Launching Save the ArQ Publicly

On April 17, 2009, a private cocktail reception for Michael Aram was held at Neiman Marcus in Chicago with co-hosts Oscar Tatosian, Mary Hoogasian, Carrie Nahabedian and Michael Nahabedian. Chicago Armenians and non-Armenians were invited to view his gift and tableware collections as well as have Michael Aram personally inscribe each item purchased. Additionally, a percentage of the evening’s proceeds was so graciously given by Michael Aram to the newly formed nonprofit, Save the ArQ thus allowing the committee to go public with their campaign.

Save the ArQ aims to create awareness of the significant religious, cultural, and historical presence of Armenians in Jerusalem and to encourage the revitalization of the Armenian Quarter in the Old City. Armenians are the only people to have a Quarter in the Old City of Jerusalem with the three great monotheistic faiths: Islam, Judaism and Christianity. The Armenian Quarter encompasses 1/6 of the Old City which the Armenians have inhabited since the 4th century.

The Armenian community of Jerusalem has been vastly dwindling. Today, the current number of residents is between 500-1000 Armenians. Michael Aram contributed and helped this cause go public because he says, “the Armenian Quarter in Jerusalem has been an important cultural and religious living monument for the past 1700 years and requires international awareness and support in order to be preserved and maintained”.

At the reception, guests were taken by Michael Aram’s modest yet exceptionally kind-hearted nature as well as his incredible ability to connect with each individual. He is the reason the evening was a huge success as guests perused and purchased his innovative works to the live sounds of Mark Gavoor playing oud and John Paklaian the guitar.

Carrie Nahabedian, co-owner and chef of NAHA restaurant was enthralled stating, “Armenians love Armenians! The love of the art…supporting the community and a fellow Armenian who is a creative force in his field made the evening a smashing success!” Oscar Tatosian of Isberian rugs, concurred and added that it was a “wonderful evening; great to see the entire community support the decorative arts of a talented Armenian-American”.

This internationally known, successful artist maintains deeply rooted with his Armenian heritage. Tania Lopez Meyer, a non-Armenian and guest was truly impressed stating, “Being a modest collector of Michael's incredibly versatile and exquisitely artistic pieces, it was a pleasure to meet the artist and celebrate his culture and his works. It was also an honor to have met him under such poignant cause; I find his generosity to equal his talent”. As the evening ended, Gloria Hachikian reflected on the event noting that we were all “so thrilled by the generous spirit of Michael Aram. He not only is a great artist and businessman, he is a great Armenian. His work reflects his heritage and he is proud to bring that to the world”.

Save the ArQ is passionate about helping to sustain the community and promote the Armenian life which has existed in the Old City of Jerusalem for the last 1700 years. For further information or support, please contact Mary Hoogasian at: savethearq@gmail.com.

A Few Facts about the Armenian Quarter and surrounding area

There is so much about the Armenian Quarter many of us know so little about. Like most of you, I am not from Jerusalem and thought by providing a few facts which strike me as fascinating, might be of interest to you. I recently found this information in a book on Jerusalem architecture published in fall, 2008.

In St. James Cathedral, there is a forest of gold and silver lanterns suspending from the ceiling—one of the most famous images depicting the Armenian Quarter. What I did not know is that most of these (200+) lamps were donated by Armenian villages which no longer exist as they have been hanging in the cathedral prior to the 15th century.

In 1918, David Ohanessian came to Jerusalem from Syria specifically to redo the interior tiles at the Dome of the Rock. Originally from the Kutahaya region of Anatolia, an area well known for their ceramics, Ohanesian was considered one of the best ceramists. Even though 1918 Jerusalem was newly under British Mandate, the Turkish Sultan in Jerusalem would not hear of an Armenian working on the Dome of the Rock. No decision was made until 1924. It was then decided a Turkish company would redo the tiles. Still, Ohanessian stayed in Jerusalem and thus the famous Armenian Ceramics of Jerusalem commenced.

My favorite story has to do with the Church of the Holy Sepulchre as the Catholics, Greek Orthodox and Armenian Orthodox own different areas within this church. Throughout history, each denomination has been territorial over their areas. In 1852, a status quo was created by the Sultan to try and absolve this tension. The status quo stated that each group would maintain control of their existing areas—nothing more and nothing less. Now, the Armenians own a window on the second floor of the church. They used the outside ledge of the window to grow vegetables, but to get down to the ledge, they had to use a ladder. The ladder was outside the window when the status quo went into effect. To this day, there is a ladder outside this window and whenever it becomes tattered; an exact replica is made to replace it!