Armenian Orphan Rug goes on display at White House

PanARMENIAN.Net - The much-anticipated unveiling of the Ghazi Rug, commonly referred to the Armenian Orphan rug took place Tuesday, Nov 18 morning with the kick-off of week-long exhibit at the White House Visitor Center, according to Asbarez.

The exhibit was kicked-off with a Congressional press conference hosted by representatives Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and David Valado (R-Calif.)

Aram Hamparian, the Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of America visited the Orphan Rug display prior to the press conference and issued the following statement:

“Today’s White House display of the Armenian Orphan Rug is a testament to the generous spirit of the American people, whose unprecedented humanitarian assistance efforts saved hundreds of thousands of survivors of the Armenian Genocide – including the Armenian orphans who meticulously crafted this unique artifact of American and Armenian history. Unfortunately, the display’s description – using evasive and euphemistic language – deprives this profoundly important work of art of its moral and historical meaning. It also deprives viewers of the opportunity to learn about the Armenian Genocide and draw lessons from this experience to prevent future atrocities.

“We thank Congressman Schiff and Valadao and all their colleagues who helped make this display possible, and whose efforts are already sparking national and international attention to this still unpunished crime. We remain troubled that on the eve of the Armenian Genocide Centennial, Turkey’s gag rule is still in force and remain committed to a truthful and just international resolution of this crime.”

The ANCA joined Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA), Congressman David Valadao (R-CA), Congresswoman Judy Chu (D-CA), Congressman David Cicilline (D-RI), Congresswoman Katherine Clark (D-MA), Congressman Jim Costa (D-CA), Congressman James McGovern (D-MA), and Congressman John Sarbanes (D-MD) as well as the Armenian Assembly of America and Armenian Rug Society at a press conference marking the opening of White House display of the Armenian Orphan Rug.

After long decades in storage, and following Congressional pressure and a nationwide Armenian American grassroots campaign to secure its release, the White House has agreed to the display of the Armenian Orphan Rug, woven by orphan survivors of the Armenian Genocide and gifted to U.S. President Calvin Coolidge in 1925 in appreciation for U.S. humanitarian assistance following Turkey’s mass murder of over 1.5 million Armenians and other Christians.

The White House is displaying the Armenian Orphan Rug, also known as the Ghazir Rug, as part of an exhibit at the White House Visitors Center. The exhibit – entitled “Thank you to the United States: Three Gifts to Presidents in Gratitude for American Generosity Abroad” – will showcase the Ghazir rug, as well as the Sèvres vase, given to President Herbert Hoover in appreciation for feeding children in post-World War I France, and the Flowering Branches in Lucite, given to President Barack Obama in recognition of American support of the people of Japan after the devastating earthquake and tsunami in 2010. These three gifts to American presidents will be on display so visitors to the White House and those wishing to see the artifacts can view them.”

The exhibit is taking place at the White House Visitor Center from Nov 18 to 23.