America’s Top Model Judge, humanitarian and professional photographer Nigel Barker supports the exhibition and the work of Rebuilding Sri Lanka a charity set up by Bridport woman Clare Allen after witnessing the tragic events of the 2004 tsunami. Although currently based in New York Nigel is part Sri Lankan,and his mother, Jennifer Gillian Barker – a former Miss Sri Lanka lives in Salisbury. Nigel recently praised both the quality of the photography and the work of the charity saying:
“It is extremely important that we don't forget the people of Sri Lanka and it is thanks to everyday folk and organizations like 'Rebuilding Sri Lanka' that the villagers of that pearl of the Indian Ocean may recover their lives. By not just supplying food to fill their hungry bellies but through building schools and educating the next generation to feed themselves we can help rebuild Sri Lanka. Thank you for all you are doing and for keeping us aware through your gripping and moving photographs."
Accident of Birth
Clare Allen spends a lot of her time administrating RSL in Sri Lanka making sure donations are going where they are needed.She is also an accomplished photographer who recently worked in Afghanistan.
Clare explains what the exhibition is about
“Accident of Birth” is a photographic account of a country divided by conflict, crippled by poverty and devastated by theworst natural disaster in modern history.
Since the day of the tsunami in 2004 I have been trying to understand the complexities of the beautiful but troubled Sri Lanka and her extraordinarily resilient people. During my time there I have experienced the most supreme acts of kindness and felt an unrivalled sense of serenity. Conversely, I have had cause to despair at a country so distorted by corruption and divisiveness and engaged in one of the worlds bloodiest and most protracted civil wars.
They Need Our Help
Whilst travelling around the country implementing projects and taking photos the stories of survival began to emerge but tragically these voices were not being heard. This collection of work is the evidence that these people do exist. They are alive and they are still suffering. It is their story. It is an accident of birth that separates us from the millions of people living in acute poverty throughout the world and the
answer is not a complicated one. They need our help and we can give it to them. It is my hope that this exhibition will generate an understanding and compassion for a scarcely known country and the serious plight of its remarkable people."
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that really matter”
Clare Allen Crooks photographic exhibition, ‘Accident of Birth’ runs from 2nd-15th November at The Beams Gallery • Fisherton Mill
108 Fisherton Street • Salisbury • SP2 7QY
All proceeds raised from ‘Accident of Birth’ at Fisherton Mill will go to Rebuilding Sri Lanka.
Rebuilding Sri Lanka is a registered UK charity (No. 1109622).
For more information on its work please visit www.rebuildingsrilanka.org.uk
