Art Exhibit: Profane Relics--- An Ossuary of the Congo Mineral Wars, an installation by Ryan Burns

Opening Reception: Thursday, July 2 from 5-10pm Community Dinner + Dialogue: Saturday, July 11 from 5-7pm

Sea Change Gallery, 625 NW Everett, Gallery #110, Portland www.seagallery.wordpress.com

The installation presents “artifacts” of the past twenty years of war and mineral exploitation in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Partially unearthed artifacts of cultural disarticulation, corporately funded wars, crude hand-tools of small pit mining, skeletal traces of bush meat trade are jumbled together with discarded iPhones, blackberries and obsolete laptops.

But, the exhibit won't merely wallow in despair. In accordance with SEA Change Gallery's mandate of social and environmental change, the curators are organizing a public brainstorming discussion to look for sustainable solutions to the coltan addiction. The free event will include a Congolese dinner and encourage community dialogue. Speakers from Mercy Corps, Run for Congo Women, and "Apocalypse Found" author Casey Bush will share their knowledge about the conflict, discuss solutions they are helping implement, and brainstorm ways to take action.

RSVP to [email protected]