98 Productions Blog

MLK to a River Blue – A Gift Of Humanity

Photographs by Trevor Jenkins for 98 Productions, LLC

Did you ever want to do something awesome with your life? Well, it’s MLK day, and this man, Martin Luther King Jr., like him or not, did something awesome while he walked among us. His message, of equality for all people, regardless of race or gender or any other categorization and his ability to deliver it to the people, has revolutionized the way we live today. Does racism still exist? Yes it does. Is there still inhumane cruelty in the world? Yes there is. Is there still slavery in the world? Yes, there is. And so the mission of equality for everyone has yet to be accomplished 40 years later, in America and throughout the world.

It’s a cool day, and I love to photograph a parade (above), but I’d like to speak on this day, of another person, taking that message of equality and bringing it to fruition: my friend and colleague Chandler Griffin. Chandler and I met in undergraduate school at the college of Art & Design in Savannah (www.SCAD.edu). A brilliant Cinematographer and Photographer, Chandler completed his undergraduate degree, left for Africa and apprenticed as a photographer’s assistant, who was working in Kenya, helping Aids victims. I am pretty certain that some of what he encountered among the moments of people desperately trying to survive, inspired Chandler to begin the mission he began.

A native of Jackson, Mississippi, Chandler began the Barefoot Workshops in his hometown. This workshop for artists has brought people from as far off as India, youth and adults, to a small rural American environment, in which they are empowered to express themselves through the medium of video, photography, music and painting. “With Barefoot, growing and learning as an artist means growing and learning as an individual.”

Above Photograph by Joseph Arthur for Barefoot Workshops

The River Blue Story

Chandler decided to bring the Barefoot Workshops to Africa, and returned to develop similar programs in Northern Uganda and Kenya. Appalled by the scale of human suffering he witnessed in Northern Uganda; Chandler contacted an artist that he thought might be a kindred spirit: singer/songwriter Joseph Arthur. Joseph’s song In the Sun, was first recorded by Real World Records founder Peter Gabriel and donated to the Princess Diana memorial album. In 2005, Arthur re-recorded the song with fellow friends and musicians Michael Stipe and Coldplay’s Chris Martin, with the proceeds benefiting victims of Hurricane Katrina. The song has always been a source of inspiration for Chandler, who sensed that Joseph might be a kindred spirit. After making contact, the two decided to visit an IDP (internally-displaced persons) camp and witness for themselves the destruction wrought by nearly two decades of fighting between the LRA (Lord’s Resistance Army) and Ugandan Government forces. Inspired by the tragedyy and to conduct an music, art and drama festival for young people. The festival, they envisioned, would provide a means of creative expression to young people traumatized by violent events such as the deaths of loved ones, sexual violations and displacement from their homes and communities. The festival would give a voice to these young people and bring joy to them and the residents of the camps who would be the festival audience.

Chandler and Joseph, along with filmmakers Cecily Pingree and Jason Mann went to Lira, Uganda and the IDP camps into which the majority of the local population has been forced. Daniel Adams and Shane Gilbert from the Ugandan NGO Jangu Tuzine (Come, Let’s Dance!) spent many days meeting with local officials, preparing to feed and house the one hundred youth participants as well as the US crew, and arranging for the recording of Joseph ’s song, “A River Blue”. Daniel went on to serve as a field producer for the project. George Mawa, director of the Obangatek Orphanage, organized rehearsals of the music and drama pieces to be presented at the festival and became a key figure in the production and management of festival activities. Barefoot is deeply indebted to these people and everyone else who assisted in making “A River Blue” festival a reality. Special mention should be made of Bob Okodi and the Aloi Youth Development Association for providing the building and for their ongoing partnership in this project.

As of 2008, A River Blue is an arts empowerment project for the children of Alepdong, Aloi and Amoro IDP (internally-displaced persons) camps in Northern Uganda, funded and overseen by Barefoot Workshops, a non-profit, media-based educational and development organization. Barefoot has attained a building in Alepdong to be developed as a rehabilitation and vocational center for young people, giving them the opportunity to express themselves through the arts so that they may begin to heal themselves and one another, as well as educate the international community about their situation, and acquire occupational skills for their futures.

Chandler lives by the mantra (often found at the base of his emails) “Pass something on to others… something that makes a difference… then sit back, watch it, and smile.” Well, after seeing the River Blue come to fruition, I’m sure he’s smiling.

Totally Awesome!

Check out the song “A River Blue” on the Serve2: The HardRock Benefit Album

Check out A River Blue on Myspace

Contact: ChandlerGriffin@ariverblue.org

Website: http://www.ariverblue.org