Artists in Conversation: Memory & Resilience

At the Museum of Tolerance, we begin in story and end in story, grounded in the belief that creativity can interrupt mechanisms of harm and destruction. During times of genocide, art is often targeted by oppressive regimes alongside the physical destruction of a people. More than a form of creative expression, art represents individuality, critical thought, and reflections on the world, its systems, and cultural connections—qualities that threaten and tear at the veil of authoritarian control.

In remembrance of Genocide Awareness Month, we invite educators in civics, history, art, and the humanities to join us for an engaging professional development experience. This session will explore how cultural erasure operates within the mechanisms of genocide, how art can disrupt harm, and why art, as an expression of critical thought and cultural memory, becomes dangerous to systems of oppression. Alongside the learning, educators will participate in a facilitated art walk and gain resources and best practices for using art and creative primary sources to teach in ways that actively resist these dynamics of harm and destruction.

Following the workshop, participants are invited to join us in honoring the art and powerful testimonies of artists Gabriella Karin and Arpi Krikorian, in a moderated Q&A session.

Featured Artists:

Gabriella Karin, known for her powerful statuary work and her collection The Agony of the Holocaust, artistically traces the arc of Nazi persecution through the Holocaust and into its aftermath, reflecting the diverse experiences of its victims.

Arpi Krikorian, a prolific painter, designer, and third-generation descendant of Armenian Genocide survivors, explores Armenian history through expressions of cultural joy and celebration rather than images of violence and loss.

Together in dialogue, their work invites both deep reflection and confrontation, positioning us not as passive observers, but as participants shaped by systems of harm, and as learners entering and reflecting on histories that may be unfamiliar or hidden. Through their testimony, we deepen our understanding of the histories of the Armenian Genocide and the Holocaust and engage with their lived experiences as interconnected forces.

This event is offered free of charge. RSVP required. Register here.