The following announcement was provided by the Armenian Museum of America:
Join authors Rouben and Liz Simonian for an immersion into Art and Architecture, Geography and Genealogy through Rouben Simonian’s memoir of an Armenian architect’s legacy, “Uncharted Canvas: A Journey through Beirut, Brussels, and Beyond.”
The event will take place on Thursday, July 16 at 6:30 p.m. at the Watertown Free Public Library in collaboration with the Armenian Museum of America and the Hamazkayin Boston Chapter. The evening will include a slideshow of Rouben’s paintings. Signed books will be available for purchase with proceeds benefiting the Armenian Museum of America.
In his memoir, Rouben shares the inspiring story of his Armenian heritage and his transformative journey from childhood in Beirut to a successful architecture career in America. This heartfelt memoir explores themes of identity, resilience, and rediscovery.
A key moment in piecing together the missing parts of his father’s life as a Genocide survivor was remembering that his father was interviewed in the 1980’s for the oral history project at the Armenian Museum. Rouben was able to learn about those years in his father’s own voice.
Rouben Simonian grew up in Beirut and earned a degree in architecture from the Royal Academy of Arts in Brussels. After relocating to Memphis in 1971, he spent much of his corporate career designing hotels and airport facilities. In retirement, he enjoys cooking and a variety of creative arts. Rouben and Liz reside in Germantown, Tennessee.