The next Civilitas public forum has a curious title: “From Ebru to Grandchildren.” What’s that you say?

When EBRU appeared in Turkey, it was an eye-opener. Based on the concept that Turkish society is like the marbling paper (ebru..) that was used for centuries as the frontispiece of a published book – where colors maintained their identity and also blended together – photographer Attila Durak spent seven years traveling throughout Turkey’s regions to photograph and chronicle the lives of members of Turkey’s diverse cultures.

The result is a 350-page book and an extensive photo exhibition. The exhibition will be shown at Yerevan’s Armenian Center for Contemporary Experimental Art (ACCEA or NPAK in Armenian). In conjunction with the exhibition, a regular Civilitas public forum will take place at ACCEA among the photographs, and with the participation of the photographer, and several writers and editors who contributed to the book. The forum will be held on May 5, at 2 pm, immediately preceding the exhibition’s formal opening.

But the forum goes beyond Ebru. It is entitled “From Ebru to Grandchildren – New Conceptualizations in Turkey.” In other words, moving from a realization of a society’s diversity to an acknowledgement of an individual’s mixed identity. The panelists include Fethiye Cetin, the author of the groundbreaking memoir, My Grandmother, a book that’s become the lightning rod for a new generation of Turks who are discovering their Armenian ancestry. Ms. Cetin is an attorney, and an active and passionate defender of Hrant Dink, both prior to and after his assassination.

Another of the panelists – Nebahat Akkoc was a teacher in Diyarbakır until her husband was shot. She then turned her full attention to human rights and specifically, against gender-based violence.

Ayşe Gül Altınay teaches anthropology, cultural studies, and gender studies at Sabancı University in İstanbul. She the daughter of a mother from Mostar (former Yugoslavia) and a father from Halfeti (Urfa) and Kilis, and having grown up in Diyarbakır and İstanbul, the question “Where are you from?” has always been a difficult one for her. Altınay is the author of The Myth of the Military-Nation: Militarism, Gender, and Education in Turkey and Vatan-Millet-Kadınlar.

Takuhi Tovmasyan Zaman’s family was originally from Çorlu. She was born in İstanbul and graduated from Armenian schools. She worked as a typesetter for Aras Press’ publications and went on to write a cookbook-memoir, Sofranız Şen Olsun (May Your Table be Jolly) that is as much about cultural relations as it is about food.

I will moderate the panel, wearing several hats. The Civilitas hat, of course, but also the hat of someone who has interviewed hundreds of genocide survivors and spent years contemplating issues that still affect the lives of their grand and great-grandchildren, of whom I am one.  This will be a lively discussion among people who understand the importance of recognizing history, welcoming diversity and respecting human rights.

Future public forums will deal with perceptions of the Caucasus 20 years ago, with the fall of the USSR and now. Guests will be expert Caucasus-watchers from various countries.

CivilitasFoundation.org has several articles by Civilitas’s Tatul Hakobyan and Civilitas Founder Vartan Oskanian. Mr. Oskanian’s interviews to various news sources are on the site in Armenian and in translation. So is his interview to GALA TV, in Gyumri, embroiled in a lawsuit that threatens to shut down the alternative TV station. Mr. Oskanian’s comments focus on Armenia’s urgent economic challenges, the internal political repositioning taking place among the political players, and international issues, especially on the occasion of the 10th year anniversary of the Key West talks that were to lead to a resolution of the Karabakh conflict.

Your responses are always welcome.