Accident of Birth by Clare Allen Crook
“Accident of Birth” is a photographic account of a country
divided by conflict, crippled by poverty and devastated by the
worst 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.
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.
| America’s Top Model Judge, humanitarian and professional photographer Nigel Barker supports the exhibition and the work of Rebuilding Sri Lanka. Although currently based in New York Nigel is part Sri Lankan, went to school locally, and his mother, Jennifer Gillian Barker – a former Miss Sri Lanka - still lives in Salisbury. Nigel recently praised both the quality of the photography and the work of the charity saying: |
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Pictured: Nigel Barker with photographer Clare Allen Crook preparing photos for the exhibition.
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“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."
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“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.
Exhibition of photographs by Clare Allen Crook, Salisbury, 22 January.
An exhibition of pictures, taken in Sri Lanka, capturing the immediate devastation and the emerging hope in the aftermath of the tsunami.
Hundreds of people visited the exhibition during the day and at a packed-out private view in the evening. RSL representatives mingled with the guests explaining the aims of the charity, selling copies of the prints and taking donations. The feedback was extraordinary. Many were inspired at the courage of the displaced people, most were moved to tears.
A total of £15,000 was raised. It is planned that the photographs will be exhibited in London, Bath, Somerset, France and Bermuda. Watch this space for details of forthcoming venues and dates.
Emergency Party, organised by Henry Porter and friends, Notting Hill, London, 23 January. A party attended by 200 guests, raised approximately £60,000 for three charities benefiting victims of the tsunami, including Rebuilding Sri Lanka. The party was sponsored by Burberry, so that all of the proceeds go directly to the charities.
Wisborough Green: Village to Village. Saturday 29 January 7.30pm, Barn Dance with Last Man Jack at Wisborough Green Village Hall; Saturday 5 February 12.00 pm, Open House Lunch at Wisborough Green Village Hall; Tuesday, 15 March 7.30 pm, an evening with PLUCK at Fishers Farm.
Dazed & Abused raises money for Rebuilding Sri Lanka. Following its sold-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2004, Dazed & Abused transferred to London's Canal Café Theatre for three weeks in October 2004. Dazed & Abused is showing on both sides of the Atlantic in 2005, at London's King's Head theatre, for 10 nights at Diane von Furstenberg's theatre in New York in March, before returning to the Etcetera Theatre in London for a three-week run in April. Proceeds from the opening night in New York will be donated to Rebuilding Sri Lanka, and donations will be encouraged throughout all of the performances in New York and London. Playwright and cast member, Kinvara Balfour, spent a month in Sri Lanka in 2004. Kinvara and her cast members (director Mark Bowden, set and costume director Nicky Haslam, Joss Ings-Chambers, Julian Bird, Bill Hurst and Jagdeep Bhangoe) would like to help the people of Bentota rebuild their lives after the tsunami.
The Park Club, Acton
Sunday 16th January
Fun Run – raised £3,000
The Park Club, Acton
Thursday 10th February
Curry and auction – raised £3,000
Sri Lanka Appeal Evening at S Bar. 7pm – 1am Thursday, 24 February 2005. At S Bar, 37 Battersea Bridge Road, London SW11 3BA. Champagne Reception and Canapés. Auction, Raffle and Dancing. In support of Rebuilding Sri Lanka and Harrow School Relief Fund. A total of £20,000 was raised.
Bohemian Nights Cabaret Evening at The Cobden Club. On Thursday 24 February 2005, stars from the world of acoustic soul, belly dancing, funky pop, breakbeat and hip hop gathered to raise funds for Rebuilding Sri Lanka at The Cobden Club in West London. The evening was hilariously compèred by Wendy and Nigel, an infamous duo who even managed to make raffling off the last prizes - 36 individual bottles of wine Ð into a side-splitting show. All the performers put on stunning displays of raw talent which ran smoothly thanks to the adeptness of sound man Dave. However, the show was undoubtedly stolen by the Avant Garde hip hop group whose creatively choreographed moves were superbly performed in perfect synchronicity as if straight from the ghetto. The reality of Rebuilding Sri Lanka's work was brought to life during the interval through a short speech and a slide show set to music. Our many thanks go to all the performers (DJ Stylus, Henry Dingle, The Usual Suspects, Iona Maclean, Joel Lyndsey band, Kasbah, Avant Garde hip hop group and DJs Warren P and Tom Maden), the compères and volunteers on the night who gave their time, energy and talent for free. We are also very grateful to The Cobden Club for the free venue hire. The event raised just short of £3,000.
International Celebrity Fashion Auction – an on-line auction of 100 items of clothes donated by many worldwide celebrities including royalty, TV and film stars, sports stars and teams, fashion models and rock and pop stars. You can preview the items NOW on
www.clothesagency.com. Bidding starts on Friday 11 February and finishes on Sunday 13 March. The auction is being organised by
www.clothesagency.com, the international fashion website. Proceeds will be given to Rebuilding Sri Lanka. Please visit the website and bid!"
Conde Nast Traveller Tsunami Appeal Dinner – on Wednesday, 2 March 2005, Conde Nast Traveller hosted a champagne reception and dinner at the Ballroom, The Four Seasons Hotel, Park Lane, London W1. The evening included speeches by Michael Palin and Rory Bremner and a charity auction. Tickets were GBP200 per head and all proceeds will be split between 6 charities (including Rebuilding Sri Lanka), in India, Indonesia, the Maldives, Sri Lanka and Thailand. A total of £220,000 was raised.
The Inhibitions for one night only in aid of tsunami relief. Saturday 5 March, 8pm to 1am, The River Room, Bar M, Putney, London SW15. Special guest performances by Jan Ravens, Roger McGough, Patrick Wood & Lizzie Pattinson, Charles Workman & Alex Harwood, Rook and introducing Robbie Read. Admission by ticket only, available for minimum donation of £25 per person to Rebuilding Sri Lanka.
Download programme
Party at Dinton Village Hall, Wiltshire on Saturday 5 March. Auction of promises and dancing to local band Loco Parentis. £10,000 was raised at this wonderful event which was a sell-out..
Charity Fête at Snag Farm, Wincanton, Somerset – Saturday 12th March 2005 11am - 5pm – tractor rides, face painting, bouncy castle, pony rides, raffle, refreshments and much more! All weather conditions. All proceeds to Rebuilding Sri Lanka.
Rebuilding Sri Lanka ~ Paris - Organised a sponsored walk which took in all of the 20 arrondissements (city districts) of Paris. The walk took about 6 hours and covered a distance of around 25 km, taking in most of the significant sites. It was held on Sat Feb 26th 2005. All the participants were individually sponsored. There were around 20 people involved from 6 different countries - plus dog for the last quarter! Over 20,000 euros have been raised and will be donated to help a rebuilding project in Kamburugamuwa. This donation will make a significant and enduring difference to the lives of families who have lost everything. Many thanks to all those who took part.
Mike Baxter Appeal. - A huge donation to ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ was raised in the three months following the tragedy. The funds all come from the selling of ‘tsunami relief’ wristbands to students across Nottingham, Bristol and Birmingham Universities. The bands were in five different colours – splashed with white – to symbolise the main five nations effected by the disaster.
'The University of Nottingham’s award winning Rag organisation ‘Karnival’ sold the majority of the wristbands along with the appeals founders. They would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Rebuilding Sri Lanka for their amazing work, and wish them luck in the future’
