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LA exhibit highlights poverty in ArmeniaUpcoming exhibitand book examinefamilies on the brinkWhat follows is a press releasefrom The Tufenkian Foundation.In the wake of the global recession,poverty has come to afflictmuch of Armenia once again.For the first time in over a decade,poverty increased in Armeniain 2009, with as many ashalf of Armenia’s residents nowliving below the poverty lineand unable to meet basic food,shelter and healthcare needs.And yet, these families continuetheir struggle to live, carvingout an existence at society’smargins where people regularlylive off garbage dumps, childrenbattle malnutrition, andfamilies sleep in barns and tinshacks.On March 26 and 27, How WeLive, a special exhibit by photographerSara Anjargolian,will open in Los Angeles at CasitasStudios.Produced in collaborationwith the Tufenkian Foundationand designed by NarinehMirzaeian, the How We Liveexhibit and accompanying bookdocument the lives of familiesstruggling with poverty in Armenia.Through immersivephotography, multimedia vignettesand video interviews,How We Live explores in compellingdetail the challengesthese families face every day, aswell as the socio-economic andpolitical factors behind the perpetuationof poverty.After living and working inArmenia for over two years,Photos by Sara Anjargolian. ©2009, All rights reserved.Anjargolian traveled back toArmenia in July of 2009, onassignment for the TufenkianFoundation, to document thepoverty crisis. The exhibit, curatedby Narineh Mirzaeian,a Los Angeles based designerworking with Frank Gehry’sfirm and who has volunteeredextensively in Armenia, is conceivedas an experience immersingthe viewer in the livesof those portrayed.How We Live will benefit theTufenkian Foundation’s socialprotection programs, primarilyZangakatun-a network of agenciesthat provide beneficiaryfamilies with counseling, legaladvice, psychiatric treatment,and other assistance addressingthe factors underlying socialvulnerability. The familiesfeatured in the exhibit are allcurrently benefiting from theFoundation’s programs.How We Live March 27, 2010(Special Donor Preview ReceptionMarch 26)Location: Casitas Studios3229 Casitas Avenue Los Angeles,CA 90039For further information, pleasevisit www.HowWeLive.org.For Friday evening donor previewreception tickets and bookContinued on page 13 mADAA’s $10,000 William Saroyan prize for playwriting 2010deadline approachingThe Armenian Dramatic ArtsAlliance (ADAA) welcomes submissionsfor its 2010 WilliamSaroyan Prize for Playwriting,made possible by a grant fromthe William Saroyan Foundation.The deadline is February15, 2010 for full-length plays onArmenian themes.The grand prize is $10,000,with publicity and other prizesawarded to the top three finalists.Electronic Submissionsare preferred to adaa@armeniandrama.org,.Complete guidelinesare available on http://www.armeniandrama.org/Saroyan_Award_2010.php.The Armenian Dramatic ArtsAlliance’s mission is to makethe Armenian voice heard onthe world stage through the dramaticarts of theatre and film.The organization accomplishesthis mission by supportingplaywrights and screenwriterswith production opportunities,annual industry events, networkingresources, film festivalsand writing awards. Visit www.armeniandrama.org for moreinformation.Submissions for the prizemust be postmarked or timestampedby February 15, 2010.Again, email submissions arepreferred, or the script (fourcopies), bio, entry fee ($20), synopsisand other required materialcan be mailed to ADAA, SunsetGower Studios, 1438 N. GowerSt., Box 24, Courtyard Suite 43,Hollywood, CA 90028. fadaa@armeniandrama.org or323 315 9415 or 858-344-3357.William Saroyan.Nareh Balian.Armenian Reporter Arts & Culture | February 6, 2010 11