LOS ANGELES–The work and legacy of great Armenian patriot and writer Siamanto came to life Sunday through the efforts of the Glendale "Zavarian" chapter of the ARF Badanegan (junior) organization–whose members staged a presentation at Barnsdall Gallery Theater to mark the author’s 120th anniversary.
More than 30 Badanegan members took part in this unique cultural program under the direction of their chapter advisor Sevan and Klariss Kabakian and Haig Kartounian.
The two showings–at 3 and 7 p.m.–attracted more than 600 community members to the hall–as the youngsters–dressed in black–brought to life the writers works taken from his five volumes of work.
The dimly lit stage served as a platform for the youth to utter the often somber poems of Siamanto–who fell prey to the Armenian Genocide and became part of the first group of writers and intellectuals who were systematically gathered by Ottoman forces and killed–in what became the prelude for the Armenian Genocide.
The trials of the Armenian people echoed through the theater as–one by one–the youngsters marched on stage and did their duty in resurrecting the great author.
The Glendale "Zavarian" ARF Badanegan chapter–proved–once again–that Armenian literature is still alive and well in the Diaspora.