“Why the hell did I take up with Armenian merchants! After all, I knew well of their special status in India and other eastern countries. Could the Armenians be so powerful that for their sake my Master betrayed me?” This thought could easily have flashed through Captain Kidd’s mind before he, King William III’s privateer, was executed by hanging.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then the journey of Mher Filian could be summed up by the image of two well-worn boots on the crimson carpet of a Grammy Awards party with the caption: “Here I am. I’m on my way.”

Minas Avetisyan was an insightful and dynamic storyteller. Anyone fortunate to have met him spoke of his eloquence and charm. He could tell the same story twice and each time the listener uncovered something new embedded in his words. His stories remain alive as his good friend from across the globe, fellow artist Richard H. Tashjian, continues to echo his wisdom.

It feels somewhat strange to write about Rob Sahakyants, whom I had not met in person. On the other hand, there are so many things that make us feel his presence in our lives: his films (Rob hates the word ‘animated’), his aphorisms, and the endless stories about him – funny, sad or sometimes shocking – that his acquaintances, friends and family are willing to tell for hours…