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Introduction
Nestled at the crossroads of Asia and Europe, Armenia is a small yet resilient country. Markers of its complex history punctuate its rugged landscapes: highland slopes sprinkled with thousands of petroglyphs, fortress-like churches from the earliest days of Christianity, and skeletons of enormous Soviet-era factories. Twentieth-century Armenia was characterized by massive displacement, conflict, and shifting borders, resulting in one of the world's largest diaspora populations.
The Armenia: Creating Home program at the 2018 Folklife Festival featured two case studies offering a glimpse into Armenian culture, greatly influenced by its surroundings, heritage, and ongoing exchange with its many diasporas. Foodways presentations and artisan craft traditions shared the importance of economic and cultural sustainability in the face of change and how these practices create home -- both in concept and in form.
From the physical production of food and craft for everyday life to the memories and emotions these traditions convey, the program challenged visitors to explore their own notions of home while experiencing Armenian culture. |