Courage Ablaze is a museum quality traveling exhibit that has been experienced by over 70,000 people. The work serves as a megaphone—speaking with tender boldness.
Courage Ablaze pillars, icons of strength, invite movement and involvement. As viewers encircle the 7-foot pillars, they engage with the image on the front and the story printed on the back. The charred frames on the Flame Tree portray suffering while the vivid colors of the Congolese images highlight beauty and hope.
Additional elements such as five child rape textiles, a ten-foot oil painting, and twenty-five watercolor portrait paintings draw viewers into the heart of the Congolese women—leaving an unforgettable impact.
Courage Ablaze: The Women and Children of Congo
Michigan State University
LookOut! Gallery
MSU Residential College in the Arts and Humanities
November 2 through November 19, 2015
Courage Ablaze & The Hidden War of Congo is a 90 minute presentation designed to raise awareness of the war on innocent civilians in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, particularly on the women. Kizombo Kalumbula, a naturalized Congolese professor and director of International Berean Ministry, presents the reasons for the conflict and the complex history of the region.
Pamela Alderman, a renowned watercolor artist, shares the tragic stories of Congolese refugees that she’s recorded in word and portraits, and demonstrates our connection to the troubles. “Le Clay” a Congolese refugee family choir, humanizes the statistics by singing Congolese songs in French, Lingala, and Swahili.
A question and answer period follows. Pamela’s artwork acts as the backdrop for the presentation and may remain in the facility for student viewing. Participants leave with knowledge of the almost unreported, but largest, war since WWII, and a variety of “things they can do” to make a difference.
Presentation and Opening Reception
Tuesday, November 10 at 5:00 p.m.
MSU Residential College in the Arts and Humanities • RCAH Theater
362 Bogue Street, East Lansing, Michigan
Free admission and open to the public
