To commemorate the 110th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, Garod Collective in collaboration with Armenian Joy invites you to “Reclaiming Armenian Memories: An Archiving Workshop” led by Anahit Pogosian — an interactive event at MayDay Space that honors memory, joy, and resistance through personal archives.

Participants will have the opportunity to scan and digitize family photographs, while sharing and memorializing the stories behind them through guided storytelling and creative collage-making.

The event will begin with a storytelling circle, where participants will share the histories connected to their photographs. Afterward, photos will be scanned—preserving them as digital files for participants and also contributing to the growing Armenian Joy Archive (https://armenianjoy.com/) and the beginnings of the Armenian Joy Archive: Family Histories book. Following the scanning, participants will be invited to creatively respond through collage, writing, or any form that feels meaningful — archiving not just the image, but the lived experience behind it. 

To participate in the workshop, please make sure to RSVP as spaces are limited. Please bring at least one physical photograph to scan, or upload your digital photo(s) here:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Rb_EaIe0yEV-SU_OkYMvXoL_5cfPa7aC?usp=sharing 

Can’t make the workshop at 6:30pm? Feel free to join us for a social hour between 8:30pm-10pm to learn more about Armenian Joy and be in community. Refreshments and snacks will be provided. If you plan to stop by, please RSVP under “general admission” as spaces are limited. 

While this event is free, donations are highly appreciated to cover costs!

Schedule:
• Doors Open – 6:30pm
• Introduction to Armenian Joy – begins promptly at 7:00pm 
• Storytelling Circle – 7:15pm
• Scanning, Collaging, Writing – 8:00pm  
• Social Hour – 8:30pm 

What is Armenian Joy? 

The Armenian Joy family album is composed of images submitted from personal albums from Armenians from around the world. All submitted images are printed on photo paper and arranged into an archival photo album. The digital files are uploaded to a private archive cloud server and published online; to the website and Instagram.  

Often the Armenian people are portrayed as survivors in sorrowing ways. This album shows the brighter parts of who we are. We are not only resilient. We’re a benevolent folk, who know how to enjoy life. Joy is an act of defiance.This work aims to unite the diaspora as one family, to inspire connection and serve as an act of resistance to the ongoing genocide and erasure of our ancestral lands and history.

Despite our losses, with every breath and chance meeting with one another - we create a new Armenia.

https://armenianjoy.com/
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Rb_EaIe0yEV-SU_OkYMvXoL_5cfPa7aC?usp=sharing