JOE | by Chris Friel - Inside the Outside

INTRODUCTION

When we first formed the Inside the Outside collective we had a clear vision of the type of photographic work we as a group were ourselves driven to create and the work of others we wanted to share. Paraphrasing from our collective’s statement ‘…photographers that share an awareness of the transformative potential of being in the landscape, simultaneously inhabiting the world we see before us and the one inside us. Photographers for whom it has become an essential element of their work, but explored in highly individual and personal representations of the land around them.’

With the deepest of heartfelt condolences we are honoured to share the series ‘Joe’ created by our good friend Chris Friel. A body of work which is almost certainly to be the most emotionally expressive we will ever share and for us illustrates the ability of the photographic medium to express something of our inner selves.

Chris and his family have set up a JustGiving page in memory of Joe which we would encourage you to consider donating to: www.justgiving.com/joepickhaver

JOE PICKHAVER
30/11/2000 – 10/12/2016

‘After a long struggle with mental illness we lost our dear son Joe on 10th December 2016 aged 16, when he took his own life. These images feature a few photographs of him growing up on the beach in Whitstable and a series of images taken on one day in the Outer Hebrides shortly after he died, in memory of the happy times he spent there’ – Chris Friel

CEARCALL A’ CHUAIN

Tha sinn uile air cuan,
stiùireadh cùrs’ tro ar beatha,
a’ seòladh geòla dhorch,
air chall an grèim na mara;
tha a’ ghaoth air ar cùl,
tha a’ gheòla a’ cumail roimpe,
‘s cha dèan uair no an cuan,
toinisg dhuinn no rian.

A’ mhuir, tha i ciùin,
tha i fiadhaich, tha i farsaing,
tha i àlainn, tha i diamhair,
tha i gamhlasach is domhainn;
O, ach sinn, tha sinn dall,
‘s chan eil againn ach beatha,
tog an seòl, tog an ràmh,
gus am faigh sinn astar ann.

Tha mi ’n dùil, tha mi ‘n dùil,
nuair a bhios a’ ghrian dol fodha,
chì iad mi a’ stiùireadh an Iar,
null a dh’Uibhist air a’ chearcall;
O cearcall a’ chuain,
gu bràth bidh i a’ tionndadh,
leam gu machair geal an Iar
far an do thòisich an là.

cearcall a’ chuain
cearcall a’ chuain
cearcall a’ chuain
cearcall a’ chuain

THE CIRCLE OF THE OCEAN

We are all on the ocean,
steering a course through our lives,
sailing a dark vessel,
lost in the grip of the sea;
the wind is on our backs,
and the boat forges ahead,
and neither time nor the ocean,
makes any sense to us at all.

The sea, it is calm,
it is wild, it is vast,
it is beautiful, it is mysterious,
it is vengeful and deep;
Oh, but us, we are blind,
we have nothing but a life,
lift the sail, take up the oar,
so that we get up speed.

But I hope, yes I hope,
that when the sun goes down,
they will see me steering westwards,
over to Uist on the circle;
Oh the ocean’s circle,
it will always be turning back,
with me to the white machair in the west
where the day began.

The circle of the ocean
The circle of the ocean
The circle of the ocean
The circle of the ocean

Joe series of images by Chris Friel. Sequenced to reflect the layout of the charity book produced by ITO co-founder Joseph Wright for Chris and his family.

IRISH BLESSING

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face, the rains fall soft upon your fields,
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His Hand.

DONATIONS

Chris and his family have set up a JustGiving page in memory of Joe
www.justgiving.com/joepickhaver

All donations will go to the Young Minds Trust
www.youngminds.org.uk

Article on the Young Minds trusts charity page: THE PICKHAVER FAMILY RAISE FUNDS IN MEMORY OF THEIR SON JOE

Chris and his family would like to thank everyone for their support during Joe’s illness, and particularly since his death, the list is almost endless. Family, friends, neighbours, teachers, medical staff, and the wonderful people of Whitstable.

ABOUT CHRIS FRIEL

Chris is a british photographer who has spent the last 10 years trying to take a photo that he likes. His images have been exhibited at the South Bank Centre, on the Santiago subway in Chile, and projected behind the London Sinfonietta in the Royal Festival Hall. He has worked in 150 countries and would very much like to visit the remaining 46 before he is housebound.

You can view more of Chris’s work on his website and other online presence:

Website: www.cfriel.com

flickr: flickr.com/photos/cfriel

Instagram: instagram.com/frielphotos

CREDITS