Jerry Garcia Foundation Launches 'Acts of Kindness' Global Art Project in Remembrance of Beloved Musician, Jerry Garcia

The Jerry Garcia Foundation has collaborated with the Playing for Change Foundation to initiate a global social media art project to support the mission of bringing music programs to children around the world.

Foundation co-founder, Keelin Garcia, honors her father, Jerry Garcia, as she sings with a talented group of musicians who share their artistry on a global version of the Grateful Dead's, "Ripple." Keelin joins other talented artists such as Jimmy Buffett, David Crosby, Bill Kreutzmann, and David Hidalgo, on a newly released version of the song. Jerry's Fender Stratocaster guitar makes an appearance in the music video and is played by Playing for Change musician, Vasti Jackson.

The video of "Ripple," a song composed by Jerry Garcia and written by lyricist Robert Hunter, heralds the August launch of the #RippleEffect social media art project. The project, invites people from all over the world to create an artistic visual "ripple effect" as they share stories of gratitude and kindness via social media.

"It was a great honor to sing my father's song on this recording of 'Ripple' and to support the mission of bringing music education to children around the world," said Keelin Garcia. "It's such a worthy cause. My dad would be very moved by the work of the Playing for Change Foundation."

Everyone around the world is invited to participate in the #RippleEffect social media art project. The global art project is being launched in August and will continue into the coming months.

Participants are encouraged to share acts of kindness or gratitude on a social media platform such as Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Participants then may create their own artistic interpretation of a visual #RippleEffect using photos, videos or art materials with added hashtags: #RippleEffect #StoriesofGratitude, #GlobalArt #JGF #PFCF.

*Select submissions will be included in a compilation video to be released on Playing For Change Day 2015 on September 19th.

*A Global Art Collage will be constructed with select visual #RippleEffect creations and will travel in an exhibition featuring the fine art of Jerry Garcia.

Nonprofit organizations participating in the #RippleEffect so far:

• Shimer College shimer.edu
• Fender Music Foundation fendermusicfoundation.org
• WhyHunger whyhunger.org
• Reef Relief reefrelief.org
• Belmar Arts Council belmararts.org
• Seva Foundation seva.org
• Alive Inside Foundation AliveInside.org
• HeadCount headcount.org
• Music Resource Center musicresourcecenter.org
• Jerry Day jerryday.org
• California Film Institute Education cfieducation.cafilm.org
• Drawbridge drawbridge.org

"The outpouring of love from the community in celebration of Jerry's music with the Grateful Dead at the anniversary concerts in Chicago speaks volumes to the enduring beauty of the music. The Ripple video exemplifies that beauty," said Manasha Garcia, President of the Jerry Garcia Foundation. "It is an honor to partner with the Playing for Change Foundation in this global art project as we share the belief that music brings peace and great healing to the world."
The Jerry Garcia Foundation http://www.jerrygarciafoundation.org/

Elizabeth Hunter, Executive Director of PFCF, said, "The song is the centerpiece of a global campaign to support the Playing for Change Foundation, which is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating positive change through music and arts education. Playing For Change and the Playing For Change Foundation are honored to extend the legacy of Jerry Garcia and to support the efforts of the Jerry Garcia Foundation to continue the Ripple Effect of love and positive change through music."

Mark Johnson, Co-founder of Playing For Change, succinctly sums up the gift of music and art, "While there are many things that separate us, we know that creating and sharing music and art provides a unique and powerful opportunity for connection that crosses all boundaries. We see this everyday with the children who are in our schools around the world. In creating this version of the beautiful song, "Ripple," we hope to inspire long-time fans as well as a new generation to be a source for peace and positive change in the world through music."
The Playing For Change Foundation http://playingforchange.org/

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