Portfolio
"Footprints in the Sand?"
"FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND?"
Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre
Photographic Exhibition - Visual Documentation
July 1 - August 31, 2011
Rathaus Schöneberg (city hall) foyer
John-F.-Kennedy Platz 1, 10825 Berlin-Schöneberg
Exhibition description
The exhibition documents the history of
Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre
in association with
International Artists
The Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre was founded 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.
This exhibition paints a picture of the activities of various people during their historical contributions to Berlin, elsewhere and hence, the portrait seeks to prevent these undertakings from becoming "Footprints in the Sand?".
Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre
"I may not make it if I try, but I damn sure won´t if I don´t..." - Oscar Brown Jr.
"Mankind will either find a way or make one." - C.P. Snow
"Whatever you do..., be cool!" - Joseph Louis Turner
"Yes, I can...!" - Sammy Davis Jr.
"Yes, We can...!" - Barack Obama
In Memoriam - Oscar Brown Jr.
PEOPLE, POLITICS AND ART
"If it looks like bullshit and smells like bullshit, it’s probably bullshit!" - Oscar Brown Jr.
Oscar Brown Jr., the man in the film, on and off screen
Oscar was a combination of personalities that often amazed and bewildered. He was a habitué of Bronzville, also known as the Black Southside of Chicago, Illinois, which graciously provided him with a direction for life.
The young Oscar was blessed with circumstances many persons would wish for their existence.
Indulgent, educated, loving and disciplining parents, bestowed a comfortable and resource filled life upon their son and family members, through substantial real estate interests.
Oscar was a special kind of man, one who "existed" in the dominant group and lived in the culture from which he'd sprung.
Oscar Brown Jr. lived a life of enlightened schizophrenia, acquiring the social-psychological skills necessary to deal with the dominant group, who were often times not especially appreciative of his talents or existence, but on the other hand fortunately lived among sun kissed people, through whom he was acculturated and remained a source of inspiration, information and support throughout his life.
Oscar was a handsome man, tall, articulate and very charming, as attested to by the ladies who swooned in his trajectory.
He was also a source of possibilities and enlightenment for males, young and old, especially sun kissed males, seeking to breath fresh air in the oppressive atmosphere of a country conditioned to cultivate and perpetuate a permanent underclass.
Oscar Brown Jr. for example, had the ability to request and receive funding from persons such as the mayor of Chicago, boss Richard J. Daley and then travel to the bowels of Bronzville on Chicago's Southside and distribute the largesse, among groups and individuals as diverse as the Black Muslims to the Black Stone Rangers, a notorious and powerful street gang at the time, in Chicago.
Oscar's financial support, talent and personality, enabled him to create theatre and artistic creations with persons ordinarily recognized for their anti and asocial behavior. He also provided the financial and artistic inspiration and creations for work with many young people in Chicago and nationwide.
In addition, Oscar was also a friend and co-creator with many established and talented musicians on the jazz scene, U.S.A.
He often spoke of his affiliation with the Communist Party and his efforts to combat racism through Scientific Socialism. His experience with this methodology eventually led to disappointment, as he again found himself enmeshed in a hierarchy with "other folks" on top of the glass ceiling. Oscar was gifted with his ability to analyze personal and political situations and from these insights, create plays, poetry and songs which possess amazing humor, understanding and musicianmanship and which enabled him to enter the annals of gifted artists by virtue of his talents.
The documentary film "A Conversation With Oscar Brown Jr." occurs in Oscar's hotel room, after the completion of his invitational concert at the Haus der Kulturen der Welt in Berlin/Germany.
He is in an expansive mood and speaks at length about music, the relationship between politics and sleaze in the U.S.A., the state of affairs of Black America and the underclass, crack cocaine, racial prejudice as a mental illness, Affirmative Action and the evil spirit in human society, versus the godly side in humanity.
Oscar also reminisces about his childhood in Chicago, attending the University of Wisconsin, acting, Dick Durham, the cold war, W.E.B. DuBois, Paul Robeson, the Communist Party, Jim Crow, his army experiences, the collapse of Communism-Socialism, Black people in the Communist Party and his hopes for the future.
After witnessing his intelligent, experienced and artistic thoughtfulness for an hour, you may not agree with Oscar on all points, but the viewer will certainly be enthralled and entertained by the overview of and personal history provided on film, by the remarkable Oscar Brown Jr.
“I may not make it if I try, but I damn sure won’t if I don’t...” - Oscar Brown Jr.
Oscar Brown Jr.
October 10, 1926 - May 29, 2005
Author: Prof. Donald Muldrow Griffith
"I may not make it if I try, but I damn sure won´t if I don´t..." - Oscar Brown Jr.
"Mankind will either find a way or make one." - C.P. Snow
"Whatever you do..., be cool!" - Joseph Louis Turner
"Yes, I can...!" - Sammy Davis Jr.
"Yes, We can...!" - Barack Obama
XXV. Black International Cinema Berlin 2010 poster
http://www.black-international-cinema.com/BIC10/bic_10.htm
Mottoes:
"I may not make it if I try, but I damn sure won't if I don't..." - Oscar Brown Jr.
"Mankind will either find a way or make one." - C.P. Snow
"Whatever you do..., be cool!" - Joseph Louis Turner
"Yes, I can...!" - Sammy Davis Jr.'
"Yes, We can...!" - Barack Obama
Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre / Black International Cinema Berlin / The Collegium - Forum & Television Program Berlin / Cultural Zephyr e.V.
MISSION STATEMENT
FOUNTAINHEAD® TANZ THEATRE / BLACK INTERNATIONAL CINEMA BERLIN/
THE COLLEGIUM – FORUM & TELEVISION PROGRAM BERLIN & CULTURAL ZEPHYR e.V.
...are an international, intercultural community of persons engaged in achieving increasing understanding and cooperation between individuals and groups in support of democratic procedures and the elimination of violence, religious, ethnic and gender persecution, youth exploitation, homophobia and racial hatred through the process of art, education, culture and dialogue.
Mottoes:
"I may not make it if I try, but I damn sure won't if I don't..." - Oscar Brown Jr.
"Mankind will either find a way or make one." - C.P. Snow
"Whatever you do..., be cool!" - Joseph Louis Turner
"Yes, I can...!" - Sammy Davis Jr.
"Yes, We can...!" - Barack Obama
The Collegium - Forum & Television Program Berlin / "Ode to Bahia"
"Ode to Bahia"
Dancers:
Diane Callies and Marion Kramer
Choreography:
Prof. Donald Muldrow Griffith
Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre
THE COLLEGIUM Forum & Television Program Berlin
Cinema - State of Affairs - Arts Calendar
Sunday, 7-8 p.m. / Thursday, 10-11 p.m.
ALEX - Offener Kanal Berlin
THE COLLEGIUM Forum & Television Program, a production of Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre, is an hour length intercultural, international diplomacy and interdisciplinary television magazine program, presenting cinema, state of affairs and arts calendar.
Mottoes:
"I may not make it if I try, but I damn sure won't if I don't..." - Oscar Brown Jr.
"Mankind will either find a way or make one." - C.P. Snow
"Whatever you do..., be cool!" - Joseph Louis Turner
"Yes, I can...!" - Sammy Davis Jr.
"Yes, We can...!" - Barack Obama
The Collegium - Forum & Television Program Berlin - "BYE BYE BLACKBIRD"
The Collegium - Forum & Television Program Berlin
Arts Calendar
SONGS
Iver Kersten
guitar/vocals
Prof. Donald Muldrow Griffith
vocals
Production & Direction
Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre
http://www.fountainhead-tanz-theatre.de
Mottoes:
"I may not make it if I try, but I damn sure won't if I don't..." - Oscar Brown Jr.
"Mankind will either find a way or make one." - C.P. Snow
"Whatever you do..., be cool!" - Joseph Louis Turner
"Yes, I can...!" - Sammy Davis Jr.
"Yes, We can...!" - Barack Obama
The Collegium - Forum & Television Program Berlin / "Culture in Berlin"
"CULTURE IN BERLIN"
Production & Direction:
Prof. Donald Muldrow Griffith
Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre
Photography:
Soliman Lawrence
http://www.fountainhead-tanz-theatre.de
Mottoes:
"I may not make it if I try, but I damn sure won't if I don't..." - Oscar Brown Jr.
"Mankind will either find a way or make one." - C.P. Snow
"Whatever you do..., be cool!" - Joseph Louis Turner
"Yes, I can...!" - Sammy Davis Jr.
"Yes, We can...!" - Barack Obama
A COMPLEXION CHANGE - Inauguration Day, January 20, 2009, Barack Hussein Obama
A COMPLEXION CHANGE
Inauguration Day, January 20, 2009
Barack Hussein Obama
Production & Direction
Fountainhead Tanz Theatre
for
THE COLLEGIUM - Forum & Television Program
Berlin,
Magdeburg, Wolfsburg, Dessau
in association with
Offener Kanal Berlin
17.00-21.00 Uhr
5.00-9.00 pm
Television
Radio
Internet
MOTTOES
"I MAY NOT MAKE IT IF I TRY, BUT I DAMN SURE WON'T IF I DON'T..."
Oscar Brown Jr.
"MANKIND WILL EITHER FIND A WAY OR MAKE ONE."
C. P. Snow
"WHATEVER YOU DO..., BE COOL!"
Joseph Louis Turner
"YES, I CAN...!"
Sammy Davis Jr.
"YES, WE CAN...!"
Barack Obama
XXIV. Black International Cinema Berlin 2009 - Interview with Sarah Diehl, PART 1
XXIV. Black International Cinema Berlin 2009
May 7-10
Rathaus Schöneberg (city hall)
John-F.-Kennedy Platz
10825 Berlin
http://www.black-international-cinema...
Interview with Sarah Diehl, filmmaker
AWARD
Best film/video by a German filmmaker or a filmmaker residing in Germany
ABORTION DEMOCRACY - POLAND/SOUTH AFRICA
Director: Sarah Diehl, Germany 2008
Moderator: Prof. Donald Muldrow Griffith
co-founder/producer/director/publisher/moderator
Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre / Black International Cinema Berlin / The Collegium - Forum & Television Program Berlin / Cultural Zephyr e.V.
for The Collegium - Forum & Television Program Berlin
Production & Direction
Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre
Mottoes:
"I may not make it if I try, but I damn sure won't if I don't..." - Oscar Brown Jr.
"Mankind will either find a way or make one." - C.P. Snow
"Whatever you do..., be cool!" - Joseph Louis Turner
"Yes, I can...!" - Sammy Davis Jr.
"Yes, We can...!" - Barack Obama
XXIV. Black International Cinema Berlin 2009 - Interview with Sarah Diehl, PART 2
XXIV. Black International Cinema Berlin 2009
May 7-10
Rathaus Schöneberg (city hall)
John-F.-Kennedy Platz
10825 Berlin
http://www.black-international-cinema...
Interview with Sarah Diehl, filmmaker
AWARD
Best film/video by a German filmmaker or a filmmaker residing in Germany
ABORTION DEMOCRACY - POLAND/SOUTH AFRICA
Director: Sarah Diehl, Germany 2008
Moderator: Prof. Donald Muldrow Griffith
co-founder/producer/director/publisher/moderator
Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre / Black International Cinema Berlin / The Collegium - Forum & Television Program Berlin / Cultural Zephyr e.V.
for The Collegium - Forum & Television Program Berlin
Production & Direction
Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre
Mottoes:
"I may not make it if I try, but I damn sure won't if I don't..." - Oscar Brown Jr.
"Mankind will either find a way or make one." - C.P. Snow
"Whatever you do..., be cool!" - Joseph Louis Turner
"Yes, I can...!" - Sammy Davis Jr.
"Yes, We can...!" - Barack Obama
The Collegium - Forum & Television Program Berlin / "Fly me to the moon"
The Collegium - Forum & Television Program Berlin
Arts Calendar
SONGS
Iver Kersten
guitar/vocals
Prof. Donald Muldrow Griffith
vocals
Production & Direction
Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre
A Tribute to Mr Michael Jackson, Grownupism! 1 Day, When I Grow Up!
ARTS CALENDAR
Part LXXI
"Grownupism! 1 Day, When I Grow Up!
Skool, skool, skool! Yukky, yukky, yucky!"
written and presented by
Prof. Donald Muldrow Griffith, Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre
THE COLLEGIUM Forum & Television Program Berlin
Cinema - State of Affairs - Arts Calendar
Sunday, 7-8 p.m. / Thursday, 10-11 p.m.
ALEX - Offener Kanal Berlin
THE COLLEGIUM Forum & Television Program, a production of Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre, is an hour length intercultural, international diplomacy and interdisciplinary television magazine program, presenting cinema, state of affairs and arts calendar.
Mottoes:
"I may not make it if I try, but I damn sure won't if I don't..." - Oscar Brown Jr.
"Mankind will either find a way or make one." - C.P. Snow
"Whatever you do..., be cool!" - Joseph Louis Turner
"Yes, I can...!" - Sammy Davis Jr.
"Yes, We can...!" - Barack Obama
THE COLLEGIUM Forum & Television Program Berlin
THE COLLEGIUM Forum & Television Program Berlin
Cinema - State of Affairs - Arts Calendar
Sunday, 7-8 p.m. / Thursday, 10-11 p.m.
ALEX - Offener Kanal Berlin
THE COLLEGIUM Forum & Television Program, a production of Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre, is an hour length intercultural, international diplomacy and interdisciplinary television magazine program, presenting cinema, state of affairs and arts calendar.
http://www.fountainhead-tanz-theatre.de
bicdance@aol.com
Mottoes:
"I may not make it if I try, but I damn sure won't if I don't..." - Oscar Brown Jr.
"Mankind will either find a way or make one." - C.P. Snow
"Whatever you do..., be cool!" - Joseph Louis Turner
"Yes, I can...!" - Sammy Davis Jr.
"Yes, We can...!" - Barack Obama
XXVI. Black International Cinema Berlin 2011
Production & Direction
FOUNTAINHEAD® TANZ THEATRE
THE COLLEGIUM - FORUM & TELEVISION PROGRAM BERLIN
in association with
CULTURAL ZEPHYR e.V.
present
XXVI. Black International Cinema Berlin 2011
http://www.black-international-cinema.com/BIC11/bic_11.htm
A COMPLEXION CHANGE - Transnational & Intercultural Diplomacy
in cooperation with
Commissioner for Integration, District Tempelhof-Schöneberg, Berlin
"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
May 4-8, 2011
RATHAUS SCHÖNEBERG (City Hall)
Kinosaal (cinema) & Bibliothek (library)
John-F.-Kennedy-Platz 1
10825 Berlin, Germany
Admission is without charge
"....We Have A Dream and Still We Rise...."
German Commission for UNESCO, Bonn
"A COMPLEXION CHANGE 2009-2011 is an International Media Project with a very contemporary and innovative approach. It aims at contributing to the strengthening of international understanding, peace and friendship among peoples. It promotes intercultural dialogue in the spirit of the ideals and aims of UNESCO..."
Christine M. Merkel,
Head of the Division for Culture and Memory of the World at the German Commission for UNESCO, Bonn
"I may not make it if I try, but I damn sure won´t if I don´t..." - Oscar Brown Jr.
"Mankind will either find a way or make one." - C.P. Snow
"Whatever you do..., be cool!" - Joseph Louis Turner
"Yes, I can...!" - Sammy Davis Jr.
"Yes, We can...!" - Barack Obama
