The Broad & City Hall

On Sunday, October 11^th, 2020 fifteen performers aligned the front of The Broad Museum, a space representing contemporary art, standing in silence waiting for the sun to rise. At 6:15AM collective member, Sandra Vartanian, led with a meditation to connect mind, bodies and soul, “embody our soldiers on the frontlines, we are with them, we stand with them.” Following the meditation, the performance began with their first set of ten minutes of stillness encompassing the solidarity that Armenians across the world are currently feeling, as they come together to raise awareness and have Artsakh recognized.

Photo Credit: @ Hilma Photography

In a silent protest, these “soldiers” slowly pass contrasting backdrops recognized as downtown Los Angeles, buildings that stand strong and undisturbed- unlike the homes, churches, and more that now lay in shambles after weeks of bombing in Stepanakert, the capital of Artsakh. As they arrived at Grand Park, traditional Armenian and Artsakh rugs laid waiting for them. Taking another ten-minute stand in silence on the rugs. The patterns on these rugs are representative of the “patterns” of generational trauma passed down for over one hundred years- much like rugs were passed down from family to family, one of many Armenian traditions. As they prepare to march towards their final stop, Los Angeles City Hall, each performer kneeled to gather their rug (“home”) into their hands- embodying their ancestors who were ripped from their homes and could only take with them what they could carry. As they marched onwards, approaching the steps of City Hall, they laid out the rugs once more and stood a final time in solidarity.