The first West Coast “Armenians and Progressive Politics” Conference is coming on June 6 and 7, 2008. The conference will be a critical examination of subjects pertinent to Armenians’ political, social, and economic situation within both global and local contexts.

Featuring distinguished speakers from academia, labor unions, community organizing, the arts, and media, this series of five panels breaks new ground. The first panel discussion, Raising Social Consciousness Through Art and Music, should generate particularly lively and humorous presentations followed by public discussion during the plenary session scheduled for Friday night, June 6. This panel of artistic activists— Lalo Alcaraz, Jerry Quickly, and Vahe Berberian— moderated by Assembly Member Paul Krekorian commences at 7:30 pm in the Glendale Central Library Auditorium (222 E. Harvard St. Glendale).

The other panels’ topics are Women’s Issues/Feminism, Social and Democracy Issues in Armenia, Southern California Labor and Related Social Issues, and Media Democracy and Reform. Running from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, these will be held in Glendale Comunity College’s Library Building- Room 222, 1500 North Verdugo Road Glendale, CA 91208.

Among the more noted participants are David Barsamian of Alternative Radio, UCLA Professor Roger Waldinger, and Glendale School Board Member Nayiri Nahabedian.

Avedik Izmirlian, a member of the organizing committee noted, “We’re excited to bring this program to the Greater Los Angeles community. Our colleagues on the East Coast are hosting their third conference a week before ours and another has taken place in Argentina.”

This program has been made possible through the organizing efforts the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, sponsorship of the Armenian Cultural Foundation, and media sponsorship of KPFK- 90.7 Pacifica Radio in Southern California. In fact, four panelists are programmers for the noted progressive radio station.

WHAT: “Armenians and Progressive Politics” Conference. Vahe Berberian to participate in panel discussion of Raising Social Consciousness Through Art and Music
WHERE: The Glendale Central Library Auditorium. 222 E. Harvard St. Glendale, CA 91205
WHEN: Friday, June 6, 2008 at 7:30 pm
MORE: www.armenianprogressive.com

Serj Tankian approached various friends in the art world to direct a video for every song on Elect The Dead, his debut solo release. This allowed for each director to showcase their personality, creating a unique approach to each song they were given.

Track 6, The Sky Is Over, directed by Oscar-nominated Puerto Rican playwright and screenwriter Jose Rivera (The Motorcycle Diaries), captures Vahe in the studio painting feverishly, inspired by the song. “For me,” says Berberian, “it was a magnificent collaboration between three artists and friends. I have always used music as a source of inspiration and this time, it was even more so because of the fact that both the musician and the filmmaker were good friends” This unique glimpse into the artist’s methodology and environment is a feast for the eyes.