An intersection in East Watertown, a historic town just outside Boston known for its strong Armenian-American community, will be named in honor of an Armenian artist who lived there for several years, reports Watertown News.
On February 11, the City Council voted unanimously to name the intersection of Dexter Avenue and Hazel Street after Arshile Gorky.
After surviving the 1915 Armenian Genocide and its aftermath, Gorky arrived in Watertown in February 1920 as part of a third wave of Armenian immigrants escaping persecution. He lived in Watertown with his sisters until late 1924 to early 1925 before moving to New York City. Gorky’s impact on art history and his influence on contemporary art remain significant. Watertown has long been a haven for Armenian immigrants, and the East End, where Gorky lived, is home to several Armenian cultural institutions.
The request to name the intersection for Gorky came from members of a working group for the “100 Years of Arshile Gorky” celebration. The group includes Watertown’s Public Arts & Culture Planner Liz Helfer, resident Jack Dargon, and representatives of the Armenian Museum of America, the Mosesian Center for the Arts, and the Historical Society of Watertown.
The proposal was first reviewed by the Council’s Committee on Public Works on February 3, where it received unanimous support.
During the committee meeting, Helfer explained that a pole and plaque would mark the intersection, similar to those used for honoring veterans. Gorky will also be recognized with two plaques near the homes where he and his family lived in Watertown (86 Dexter Ave. and 14 Coolidge Hill Road).
Initially, the proposal suggested placing the plaque at Artsakh Street and Elton Avenue. However, after receiving input from the Armenian community, the location was changed to Dexter and Hazel, which was deemed more fitting, according to the committee report.
The 100 Years of Arshile Gorky celebration includes a mural on the Watertown-Cambridge Greenway, an exhibition and movie screening at the Mosesian Center for the Arts, a curated collection on Gorky at the Watertown Library, a guided walk, and a self-guided tour.
