About this Event

In celebration of Earth Week, join us for a compelling gallery talk on conflict mining in Mechanical Hall Gallery, held at 12:40–1:35 p.m. and repeated at 1:50–2:45 p.m. This event is presented as part of the exhibition MINE: What is Ours in the Wake of Extraction, which sheds light on the devastating environmental and social consequences of resource extraction.

The Amazon is on the brink of collapse with Indigenous cultures and lands at risk due to an illegal gold mining boom in the Madre de Dios region of Peru. Driven by global demand for gold used in electronics and jewelry, this surge in extraction has led to pollution, deforestation and the loss of traditional ecological knowledge. MINE: What is Ours in the Wake of Extraction explores these urgent issues through the works of the Etochime Artist Collective, which reflect Indigenous perspectives on environmental destruction alongside conflict minerals from the Mineralogical Museum and a juried selection of global artworks highlighting the widespread impact of extractive industries.

During the Earth Week gallery talk, Dr. Sharon Fitzgerald, curator of the Mineralogical Museum, and Sarah duPont, filmmaker and president & founder of the Amazon Aid Foundation, will discuss the far-reaching consequences of mining and the urgent need for sustainable solutions.

Co-hosted by the UD Library Museums and Press, Department of Art & Design and the Delaware Environmental Institute (DENIN) this event offers a unique opportunity to explore the intersection of art, science and environmental activism.

Join us in celebrating Earth Week and deepening your understanding of the global impact of resource extraction.