Sky Above, Mud Below

child miners breaking cobalt ore in the DRC 2021

My favorite color for painting a sky is cobalt blue. When I learned that the minerals used to make my paint come from small artisanal mines in the Democratic Republic of the Congo I was surprised. Then saddened. Then horrified. As reported in the May 24th New Yorker magazine article The Dark Side of Congo’s Cobalt Rush, thousands of children -some as young as three- are working down in the mines, and above ground in the mud, breaking rocks or washing the precious ore by hand.

Changing the situation is difficult but I am trying to raise awareness and help through art. I believe that art can be a catalyst for social change and progress by changing our point of view and touching our hearts . I even believe that political art can be great art! https://christopherleithevans.com/supply-chain-portraits-portfolio1

Healdsburg’s Erickson Gallery is now exhibiting a special 6' x 9’ single-edition scroll print of my painting Cobalt Blue, the proceeds from which will go entirely to the Child Miner Rescue Project. https://friendsofthecongo.org/children/