From the Mojave desert, to the Pacific seabed, to the surface of the moon, the rush for rare earth minerals is afoot. Rare Earth explores the re-opening of an historically toxic rare earth mine in the California desert, and the intensifying land rush for the high-tech minerals across the world. The film is a portrait of changing desert landscapes and the residents who grapple with the impacts of industrial mining. Rare Earth traces the toxic and transformative legacy of treasure hunting in the American West—a legacy of speculation, produced scarcity and the social violence of resource extraction—deepening in our era of global climate change. Join us for a screening of the film and a discussion with the filmmaker Elizabeth Knafo, in conjunction with the World of Matter exhibition on view at the James Gallery.
With the support of the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia.
