- April 4, 2025
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It was a hot afternoon, and Penny Lesnick, 7, takes a rest on Oreo.
Photo by Ian SwabyTim O'Brien, Rachel Denton of Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Deb Benson and Tim's wife Deb O'Brien hold the foundation's "You Matter" cards.
Photo by Ian SwabyShelby Sol and Torrey Thomas perform.
Photo by Ian SwabyAashna Parsa, a 7th grader from San Jose, California, had her quote featured on the art piece "Here and Now" by Chen Qiang of Hefei, China. Her quote reads "We can choose to build bridges or spend a lifetime lost on our own islands."
Photo by Ian SwabyRobert Mayer of Sarasota had his quote featured on the art piece "Lost" by Diana de Avila, also of Sarasota. The quote reads "A journey without others is lonesome." De Avila, a disabled veteran, said the piece is representative of post-traumatic stress disorder, mourning for one's own identity and for their friends, and a sense of loss and disassociation. "I don't know where art comes from, but it's synesthesia, and I saw this image, and I have to create it," she said.
Photo by Ian SwabyJC Cash, 2, dances to the music.
Photo by Ian SwabyArtist Lee Hayes Byron, who is quoted in two of the artworks, and her son Evan Sellers, 15, watch an announcement.
Photo by Ian SwabyPhillip Lanham, CEO of Gulf Coast Community Foundation, offers a speech.
Photo by Ian SwabyEmbracing Our Differences artists and staff gather together.
Photo by Ian SwabyMoses Faboyede, 3, tries a fishing activity with his mother Rachel Faboyede.
Photo by Ian SwabyThiago Mauri, 10, adds to a collective art piece.
Photo by Ian SwabyZachary Katzbeck enjoys one of the 300 free ice creams provided by Gulf Coast Community Foundation.
Photo by Ian SwabyCaitlin Brunk of ALSO Youth, a support group for LGBTQ+ youth, stands at the organization's table.
Photo by Ian SwabyThe outdoor exhibition, featuring 50 works of art by contributors from around the world, is found at Bayfront Park.
Photo by Ian SwabyMarla Smith and Lyndsey Smith of the Suncoast Campaign for Grade Level Reading offered books, from their table at the event.
Photo by Ian SwabyPaul Toliver and his wife Jane Toliver look at the artwork.
Photo by Ian SwabyDante Espin, 5, and his sisters Emilia Espin, 5, and Elda Espin, 7, all had their faces painted.
Photo by Ian SwabyDa'Von Emanuel plays drums with Shelby Sol.
Photo by Ian SwabyAllen Brown of Embracing Our Differences, Chantima Kaewvichian of Bangok, Thailand, the painter of "Hide or Shine," and its sponsors Tobi Leanna Schneider and Steven Neumeister, gather in front of the art piece. The quote by Kim Howard of Bloomington, Indiana, reads, "Choosing to speak when others are silent is an act of bravery this world needs." "My inspiration for this painting is so simple. It's the feeling to be ourselves, like everybody deserves to be themselves, as long as it doesn't hurt anyone," Kaewvichian said. "I'm very happy, and I'm honored to be the part of this amazing exhibition," she also said.
Photo by Ian SwabyThe Embracing Our Differences art exhibition features 50 works and quotations by artists, writers and students from around the world.
Many of those individuals were in attendance at Embracing Our Community: A Celebration of Kindness on March 30, including Aashna Parsa, a 7th grader from San Jose, California.
"A lot of people try to stay in their own worlds, and... when you stay in your own world, you're limiting yourself to not experiencing the joys of being with others," she said.
She said her quote, "We can choose to build bridges or spend a lifetime lost on our own islands," was also inspired by the desire to learn about other places, and the neurodiversity in her community.
Held at Bayfront Park, amid the exhibition, the event featured live music by Shelby Sol, booths and activities by different organizations, and food trucks.
Gulf Coast Community Foundation partnered with Embracing Our Differences to continue its "You Matter" kindness campaign at the event, where the foundation announced it was covering the first 300 cups of ice cream sold.
"We are here to work together to build a community where kindness, respect and inclusion are not just ideals, but local realities, and that is exactly what our exhibition represents," said Linda Poteat-Brown, a board member of Embracing Our Differences. "This exhibition is a celebration of the extraordinary artists and writers whose talent and dedicate and dedication illuminate the path to a more compassionate world."
