Embracing Our Differences opens grandly on Sarasota bayfront

Ingrid Cushman was inspired by familiar quotes when she submitted hers for the Embracing Our Differences outdoor art show, which opened Saturday at Bayfront Park.

However, the tenth-grader at Pine View School put her own twist on the idea, inspired by her involvement in a school club, BuildOn, which is raising money to build a school in the east African nation of Malawi. 

Paired with the artwork "World of Peace" by Makhliyokhon Ziyouddinova, the quote reads, "Dulling someone else's pencil will not make yours any sharper."

She said she was honored to have it chosen for the student "best in show" quotation award out of the 14,904 quotes and artworks submitted for the display, joining other contributors and community members for the grand opening. 

Sarah Wertheimer, president and CEO of Embracing Our Differences, said the grand opening was an important part of the exhibition's role in the community.

"A lot of people are able to either see themselves represented or get a view into someone else's lives, and I think that makes us all feel really great when we're able to celebrate each other in such a positive way, and I think we need that right now," she said. "We need art, we need community, and we need the love that really does bring us together and celebrate our shared humanity."

Cushman said the effect of the exhibition was not over, however, as she would use the prize of $2,000, which will be split with the school's language arts program, to help fund the creation of the school. 

"I'm using this money to go help fund-raise the school in Malawi, so it's going to help other people, just like what this organization is meant for. I think that's really inspiring," she said.