From September 5-11, Yerevan will transform into a living tribute to William Saroyan as the William Saroyan Foundation presents "Saroyan Days" an unprecedented week-long festival featuring newly discovered materials from the acclaimed Armenian-American writer's archives. The event represents the most significant archival discovery in Saroyan studies in over two decades, presented in partnership with the U.S. Embassy in Armenia and the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports of the Republic of Armenia.
For decades, literary scholars and devotees of William Saroyan have known him primarily through the lens of his celebrated prose—the ironic humor of "The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze," the warmth of "The Human Comedy," the theatrical brilliance of "The Time of Your Life." But this September, audiences in Yerevan will witness a revelation that fundamentally expands our understanding of this Pulitzer Prize-winning author: Saroyan was not merely a master of words, but a prolific visual artist whose paintings recorded an intimate parallel journey alongside his literary evolution.
What makes this celebration extraordinary is the groundbreaking nature of what will be unveiled: 100 never-before-exhibited paintings and 22 unpublished stories representing the first new Saroyan publication in over twenty years, published for the first time in Armenian. The week will also feature theatrical performances at the Malyan Theater and the Yerevan Institute of Theater and Cinematography, film screenings, panel discussions at venues including the American University of Armenia and National Library, a short fiction prize ceremony within the scope of annual Yerevan International Book Festival where the winner will receive an original Saroyan painting, and a showcase of emerging Armenian creatives at AGBU Armenia via Creative Armenia.
US Ambassador to Armenia Kristina Kvien said, “Let’s celebrate the spirit of William Saroyan together. We look forward to seeing you at Saroyan Days!”
The William Saroyan Foundation, founded by Saroyan himself in 1966, has dedicated itself to preserving and promoting his legacy as a prose writer, playwright, and fine artist while supporting emerging writers and fostering educational initiatives in Armenia and the diaspora. When Saroyan died in 1981, he left his entire literary and artistic estate to the Foundation, and for over four decades, the Foundation has acted as steward of Saroyan’s work. "We are excited to bring this remarkable new material to Armenia," says Scott Setrakian, President of the William Saroyan Foundation. "We'll be releasing the first collection of unpublished Saroyan writings in over 20 years and debuting an exhibition of 100 paintings that reveal another dimension of his artistry."
The exhibition, titled "The Colors Behind the Words," will open at the Museum of Literature and Arts on September 5 and present the never-before-seen works that document Saroyan's artistic evolution across five decades. "He started painting in the 1930s and had a style that was very cubist, dominated by sort of straight lines and shades of pencil work. In the 1960’s he evolved to a more impressionistic style, which Saroyan compared favorably, in typical Saroyanesque bravado, to the work of Jackson Pollock," Mr. Setrakian explains.
Saroyan carefully documented the date and place of each of his paintings, making it possible to connect each artwork with what the author wrote in his journal that same day. As a result, the exhibition will show visitors both the paintings and Saroyan's own reflections about what was unfolding in his life during their creation.
Many of his works feature visual echoes of Armenian script despite his inability to read the language—a testament to his connection with cultural identity that extended beyond literal comprehension. Among the exhibition's most compelling discoveries is a group of self-portraits created in a single day, works that will bring forward his spirit in a particularly intimate way.
The unpublished stories, which will be launched at the National Gallery of Armenia in partnership with the Yerevan Book Fair and Stanford University, are published in Armenian by Antares Publishing and span chronologically from his earliest work to his death, including his own experience as a first-generation Armenian in America, and reflections on his gambling activities later in life.
As Mr. Setrakian explains, Saroyan wrote every day, and he completed several compelling pieces at the end of 1965 - a difficult year for Saroyan that he attempted to salvage by writing 33 stories in the last 33 days of the year. He completed one each of the first four days and then abandoned the project – three of these stories are included in the book. "These are my favorites," Mr. Setrakian notes, "I want to introduce the side of Saroyan that is not very well known but very representative of the spirit and heart he brought to his writing."
The complete schedule of events will be revealed on August 31—stay tuned and follow the Facebook and Instagram pages of Saroyan Days for the latest updates and behind-the-scenes glimpses into this extraordinary celebration.
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