Embracing Our Differences :: An Art Exhibit Celebrating Diversity

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever does.
-Margaret Mead

Those are some pretty powerful words. Words like these are at the center of the Embracing Our Differences art exhibit.

This past week we had the opportunity to check out the Embracing Our Differences Long Island art exhibit. Embracing Our Differences is an outdoor art exhibition celebrating diversity. The Long Island exhibit was put together by the Suffolk Center on the Holocaust, Diversity & Human Understanding.



The art exhibition, together with related activities and events, is intended to demonstrate, in a positive way, that diversity enriches our lives and that active rejection of prejudice and hatred enhances our own freedom.

The exhibit featured about 25 or so designs that were displayed as 12x16' billboards. Each piece of work contained a message focused on subjects such as diversity, unity, acceptance, coexistence, peace, and togetherness. Works on display were done by students, amateurs, and professional artists.



We are very excited and pleased to announce that one of our designs, 'The Same But Different', was part of the exhibit. Sticking with our Famous Seniors theme, our colorful graffiti inspired design pays tribute to Dr. King, Evita, Gandhi, & Mother Teresa; four people who actively encouraged the rejection of prejudice and hate during their lifetimes.



It was a blast checking out all of the designs and it’s always fun seeing different takes on a common theme. While taking a look at the designs was cool, the true highlight of the day was a brief talk about prejudice and acceptance from Holocaust survivor Werner Reich. Mr. Reich spoke about some of his personal experiences and raised the point that hatred is a feeling that has no bounds; the only cure for hatred is the complete elimination of the feeling.



The exhibit will be on display at the Grant Campus of Suffolk County Community College thru 10.31.10. The exhibit will then travel around a bit and will be on display at various events.

We would like to congratulate all artists that were part of the exhibit and we invite all of our readers to check out photos of the event. We would love to hear about which designs move you and which are your favorites.

In addition, there is currently an open call to artists for the 2011 Embracing Our Differences exhibit in Florida; for more info about the exhibit and entry process click here.

Men and women, young and old, black, white, red, brown, and yellow; varied people, cultures, and perspectives throughout the world. People - the same but different.
-senioritis

Friday Finds 5.28.10

We would like to take a brief moment to say thank you to all the men and women, past and present, who do what they do on a daily basis to protect our way of life. You probably don't hear it enough but thank you, we appreciate it. Without further adue welcome to this week's stars and stripes inspired patriotic Friday Finds segment. Happy Memorial day weekend!

naomisnotions

There's something about stars and stripes on a wood medium that just looks proper. We really like Naomi's Petit Angel Girl piece. To see a few more examples of Naomi's mixed media work please check out her Etsy shop.



CindysCardsandArt

It doesn't get much more patriotic than the Star Spangled Banner! When we came across Cindy's Star Spangled Banner original watercolor painting we knew we had to feature it. While we're on the subject of the Star Spangled Banner, a slightly lesser known fact: while our national anthem is the first verse of Francis Scott Key's poem, the poem is actually four verses long and the motto "In God We Trust" was taken from the fourth verse of the poem :) To see more of Cindy's great work please visit her Etsy shop.



wendellfiock

Wow, check out wendellfiock's mixed medium stars and stripes tribute. Wendell's 'American Flag' is awesome! Be sure to check out the closeup photos for this piece, each state is represented in the squares that make up the flag. Check out wendellfiock's shop to see some more great pastel, ink, and mixed medium work.



senioritis

This week we pay a stars and stripes tribute to General George S. Patton. To see more of our tributes, including many other patriotic figures, please visit our Etsy shop.






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Sweet Land of Liberty

To begin, Happy Washington's Birthday! or more commonly Happy President's Day!! As my day off winds to an end and I try to figure out what to write in this post I can only think of a conversation I had last night to share with all of you. This past weekend a few of my friends who studied abroad in Australia with me came to visit. As we sat on my bed discussing the upcoming holiday, I wondered aloud whether the day Obama was elected would be one of those days that "live in infamy." Just as my parents remember the day that Kennedy was shot, and I recall when and where I was when I learned of the falling of the Twin Towers, I wonder if Obama's victory was one of those days. For that event too I remember when I first heard the news.

I was in Australia sitting through my boring three hour seminar when one of the more worldly-minded Australian students announced to the class that Obama had won the 2008 Presidential election. Following this exciting news, my professor pulled out two bottles of champagne from under his desk, (thank goodness the drinking age in Oz is 18). He told the class that he had brought it as a celebration for when Obama won, and if he didn't win it would serve as consolation. I remember being amazed at how into American politics my peers abroad were. It was not until my senior year of high school that I learned anything significant about American government, so I was a bit embarrassed when everyone around me not only knew about their home government but probably more about mine than I did.

I am probably not so different than most other people my age with a lack of interest in politics. But as I googled President's Day and was bombarded with a number of ads boasting sales I could not help but feel a little sad. We boast how ours is the land of the free yet so few of us know how this came to be and cherish it as we should. Especially this day I believe we should all take a bit more pride in our country and learn what our government is all about.

As always, there is work to be done and deadlines to be made.
Enjoy the last few hours of your holiday and until next Monday, as always, keep on procrastinating.