENIAN RUGS SOCIETY INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES​!​

      As part of its new Community Outreach Program, the Armenian Rugs Society is proud to announce a variety of internship opportunities for college and university studentswithin a vibrant and growing non-profit environment.

      The Armenian Rugs Society has been dedicated to the identification, preservation, documentation, and dissemination of knowledge pertaining to the cultural contributions made by Armenian weavers and craftspeople to the rich and vibrant history of textile arts, since its founding as a non-profit in Washington D.C., in 1980...