Material Acts of Resistance features the work of Michèle Colburn, who transforms volatile materials such as gunpowder, wire, and thread into quiet testaments of endurance and dissent. Her pieces trace the space between destruction and repair, turning the remnants of conflict into gestures of resilience. Through drawing, burning, and stitching, Colburn reveals how the act of making itself becomes a form of resistance - an insistence on memory, survival, and the enduring power of transformation.

Hosted by the Center for Peacemaking Practice a the Carter School, this event brings together the artist and members of the Carter School community for a conversation about the intersections of art, peacebuilding, and narrative transformation. The dialogue will explore how creative expression can deepen understanding of conflict, illuminate resilience, and reimagine the boundaries between art and peace practice.

The session will conclude with a Q&A and an optional visit to the Material Acts of Resistance exhibition in the Fuse Building gallery.

Speakers:

Michèle Colburn, Artist

Dr. Margarita Tadevosyan, Executive Director, Center for Peacemaking Practice

Audrey Williams, Ph.D. Candidate, Manager, Narrative Transformation Lab

Seung Gyo Kim, M.S. Student, Mary Hoch Center for Reconciliation