"FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND?" Exhibition
Fountainhead® Tanz Théâtre
"30 Times after Time - Visuals to improve Reality!"
Visual Documentation - Photographic Exhibition
Producer/Director/Curator
Prof. Donald Muldrow Griffith / Fountainhead® Tanz Théâtre
15.09.2015 - 30.06.2016
Familienplanungszentrum BALANCE
Mauritius-Kirch-Straße 3
10365 Berlin
The exhibition documents the history of
Fountainhead® Tanz Théâtre
in association with
Karen D. Brame El-Amin/USA
James V. Burks, USA
African Marketplace & Cultural Faire,
City of Los Angeles, Department of Cultural Affairs/USA
Martin Christoph/Berlin
Judith Lenhardt/Berlin
Ricky Reiser/Berlin
Thomas M. Wendt/Berlin
Ursula Wunder/Berlin
This year, the visual documentation and photographic exhibition
"Footprints in the Sand?" is presented for the first time in
cooperation with the Familienplanungszentrum BALANCE within their premises
at Mauritiuskirchstr. 3, 10365 Berlin.
The cooperation between Fountainhead® Tanz Théâtre and the
Familienplanungszentrum BALANCE is inspired by the common goal of supporting
the development of societies in which diversity, intercultural cooperation
and inclusive structures are valued and democratically reinforcing
components. This includes a process of making visible and recognizing
diverse opportunities to work inclusively, to be engaged in a peaceful and
respectful coexistence and to perform as a constructive example against
discrimination and xenophobia. For that purpose Fountainhead® Tanz Théâtre
is engaging within arts and culture and the Familienplanungszentrum BALANCE
is working in the context of health care and counseling. Hence both parties
utilize components, which mutually address their common goals.
Under the production, direction and curation of Prof. Donald Muldrow
Griffith/Fountainhead® Tanz Théâtre, the exhibited works create a portrait
of the activities of persons from various cultural, ethnic, religious and
socio-economic backgrounds during their historical contributions, which they
afforded Berlin and other cultures.
Under the title "30 Times after Time - Visuals to improve Reality! A
Complexion Change", the exhibition is one example of a mosaic from
which the history of Fountainhead® Tanz Théâtre exists. It is part of a
process which documents the existence and contributions of individuals and
groups to the societies in which they and we live, hence they are prevented
from becoming "Footprints in the Sand?".
The history of Fountainhead® Tanz Théâtre is depicted, which since 1980
produces interdisciplinary art and cultural projects in Berlin and
worldwide, dedicated to transnational, intercultural diplomacy and the
promotion of respect and recognition, as well as cooperation and exchange in
our culturally diverse society in Berlin and beyond.
Fountainhead® Tanz Théâtre also invites international artists to participate
with their work within the exhibition. On display are paintings,
photographs, drawings, graphic art, collages, posters, texts and sculptures.
The exhibition is part of the intercultural and interdisciplinary festival
Black International Cinema Berlin which presented its 30th edition from May
4-9, 2015 at the Humboldt Universität zu Berlin under the production and
direction of Prof. Donald Muldrow Griffith.
"…Art and culture can build bridges, cross borders and pull away from
stereotypical categorized thinking. Therefore, initiatives such as Black
International Cinema Berlin are important for the capital of Germany. I
extend my congratulations to the organizers of Black International Cinema
Berlin, a cultural highlight which is unique Germany-wide. …"
– Gabriele Gün Tank, Commissioner for Integration of the district
Tempelhof-Schöneberg, Berlin/Germany
Fountainhead® Tanz Théâtre was founded 1980 by Prof. Donald Muldrow Griffith,
Prof. Gayle McKinney Griffith, Lynnda Curry, Ricky Powell and Detlef Bäcker,
four American artists and a German colleague, who met in Berlin during 1979
at Theater des Westens and decided to undertake intercultural,
interdisciplinary and international productions in dance, theatre,
television, workshops, film/video festivals and publications.
Fountainhead® Tanz Théâtre involves people from various national, cultural,
ethnic, socio-economic, religious backgrounds and sexual identities who work
together in a variety of artistic and cultural fields, with the intention to
create, learn and communicate the intercultural exchange during the projects
and for the world community.
Prof. Dr. Amanda Klekowski von Koppenfels appreciates the work of
Fountainhead® Tanz Théâtre in her book “Migration, Diasporas, Citizenship:
Migrants or Expatriates? Americans in Europe” as well as in her essay
“Migrants or Expatriates? Challenging Terms”, which has been published in
the festival brochure of the XXIX. 2014 Black International Cinema Berlin /
“Footprints in the Sand?” Exhibition 2014: “... Many of the broad
assumptions about [...] migrant groups are based on what is visible or
noticeable. But how representative are these noticeable practices? Can they
really be said to characterize the entire migrant group? Maybe they can –
but my research suggests that we should take a second look at the broad
assumptions we – as a general society – make about populations. The work
that Fountainhead® Tanz Théâtre is engaged in seeks to achieve precisely
this sort of second look, questioning and challenging stereotypes. Such work
is very valuable.”
"FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND?"
The lessons of history arrive in the form of personal experiences, books,
media presentations, paintings, architecture and so forth...
How these materials are interpreted and perhaps, through the ages,
re-interpreted assuming the information is included, varies according to the
group or the individual perspective, interests, socio-economic influences
and opportunities.
As we pass through the formal educational process, we are informed of
histories; others and ourselves.
It generally requires an enlightened mentor or parent to point out what is
overlooked in the presentation of history, so earnestly injected into our
academic and formative education.
Many years ago, as this awareness of history´s exceptions were realized, a
mentor named Oscar Brown Jr. pointed out the necessity for assuming
responsibility and making investments and sacrifices required to enlighten
shadows and fill empty historical spaces.
So, the development of information, awareness, heightened sensibility and
maturation leads to inevitable and hopefully informed conclusions.
The XXX. 2015 Black International Cinema Berlin, from inception, remains an
initiative and institution for the documentation and preservation of
individuals/groups existence and contributions to the societies in which
they and we reside.
We are participants in the process of embedding in memories and stone, what
previously might have been, "Footprints In The Sand?".
Prof. Donald Muldrow Griffith
Fountainhead® Tanz Théâtre
Berlin Germany 2015
