What's Not To Like?

This is the last piece we'll show from the Embracing Our Differences cultural art event, and it happens to be my favorite. It's a trompe l'oeil. Look closely. See anything within the makeup of all those different people?

It's a baby!  This clever piece is entitled "What's Not To Like?" and was created by Jelena Meeks from Lochem, The Netherlands.  Interestingly, the hands and eyes were especially noticeable when I looked through my camera lens.  And, that concludes our tour of Embracing Our Differences. The SDP editorial staff is meeting right now to determine what subject to post next.  More art?  Wildlife?  Scenery?   Decisions.  Decisions.

Words

We're returning to our tour of the Embracing Our Differences art display in Bayfront Park. This one, entitled "Words", is interesting in that it combines two popular trends: tattooing and texting. The message being texted reads, 'You r such a LOSER'.  It was created by two 14-year-olds from North Port High School in Sarasota County: Adam Parisi and Emily Quigley.  Rather creative from such young minds.

Will To Win

This piece at the Embracing Our Differences art display entitled "Will To Win" was created by Zoltan Balogh from Budapest, Hungary. I really like the title. This is one of those pictures that's worth a thousand words.  

Be A Friend

As I watched these three ladies admire this canvas entitled "Be A Friend" at the Embracing Our Differences art display, I had a sneaking suspicion one of them had a close tie to the piece. Besides artwork, Embracing Our Differences also accepts quotation submittals which are displayed at the bottom of each canvas. Well, the author of the quotation on this piece was standing right there admiring her work with her family.

Meet 14-year-old Daniela Martinez, 8th grade student at Sarasota Middle School and now celebrated author. Out of the 4,500 submissions of artwork and quotations from 53 countries, Daniela's quotation was selected to be part of the Embracing Our Differences display. She told me she felt really good about the honor. That bright smile says it all. What a terrific, outgoing and polite young lady. Congratulations, Daniela!

I Tip My Hat To You

Continuing with our tour through the art display Embracing our Differences, this one is entitled "I Tip My Hat To You" and features eight people, each wearing a different hat from their culture. I tip my hat to the artist Tavernelle from Santa Cruz, Trinidad and Tobago for coming up with a unique way to accomplish the Embracing Our Differences mission --- to celebrate diversity.  To learn more about Embracing Our Differences click here.

Expecting

We begin our tour of the Embracing Our Differences outdoor art display with this adorable submission by Beatric Davies from Acquapendente, Italy entitled "Expecting". When I first saw it, I was so enamored with the giraffe and pachyderm cuddling and the heart floating above them, believe it or not, I didn't even notice the egg. This is too adorable.  To learn more about Embracing Our Differences and the program's goal of educating people about the value of diversity click here.

Embracing Our Differences

Welcome to Bayfront Park in Sarasota where the annual Embracing Our Differences international outdoor art display is underway. The event is intended to create awareness about the value of diversity through the use of art. Dozens of oversized canvasses contain artwork and messages submitted by children and adults from around the world. According to the Embracing Our Differences website, this was a record setting year for submissions, with over 4,500 pieces of artwork and quotations coming in from 53 countries. That's impressive. Bayfront Park is a terrific venue for the event with lots of visitors and plenty of space right on Sarasota Bay and the marina. Over the next few days, we'll take a walk around the park and explore some of the exhibits which will be here through May.