To mark International Museum Day, the Carlos Machado Museum opens its doors on 18 May at 17:00 for the MUSEUTALKS session “Natural Disasters and Azorean Resilience”, taking place in the Exhibition Room of Das Cinzas — Catastrophe and Adaptation in the Azores, at the Santo André Centre.

This session proposes an interdisciplinary reflection on the relationship between extreme natural phenomena and the historical processes of adaptation, reconstruction, and resilience in the Azores archipelago. Understanding the territory as a living archive, the discussion addresses how earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and environmental and agricultural crises have shaped the physical, social, and cultural landscape of the islands over centuries.

The conversation brings together perspectives from history, human geography, environmental history, and artistic research, fostering a dialogue between science, heritage, and contemporary artistic practice.

More information about the exhibition is available here:
👉 Das Cinzas — Catastrophe and Adaptation in the Azores

Biographies

Champ Turner

Champ Turner (Austin, Texas, U.S.A., 2001) is a visual artist and researcher. He graduated with distinction in Visual Arts and International and Public Affairs from Brown University in 2024. A Fulbright Portugal grantee, and currently developing his project at the Carlos Machado Museum since October 2025, he works across drawing, cartography, sculpture, and video, with a particular focus on the relationships between landscape, memory, and environmental transformation.

In 2024, he presented the solo exhibition PROVIDENCER at the List Art Center at Brown University. He received the Minnie Helen Hicks Award from the Brown University Department of Visual Arts and was a finalist in competitions held by the California Map Society and the David Rumsey Map Center at Stanford University. His work has been featured by Bloomberg CityLab and the American Geographical Society.

In 2022, he participated in the Design with Nature programme at the Rhode Island School of Design in Ponta Delgada, an experience that deepened his connection to the Azores and was central to the conceptual development of the exhibition Das Cinzas.

Isabel Soares de Albergaria

Isabel Soares de Albergaria is Assistant Professor at the University of the Azores and coordinator of the research group at CHAM – Centre for the Humanities, in the field of Art, History and Heritage, carrying out her academic work at the University of the Azores.

Her research focuses on civil architecture, building history, built space, garden history, landscape, and artistic consumption, with particular attention to the Azorean context, namely the island of São Miguel and the Early Modern period.

She is the author of several scientific publications, book chapters, and conference papers, and has participated in and coordinated research projects. Her work is characterised by an interdisciplinary approach linking heritage, territory, and cultural history.