Tweet
KARSH PHOTO STILL ENTHRALLS VARTAN GREGORIAN
by Tom Vartabedian
http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2011-10-21-karsh-photo-still-enthralls-vartan-gregorian-
Published: Friday October 21, 2011
Dr. Vartan Gregorian and a photograph of himself taken by Yousuf
Karsh in 1991. Tom Vartabedian
Watertown, Mass. - By virtue of his nature and uncalculated fame, Dr.
Vartan Gregorian is a man accustomed to sitting in the hot seat.
Of all the positions he's held, all the accolades he's received, all
the speeches he's given and notables he's encountered throughout his
academic lifetime, nothing has rattled his heart more than the time
he posed for Yousuf Karsh.
The year was 1991 and Dr. Gregorian was president emeritus of New York
Public Library. This would be his second encounter with the great
Armenian photographer from Ottawa, whose lens immortalized some the
greatest individuals on this planet.
"It proved to be a nerve-racking experience," he recalled. "It took
hours before he actually took the picture, making sure every last
detail was in place. He was impatient because I was growing impatient.
Although I've been photographed by several other prominent
photographers, having Karsh take my picture was very special because
we were both Armenian."
The setting shows Dr. Gregorian with one hand on books and another
in his pocket, smiling against a backdrop of library shelves. By his
name reads the inscription: "Academic, Educator, recipient of the
Presidential Medal of Freedom."
Of the 25 subjects currently on display at the newly-refurbished
Bedoukian Gallery inside the Armenian Library & Museum of America
(ALMA), only one individual remains alive.
Dr. Gregorian got to see his own portrait hung on the wall --- two
decades later --- next to Ernest Hemingway and Eleanor Roosevelt. The
privilege was undeniable.
"It was a humbling experience that day when he showed up at the library
with his gear," recalled Dr. Gregorian. "He ran the picture in his
'Legends' book. Being the only Armenian included in those pages
was humbling."
Few if any of the subjects, including Winston Churchill, were able to
get two photo commissions out of Karsh. The first time they met was in
1981 when Dr. Gregorian was Provost at the University of Pennsylvania.
Even then, Karsh proved a taskmaster with the sitting.
"It took four, maybe five hours before he was done," Dr. Gregorian
traced back. "Looking at my photo now being displayed at ALMA, it's
living proof that we all age - and unfortunately decline."
At the time of the grand opening September 16, Dr. Gregorian was
engaged elsewhere and couldn't attend. He picked a Sunday afternoon
in early October when the museum was launching an art exhibit by
impressionist Martin Barooshian. The two notables were floors apart,
each greeting their own constituents, and never did get to meet
that day.
Dr. Gregorian had a flight to catch and was in Geneva days later
attending a conference as president of the philanthropic Carnegie
Corporation of New York. At an age when most are retired, he also
remains a trustee of the Museum of Modern Art, the American Academy
in Berlin, the Institute for Advanced Study and Brandeis University
among other institutions.
Nearly 70 honorary degrees have come his way.
The Iranian-born academian served as president of Brown University
for nine years before Carnegie. His New York Public Library tenure
extended eight years and proved one of his most lasting legacies.
When he arrived there in 1981, the library faced deficits and a
deteriorating architecture. Eight years later, the operation budget
had doubled, 400 new employees had been hired, the buildings were
cleaned and restored, and $327 million had been raised.
Over the years, Dr. Gregorian grew to admire Karsh's work and held
him in the highest esteem. They had met on other occasions and the
respect turned mutual.
"Although he was proud to be Canadian, Karsh was equally proud to
be Armenian," said Dr. Gregorian. "I admired his erudition as well
as his modesty. He treated everyone as if they were the only person
who counted in the world. Even Churchill couldn't defy him when he
took the cigar out of his mouth."
Dr. Gregorian further described Karsh as "profound and humorous."
"He had no identity crisis," Dr. Gregorian added. "He knew who he
was and his mission in life. He had a rich inner life as well as a
wonderful profession and he loved and admired his wife Estrellita.
They were a great couple who complemented each other. It was a joy
to be with them."
The gratitude of seeing his photograph displayed with other venerable
brings overwhelming pride to Dr. Gregorian. It was as if he were
being immortalized next to immortals.
In a letter written to board chairman Haig Der Manuelian, he thanked
ALMA for its leadership and its initiative toward keeping Armenia's
legacy alive in America.
From: A. Papazian
by Tom Vartabedian
http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2011-10-21-karsh-photo-still-enthralls-vartan-gregorian-
Published: Friday October 21, 2011
Dr. Vartan Gregorian and a photograph of himself taken by Yousuf
Karsh in 1991. Tom Vartabedian
Watertown, Mass. - By virtue of his nature and uncalculated fame, Dr.
Vartan Gregorian is a man accustomed to sitting in the hot seat.
Of all the positions he's held, all the accolades he's received, all
the speeches he's given and notables he's encountered throughout his
academic lifetime, nothing has rattled his heart more than the time
he posed for Yousuf Karsh.
The year was 1991 and Dr. Gregorian was president emeritus of New York
Public Library. This would be his second encounter with the great
Armenian photographer from Ottawa, whose lens immortalized some the
greatest individuals on this planet.
"It proved to be a nerve-racking experience," he recalled. "It took
hours before he actually took the picture, making sure every last
detail was in place. He was impatient because I was growing impatient.
Although I've been photographed by several other prominent
photographers, having Karsh take my picture was very special because
we were both Armenian."
The setting shows Dr. Gregorian with one hand on books and another
in his pocket, smiling against a backdrop of library shelves. By his
name reads the inscription: "Academic, Educator, recipient of the
Presidential Medal of Freedom."
Of the 25 subjects currently on display at the newly-refurbished
Bedoukian Gallery inside the Armenian Library & Museum of America
(ALMA), only one individual remains alive.
Dr. Gregorian got to see his own portrait hung on the wall --- two
decades later --- next to Ernest Hemingway and Eleanor Roosevelt. The
privilege was undeniable.
"It was a humbling experience that day when he showed up at the library
with his gear," recalled Dr. Gregorian. "He ran the picture in his
'Legends' book. Being the only Armenian included in those pages
was humbling."
Few if any of the subjects, including Winston Churchill, were able to
get two photo commissions out of Karsh. The first time they met was in
1981 when Dr. Gregorian was Provost at the University of Pennsylvania.
Even then, Karsh proved a taskmaster with the sitting.
"It took four, maybe five hours before he was done," Dr. Gregorian
traced back. "Looking at my photo now being displayed at ALMA, it's
living proof that we all age - and unfortunately decline."
At the time of the grand opening September 16, Dr. Gregorian was
engaged elsewhere and couldn't attend. He picked a Sunday afternoon
in early October when the museum was launching an art exhibit by
impressionist Martin Barooshian. The two notables were floors apart,
each greeting their own constituents, and never did get to meet
that day.
Dr. Gregorian had a flight to catch and was in Geneva days later
attending a conference as president of the philanthropic Carnegie
Corporation of New York. At an age when most are retired, he also
remains a trustee of the Museum of Modern Art, the American Academy
in Berlin, the Institute for Advanced Study and Brandeis University
among other institutions.
Nearly 70 honorary degrees have come his way.
The Iranian-born academian served as president of Brown University
for nine years before Carnegie. His New York Public Library tenure
extended eight years and proved one of his most lasting legacies.
When he arrived there in 1981, the library faced deficits and a
deteriorating architecture. Eight years later, the operation budget
had doubled, 400 new employees had been hired, the buildings were
cleaned and restored, and $327 million had been raised.
Over the years, Dr. Gregorian grew to admire Karsh's work and held
him in the highest esteem. They had met on other occasions and the
respect turned mutual.
"Although he was proud to be Canadian, Karsh was equally proud to
be Armenian," said Dr. Gregorian. "I admired his erudition as well
as his modesty. He treated everyone as if they were the only person
who counted in the world. Even Churchill couldn't defy him when he
took the cigar out of his mouth."
Dr. Gregorian further described Karsh as "profound and humorous."
"He had no identity crisis," Dr. Gregorian added. "He knew who he
was and his mission in life. He had a rich inner life as well as a
wonderful profession and he loved and admired his wife Estrellita.
They were a great couple who complemented each other. It was a joy
to be with them."
The gratitude of seeing his photograph displayed with other venerable
brings overwhelming pride to Dr. Gregorian. It was as if he were
being immortalized next to immortals.
In a letter written to board chairman Haig Der Manuelian, he thanked
ALMA for its leadership and its initiative toward keeping Armenia's
legacy alive in America.
From: A. Papazian