Norik Astvatsaturov Honored at the 2017 NEA National Heritage Fellowships Concert

Norik Astvatsaturov’s work is ancient in its origins yet current in its voice. He is an Armenian repoussé artist who, using a hammer and simple nail punches, works both sides of metal sheets (copper, bronze, brass, German silver, sometimes gold) and uses semi-precious stones like amethyst, turquoise, garnet, topaz, and carnelian as insets to create ornate works of art. Cultural items like jewelry boxes and icons made by Astvatsaturov are used by the Armenian diaspora to maintain their ethnic identity and remember their turbulent history. He was honored at the 2017 NEA National Heritage Fellowships Concert on September 15, 2017, at Lisner Auditorium in Washington, DC. Please enjoy this segment from the event webcast.