“Before, After: Reflections on the Armenian Genocide” has come to the Ben Shahn Center for the Visual Arts. From Feb. 10 until May 1, visitors can see artworks that tell different stories of the Armenian Genocide and share Armenian culture. 

Ryann Casey, the curator of this exhibit, said it “traces generations of Armenian resiliency through the common threads of loss and survival.” 

Those who come to see this exhibit will walk through the South and East Galleries and see the artwork of 13 different artists. 

When you walk into the South Gallery, what first catches your attention is a wall that is covered by 16 portraits photographed by artists Ara Oshagan and Levon Parian in the series “iwitness”. These portraits are of the faces and hands of different survivors of the Armenian Genocide and below are texts of them sharing their stories. Ramela Grigorian Abbamontian, the Professor of Art at Pierce College, said that the portraits “ function as testimonies of the Genocide and the subsequent lives in the Diaspora.” 

This exhibit also features work by photographer Diana Markosian, who did a project where she traveled to and photographed places that survivors of the genocide would describe as “their last memories of their homeland.” 

You will also be able to watch videos presented by Silvina Der Meguerditchian, some of which include audio you can listen to with the provided headphones. 

Another featured artwork visitors will see is “Armenia (Hayasdan),” a 122 by 262-inch painting by artist Jacqueline Kazarian. Kazarian said that this painting is made to “celebrate the richness of the Armenian culture almost lost.” This painting is “a vast landscape of images and text drawn from Armenian art, church architecture, illuminated manuscripts and historic maps, all united by a background of Armenian needle lace.” 

Those who would like to see these projects and the rest of the exhibit can visit the South and East Galleries at the Ben Shahn any time Monday through Thursday between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.