Exhibit brings author’s story to light, celebrates life

August 31st marked the 110th birthday of Fresno’s most famous writer, William Saroyan. Mr. Saroyan, born in Fresno, published his first work in 1933, and wrote over 50 books, plays, and screenplays throughout his life. His stories covered everyday life, and reached people across the globe.

When the Fresno Met closed in 2010, the Central Valley lacked a large exhibit dedicated to Mr. Saroyan’s works. The William Saroyan House Museum, which opened Aug. 31, changed that. Joseph Castro, president of Fresno State, spoke about his hopes for the house. He says the museum possesses the ability to inspire future writers.

“When William Saroyan died, I understand that he very much wanted Fresno to be a center for writers,” Castro said. “In fact he wanted the students of Fresno State in particular to benefit. I think the renovation of his house into a museum would make him very happy. I think it is very appropriate that this is taking place at Fresno State since one of the primary goals of the museum is to revive Saroyan studies.”

Rather than build a traditional exhibit with signs and pictures, the The Renaissance Cultural and Intellectual Fund, who funded construction, decided to make the Saroyan museum high-tech. The house includes a virtual-reality hologram of the author and interactive displays. Shelbie Ohanesian, a student in Fresno State’s Armenian Studies program, visited the house on opening day, and was impressed by the technology.

“I like that it’s a little bit futuristic,” Ohanesian said. “Around in Fresno you don’t really see any museums like that. Especially the virtual William Saroyan, that is something we do not have here in Fresno. Being able to have all of his pieces of art and his literature and all of it displayed in a new, modern way was really cool.”

Mr. Saroyan’s parents emigrated from Armenia before his birth. Armenak Saroyan, his father, worked as a preacher and farmer, and wrote stories in Armenian in his free time. The manuscripts illustrating Armenian culture, which Saroyan’s mother gave him after Armenak died in 1911, greatly influenced the future author’s writings.

Fresno has one of the oldest and largest Armenian-American communities. However, according to Armeniapedia, prejudice against Armenians existed, and Saroyan no doubt felt this growing up. Rather than hide his heritage, however, Mr. Saroyan expressed pride in Armenian culture in books like My Name is Aram and The Human Comedy.

While The New York Times celebrated Mr. Saroyan’s writings and his works received many awards in America, Saroyan also had a large fanbase in Europe. His plays, especially Cave Dwellers, were translated and produced throughout Europe.

In addition to the cultural impact in Europe, Mr. Saroyan affected history. According to Armenian Ambassador Grigor Hovhannissian, who grew up in Soviet Armenia, Mr. Saroyan was one of the first to reconnect native Armenians with their culture. He says Saroyan’s influence revitalized Armenian international presence.

“In many ways, Saroyan is one of the founding fathers of the global Armenian world of Armenian society,” Hovhannissian said. “I was born in and 16 or 17 years of my life were spent in the Soviet Union, behind the Iron Curtain. And I believe this trivial existence of Soviet Armenia detached us from our national roots and origins and sense of mission.

“All of a sudden, that Iron Curtain was breached, and the person that breached it, mainly to Armenia, was Saroyan,” Hovhannissian continued. “He reminded us of the desire to unite with our brothers and sisters. And ever since, Armenia was unique, we were perhaps the only country in that Soviet environment that was physically behind that Iron Curtain, nevertheless had communication with the outside world. In that sense, Saroyan was one of the fathers of the global Armenian community.”

Fresno State held a ceremony celebrating the life and influence of Saroyan on opening night for the Saroyan house. Speakers, including congressman Jim Costa, and others, told stories of Saroyan’s impact.

The William Saroyan House Museum has free admission. To visit, schedule your time at the William Saroyan House Museum’s website.

For more articles read Freshmen share aspirations for first year of high school and EDITORIAL: Benefits of struggling together.

Bryce Foshee can be reached via twitter @brycer_f and via email Bryce Foshee.

Slideshow images below show the events at The William Saroyan House Museum.

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