In 2009 I spent 2 months in northern Uganda photographing and teaching photography workshops for A River Blue, a school providing psychosocial counseling and intense vocational training in topics like tailoring, agriculture, and arts to vulnerable youth. Upon returning, I spent about 3 months on and off editing the work. When I was at a place where I was relatively satisfied, I applied for the 2009 Conscientios Competition and was selected as 1 of 3 winners.

Shortly thereafter I was approached by my gallery about exhibiting the work for the spring of 2010. We set a date for the exhibition and I began printing. One day I was talking to my friend and photographer Alan Winslow about raising funds and he suggested applying for the Strategic Opportunity Stipends (SOS) offered by the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA).

From NYFA’s website, The SOS are “designed to help individual artists of all disciplines take advantage of unique opportunities that will significantly benefit their work or career development. Literary, media, visual, music and performing artists may request support ranging from $100 to $600 for specific, forthcoming opportunities that are distinct from work in progress.” Note: SOS is only available to New York State artists excluding residents of the five boroughs of New York City.

Each county in New York State is associated with a specific art council, and I received my SOS through the Upper Catskill Community Council of the Arts (UCCCA). With these funds I was able to lessen the cost of printing the exhibition and traveling to New York for the opening reception. Thank you NYFA for supporting this opportunity.

Upper Catskill Community Council of the Arts website.

New York Foundation for the Arts website.

Also, the exhibition has been extended to April 14th so please stop in, see the work, and learn about A River Blue.

David Wright (photographs) and George Ongom (writing)
AnastasiaPhoto exhibition catalogue
28 pages
5.5 x 8 (in.), 139.7 x 203.2 (mm)
Edition of 200
Digital Xerox; staple bound
Design by Josh Gomby; printed by Booksmart Studio
$15 US
$17 Canada & Mexico
$20 All other countries

“This exhibition catalogue showcases photographs by David Wright with writing by George Ongom made in 2009 when the photographer spent 2 months in northern Uganda photographing for A River Blue, a school providing psychosocial counseling and intense vocational training in topics like tailoring, agriculture, and arts to vulnerable youth. The catalogue accompanies the photographer’s first solo exhibition, Uganda: A River Blue, at AnastasiaPhoto February 5 – April 7, 2010. All proceeds from the catalogue go directly to A River Blue.”

Buy the Uganda: A River Blue exhibition catalogue.

Thanks, award-winning photographer David Turnley, for taking this photograph at the talk.

There’s less than two weeks left to see Uganda: A River Blue at AnastasiaPhoto. Stop by and pick up an exhibition catalogue for $10.

Thanks Karen for taking these pictures of the Uganda: A River Blue exhibiton opening.

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The Voice Project from The Voice Project.

Carry Me Home from Barefoot Workshops.

Title: Carry Me Home
A Film By: David Wright and Susan Fritz
Produced By: Barefoot Workshops, Inc.
Instructors: Julie Winokur, Teddy Symes, Yoni Brook & Chandler Griffin
Sponsors by: Canon USA, Sennheiser, Bogen Imaging, Lowel, Litepanels
Created: February 2010, Clarksdale, Mississippi
Synopsis: A self-determined man confronts his past, is given a chance, and discovers the freedom to change on the Sunflower River.

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This was my first foray into documentary filmmaking and the experience was nothing short of remarkable. There were 12 students including myself, 4 incredible instructors with a plethora of experience and knowledge, and an endlessly helpful support staff composed of savvy locals and Delta Workshop alumni students.

Our home base was the Shack Up Inn in the Mississippi Delta. It was an ideal environment to learn, edit, eat, and sleep, although there was not much sleeping to be had after week 1! Thanks to all for making these 2 weeks beyond enjoyable.

I highly recommend Barefoot Workshops for documentary filmmaking and photography. For more information, visit Barefoot Workshops.

Thanks Felicia, Ryan, and Carlo at AnastasiaPhoto; Chandler Griffin from A River Blue; Color Services for the exquisite framing; catering; family; friends; colleagues; and all the individuals from northern Uganda and A River Blue from which this work could not have been created without. I am indebted to you all.

If you have pictures from the opening, please send them to david (at) davidwrightphoto.com. I’d like to feature a few here.

Join us again Tuesday, March 16th at 6:30pm when Chandler Griffin, founder of A River Blue, and I present a conversation about northern Uganda and A River Blue.

This work was created in January and February 2009 when I spent 2 months in northern Uganda photographing for A River Blue, a school providing psychosocial counseling and intense vocational training in topics like tailoring, agriculture, and arts to vulnerable youth.

A beautiful A River Blue catalogue designed by Josh Gomby and printed by Booksmart Studio in an edition of 200 will be released at the opening reception. The catalogue will be available through donations of any amount and 100% of the proceeds go to A River Blue.

Additionally, Chandler Griffin, founder of A River Blue, and I will give an artist’s talk Tuesday, March 16th, from 6:30-8:30PM at AnastasiaPhoto.

AnastasiaPhoto is located at 166 Orchard Street, New York, New York.

Our instructors are Chandler Griffin, Julie Winokur, Teddy Symes, and Yoni Brook — all amazing individuals with a wealth of knowledge they have been sharing. Plus, we have the fotune of having previous workshop alums with us. Check out Barefoot’s website if you have ever wanted to learn and experience doc film making.

Fields, Clarksdale, Mississippi, 2010