Sunday, November 13, 2016, following the church service, a poetry reading and book signing event was held at Paul Family Fellowship hall organized by St. John Armenian Church. Poet James Baloian read poems from his newly published poems called “Photo of an Unknown Ancestor” accompanied by live music with Max Baloian and friends.

James was not reciting his poems, but living them.  He read them slowly and naturally, with affection and emotion.

James Baloian is well known in Bay area as a poet, writer, and teacher. For over fifty years, he has been writing and publishing poetry that explores the beauty, cruelty, dreams, fears, turbulence, and serenity of human existence and the natural world around us. A selection of his works has been set to original and traditional music that pays homage to the far-reaching tragedy and trauma of the Genocide as well as the love and perseverance of the Armenian people.

We thank Cecilia Baloian for hosting the reception and organizing the event. Special thanks to James Baloian the poet, his son Max Baloian and the ensemble, for the beautiful musical performance.