Gyumri embraces humor, resilience, development despite quake misery

Gyumri embraces humor, resilience, development despite quake misery

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Huffington Post unveiled an article about Gyumri, the second biggest city in Armenia, set on the northwestern tip of the country. The feature tells about the humor of the locals, their resilience, the massive earthquake that hit the city in 1988, its architecture, cultural life, arts and crafts, as well as the city's development as a technology hub and most importantly, its youth.

“Gyumri’s humor industry and valiant mindset has throughout its centuries-old history boldly challenged authorities with most intellectual breed of humor that’s become the signature of its boisterous, outspoken inhabitants who even during the height of the restrictive Soviet power humored the authorities,” the article says.

“There is an undeniably distinct Armenian spirit of resilience, pride, and a gallant humor that’s unique here.

There’s an unconfirmed story about how during the Soviet era a group of Gyumri men had circled the city square carrying a black coffin on their shoulders. When folks had inquired about the identity of the deceased, the men had opened the top of the coffin to reveal copies of the Soviet daily newspaper Pravda “truth” in Russian.”

Today’s Gyumri is still reviving from the catastrophic 1988 earthquake, which destroyed 80 percent of the city’s infrastructure and buildings, left 50,000 homeless, more than 25,000 dead and countless others fleeing the city for better opportunities abroad.

“Traces of Gyumri’s thriving past glory is tucked away in the old Kumayri part of town where a maze of cobblestone streets with some standing magnificent 18th and 19th century “belle epoch” architectural structures stand resolute in orange and black touf. Courtyards hugging wooden, hanging balconies, and elaborate cornices reflect an era when residents took pride in constructing exquisitely accented homes with front doors which today stand dilapidated with traces of their original handcrafted façade,” the feature says.

“Some of the former homes of affluent merchants are now house-museums like the Aslamazyan Sisters Gallery, which since 1987 has showcased more than 600 original paintings, graphics and ceramics by the trailblazing Aslamazyan sisters who traveled to more than 60 countries, unprecedented under the Soviet rule. Their paintings reflect images and scenes spanning from Europe to Africa to East Indies. The two-story museum is outlined with wooden balconies and railings that overshadow a tree-laden courtyard.”

Also among visit-worthy house-museums is that of prominent poet Hovhannes Shiraz, the article says, as well as the Museum of National Architecture and Urban Life that preserves Gyumri’s splendid past with city replicas, sampling of multitude of trades, and prosperity of its opulent middle-class family life enjoyed in the 1800s.

In 2013, Gyumri’s mastery in the arts and crafts established it as the “cultural capital” of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The love for the arts is clearly evident throughout the streets, parks and rotaries adorned with statues of poets, writers, musicians, painters, actors, politicians and historic Armenian heroes and freedom fighters.

The city’s proud legacy in sports is reflected in its 20 sports schools - and residents are not shy in reminding visitors that their city’s athletes won four Olympic and 26 world and European championships and set 52 world records.

The massive, circular Black Fortress, erected by the Russians in 1830’s to ward off the Turks during the Russo-Turkish war, is currently under renovation.

But there’s a new layer of life developing in Gyumri - dusting off the proud legacy of the city, and rebuilding the city’s modern day advances. Life goes on in Gyumri as it has throughout its centuries of upheavals and natural disasters, the article says.

“The newly built Gyumri Technology Center (GTC) - a joint endeavor between the Armenian government, Enterprise Incubator Foundation and the World Bank, inaugurated in 2014 hopes to turn Gyumri into a regional and international center for technology, training and development.

In addition to tech start-ups, the building also houses the new buzz in town, the Tumo Center for Creative Technologies a free after school program, opened in partnership with AGBU. Opened last year, Tumo Gyumri already has 1,500 youth, between the ages of 12-18 enrolled in its state-of-the-art technology and design classes, and wide range of tech workshops taught by both local and international workshop leaders.

Catering to tourists visiting the city and the region’s ancient landmarks are numerous cafés and restaurants. There are also countless hotels and hostels throughout Gyumri,” the piece adds.

“The youth [in Gyumri] here have inherited the distinct character - both in humor and resilience. They are proudly committed to contributing to their city’s progress through higher education. [They are often cited as the] “masters” of their city, proud of its glorious past and determined to uphold the legacy that has been shared with them by their elders. This sentiment was echoed by all the youth who didn’t shy away from confirming that Gyumri is the “cultural center of Armenia” and far surpasses Armenia’s capital city,” the article concludes.

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