wcw3-24

happening this month
Opens 21 st Anniversary Exhibit
Winning artists and quoters from around the region and country at Embracing Our Differences’ Grand Opening Celebration at Bayfront Park
Best-in-Show quotation winner, Jessie O.,
and artist Michael White
ore than 4,000 people
attended Embracing
Our Differences’ 21st
anniversary exhibition’s
grand opening on January
21, in Sarasota’s downtown Bayfront
Park. The occasion showcased performances
by Jah Movement, and local
arts and education organizations enriched
the atmosphere with interactive
booths and family-friendly activities.
EOD representatives took the opportunity
to acknowledge the Best-in-Show
art and quotation winners, and the
event had many of the featured artists
and quoters, who were honored for
their selected works on display.
Deputy City Manager Pat Robinson and
Judge Charles E. Williams, EOD’s board
chair, welcomed the crowd and City
Commissioner Debbie Trice further
affirmed the City of Sarasota’s commitment
to EOD’s core values of kindness,
respect, and inclusion.
EOD Executive Director Sarah Wertheimer
highlighted the organization’s
achievements over its 21-year history.
She underscored the
ever-expanding impact
of EOD’s outdoor exhibition,
which has grown
significantly since its
inception in 2004. With
nearly 4.5 million visitors
over the years, the
exhibition has not only
captivated local audiences
but has also become
an attraction for
out-of-town visitors.
Wertheimer also announced a new development
for EOD—the exhibition’s
expansion to St. Petersburg this March.
“We’re proudly celebrating a significant
milestone in 2024,” she said. “We’re unveiling
our exhibit in St. Petersburg’s
Poynter Park for the first time in 21
years.” Sharing the historical context,
Wertheimer explained that the exhibit
first appeared in St. Petersburg in 2003
as part of the “Coexistence” exhibit on
loan from the Museum on the Seam in
Jerusalem, Israel.
Sheila D. McKoy, EOD’s exhibition director
stated that this year’s response
to the call for artwork and inspirational
quotations was had 16,604 entries from
125 countries and 44 states. Students
from 584 schools around the world submitted
artwork or quotations to the juried
exhibit.
EOD’s Sarasota exhibit runs through
April 14 in Bayfront Park, Sarasota. The
exhibit will also be on display, March
2-31, in Poynter Park, St. Petersburg,
with an opening event on March 2.
Embracing Our Differences’ annual
outdoor exhibits are
the heart of a yearround
program of activities
designed to use art
as a catalyst to create
awareness and promote
diversity.
For more information
about Embracing
Our Differences, call
941-404-5710 or visit
www.embracingourdifferences.org.
Eric Applequist traveled from Moline, Illinois,
to see his work, “Colorful Conversation” at
Embracing Our Differences
ABOUT
Judge Charles Williams (EOD’s board chair),
Sheila McKoy (EOD’s exhibitions director); Jessie
O. (Best-in-Show quotation winner and a 7th
grader at Pine View School); Sarah Wertheimer
(EOD’s executive director), and Suzy Grandusky
(Jessie O.’s language arts teacher at Pine View
School). Jessie won $,2000 for her quote; half
of which she shares with the language arts
department at Pine View
Jah Movement performing at Embracing Our Differences’ Grand
Opening Celebration
Embracing Our Differences is a nonprofit organization that uses the transformational power of art and education to
celebrate and promote the diversity of the human family. It accomplishes this through an annual, large-scale outdoor
juried art exhibition and a comprehensive series of educational initiatives, programs and resources designed for teachers
and students. Visit www.embracingourdifferences.org.
Photos
by
Peter
Acker
12 WEST COAST WOMAN MARCH 2024