Revolutionary art

A group of Baton Rouge artists and activists have joined other groups from Las Vegas to New York to raise thousands of dollars to support the Grace of God Orphanage in the sub-Saharan African nation of Malawi.

Matt Bruce launched REVO BR, a local nonprofit centered on raising awareness of worldwide social injustice and seeking local solutions.

The REVO movement started in April 2007 as the brainchild of University of Hawaii, Hilo student Nina Brav. Four years ago Brav’s friend Kristie Campbell, a student at UH Manoa, traveled to Malawi on a mission trip. There she met the 100 children who called the Grace of God Orphanage home. Seeing the conditions these children lived in touched Campbell. She has since returned to Africa bringing with her donations of school supplies, clothes and money raised from the REVO movement, which has made donations totaling $10,000.

REVO BR is a collaboration of local musicians, graphic designers and visual artists, including Clark Derbes, Elise Toups, Purple Monkey Design, ICON Visuals, Demond, Dirty Coast and Otto Orellana.

“REVO is a movement of loving people who care enough to think beyond themselves and use their talents and time to serve others,” Brav says. “Honestly, I had no idea it was going to become what it is. I set out to have an art show to raise some money for the Grace of God Orphanage, to have a good time and to educate. People really caught on. I think a lot of people want to make a difference but simply don’t know how.”

Bruce met Brav while studying as part of a student exchange program in Hilo and wanted to bring the REVOlution to Baton Rouge.

“It’s really about raising everyone’s awareness level,” Bruce says. “We need to get the local community involved and get them thinking about what they can do to help. It’s about educating and connecting people to bring change.”