Embracing Our Differences Announces 2023 Outdoor Art Exhibits and Top Winners

December 7, 2023 – Sarasota

Since 2004, Embracing Our Differences has used the power of art and prose to promote diversity. One way it achieves this is through its annual, juried international outdoor art exhibition comprising 50 billboard-sized works of art, each accompanied by an inspirational quotation. This year’s response to the call for artwork and inspirational quotations received 13,733 entries pouring in from 119 countries and 45 states. Students from 424 schools around the world submitted artwork or quotations to the juried exhibit. The Best-in-Show Adult artwork award went to Whittney de Araújo, from Recife, Brazil, for “We Are All Pearls.” Alexis Lee, a 10th grade student from the Icon Art Academy in Irvine, California, won the Best-in-Show Student award for “Stretching Beauty.” Alexis Morrell of Wolcott, Connecticut, won Best-in-Show Adult for her inspirational quotation, “It takes more courage to speak in a silent room than to become another voice in a crowd.”  The award for the Best-in-Show Student inspirational quotation was given to Hartley Livesey, a fifth grade student at The Out-of-Door Academy for “Always remember you are braver than you think and stronger than you believe.” The winning quotations and art will be showcased at the 20th annual exhibits, January 18-March 12, in Sarasota’s Bayfront Park; March 22-April 19 at Butler Park in North Port; and April 26-May 29 at State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota. 

2023 marks the 20^th anniversary of the exhibit. Sarah Wertheimer, EOD’s executive director, explains that the past 20 years have been ones of monumental positive growth, forward movement—and many milestones.

“Our first call to artists received 124 submissions,” says Wertheimer. “This year, we received 13,733 from 119 countries. And we’re thrilled that annual visitor attendance has quadrupled since we began. Less than 100,000 people attended the first exhibit; we had almost 400,000 last year.”

Wertheimer adds that EOD’s 20^th anniversary theme is “Embracing Kindness,” and the organization is planning several special events to celebrate the anniversary, including exhibiting at two new venues in addition to Bayfront Park.

 Sheila D. McKoy, EOD’s exhibition director, says that the 2023 exhibit will also be displayed at Butler Park in North Port and at State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota in Bradenton. “We are so excited to have the 2023 exhibit in North Port and in Bradenton. This will allow us to broaden our reach as well as our impact on the community while staying true to our mission and vision.” McKoy adds that the exhibit will open at Bayfront Park in downtown Sarasota and that the public can expect a series of events commemorating the anniversary throughout the year, starting with a Grand Opening event on January 22 in Bayfront Park.

Wertheimer says that only a fraction of the powerful submissions is chosen for each year’s outdoor exhibit. “What you’ll see is only the tip of the iceberg,” she says. “We’re profoundly moved to see how many people share our core philosophy all over the world.”

Selection criteria boil down to medium and message. What is the core idea of each submission? How well is it expressed? “Our judges try to imagine the impact the artwork will have when it’s enlarged to the size of a billboard. Will it stop me in my tracks? Will it move me and make me think? Will its truth stay with me on the ride home? That’s what we’re going for.”

Awards for artwork are given for “Best-in-Show Adult,” “Best-in-Show Student,” and “People’s Choice” categories, with the last chosen by visitors to the exhibit. Adult art winners each receive $2,000; students receive $2,000, which they split with their school’s art program. Awards are also given for inspirational quotations. Adult quote winners each receive $2,000; students receive $2,000, which they split with their school’s English program.

For a complete list of winners visit http://www.embracingourdifferences.org/