Everything changed for Robert Megerdichian the day he found the key. It was never really lost, but rather strategically tucked away and carefully marked with a crumpled label written in Armenian. Waiting patiently to be found by the right person at the right time, this key unlocked a treasure trove, a new life’s goal and a bit of an obsession.
While he and his wife had lived in his family’s Cambridge home for close to 40 years, Megerdichian hadn’t given much thought to the oversized chest gathering dust in the basement until that moment, when his wife suggested that they finally take a peek at the contents. Built by his father, Abraham, the chest had been sitting for many years since he had passed and was locked up tight with no indication of the key’s whereabouts.
A frustrating and thorough search at last revealed a set of two keys nestled at the bottom of a glass jar hanging from the basement ceiling. Attached to the keys was a note written in Abraham’s native Armenian, translated to read, “the things I’ve made.”
Megerdichian knew full well the things his father had made, as there had never been a birthday or Christmas when a family member wasn’t gifted one of them. From miniature trucks and trains to tiny musical instruments and full sets of dollhouse furniture, Abraham’s creations were ever present. Making these miniscule works of art from brass, aluminum, copper and stainless steel was a hobby that, through the years, amassed a growing collection in the household.
Born in 1923 to Armenian immigrants, Abraham worked as a master machinist at General Electric in Lynn, leaving for a three-year stint in the Navy and returning to complete a 40-year career. A self-proclaimed “tinkerer,” he would regularly scour the factory dumpsters for scrap metal, nuts and bolts. On his breaks he entertained himself by making rough little replicas of everyday objects, from tiny chairs and musical instruments to cars, trucks and even roller skates. At home in the evenings, he would meticulously buff them to a glossy finish.
For decades, family members and friends of Abraham were gifted with his creations. Most were thoughtfully matched to the interests of the recipient: a thimble for his wife, a truck for his son. Other times, they might be a bit obscure. But they were always artfully made.
As the Megerdichian household slowly filled with his creations, Abraham built display shelves. As the objects multiplied and the shelves filled, he made a giant chest for the overflow.
Abraham passed away in 1983. By that time, he had created over 400 miniatures. The locked chest sat, unnoticed, in the basement for 30 years until the day his son and daughter-in-law decided to search for the key.
Megerdichian recalls the moment that they opened the chest, revealing his father’s collection.
“I realized that he had been an artist,” he says, “although he never thought of himself as one.”
Looking at the hundreds of painstakingly accurate and beautiful objects with fresh eyes, Megerdichian vowed to take on the task of promoting and sharing his dad’s work.
“It became a mission,” he says.
The Charles River Museum of Industry was the first to agree to host an exhibit, but an unfortunate flood forced them to cancel. Next approaching the Industrial Museum in Attleboro, Megerdichian was offered a three-month exhibit of about 25 pieces. The exhibit was so well-received that it was extended to two full years.
Thirteen years and 50 exhibits later, Megerdichian has been a man with a mission, following a path that had never been part of his plan. With degrees in civil engineering and fine art history, he also studied architecture and has run an architectural consulting business for 35 years, surveying and measuring commercial buildings. As his passion for sharing his father’s work deepened, he went back to school at age 69 to earn a master’s in non-profit management to qualify to work in the museum field.
Five years ago, Megerdichian and his wife moved to Methuen.
“We wanted to become part of the community, to make connections,” he says. “Our first thought was to get a library card at Nevins. This one move opened so many doors for us.”
Exhibiting his father’s pieces at the library, he also learned about the Senior Center’s art programs. Two years ago, with no prior art training, he was inspired to sign up for a watercolor class with Lisa Buglione.
“While others were painting perfectly nice flowers and lighthouses, I decided to paint my father’s miniatures,” he says. “When I brought them home, my wife commented that they needed a little spark, something to make them unique. My father was an amateur photographer. I began going through his photos and cutting out faces to create collages with my watercolors.”
What resulted was a collaboration, of sorts, between father and son. Always incorporating at least one drawing of a piece from his father’s collection, Megerdichian uses watercolors and collage to pay homage to Abraham while creating his own artwork. This is done, as he puts it, “quickly and simply.” and with wit and humor. Megerdichian does not strive for technical perfection.
“I am about capturing recollections,” he says. “And if it makes someone smile or laugh, even better.”
Now working with a team including a conservationist, a photographer and a web creator, Megerdichian continues to promote and exhibit his father’s collection, often accompanied by his own watercolor collages. What used to be Abraham Megerdichian Art is now called Megerdichian Art. His watercolor collages were featured at Methuen Community Television this past June while his dad’s work was at Andover’s Memorial Hall Library. He has twice been featured on the TV show “Chronicle,” has traveled around New England and beyond with his exhibit and would like to open a museum at some point.
Still self-employed in the architectural field, Megerdichian also writes a column for an Armenian newspaper and hosts a local monthly TV show where he interviews guests about their own passions.
“I love to hear about what captivates people,” he says.
Seeming not to take himself too seriously, Megerdichian laughs at where the past few years have taken him.
“I went from the guy with a collection in a crate to traveling around the country promoting it, to painting watercolors to becoming a columnist to hosting a TV show,” he marvels. I’m not doing anything magical; I haven’t invented anything … but I am having a blast.”
Patricia Bruno is a Methuen native, currently living in Haverhill. A writer and photographer, she is also the owner of The Winged Rabbit gift shop in downtown Haverhill.
A photograph of the actual chest with contents.
A detailed set of miniature brass furniture even includes a vacuum cleaner.
At a recent exhibit at Methuen Community Studios, Megerdichian juxtaposed photos of his father’s artwork with his own watercolor collages featuring the same item. ML photo by Patricia J. Bruno
Abraham’s creations are meticulously made replicas of everyday items like this antique iron.
Most of Abraham’s creations are tiny replicas of everyday objects like this bicycle.
The artist created watercolor renditions of his dad’s work and added a photo of his grandson for humor.
Each of Megerdichian’s watercolor collages includes one of his father’s pieces of art.
Megerdichian pokes fun at a recent hernia procedure in this piece, which includes a nod to one of his father’s creations.
