The Umbrella Auction was a success! $1620 was raised for Watermark programming and the contributing artists.
Umbrellas of Unity – Group Show
August 19 – October 22, 2022
Marley & Sandy Kaul Gallery
Auction Closed: Umbrellas by guest artists were available for purchase through an online auction October 3 – 12, 2022. Winning bidders may pick up their umbrellas beginning October 24.
Listen: KAXE Northern Community Radio interview with Mary Therese →
“Umbrellas of Unity” is a group show celebrating diversity while encouraging conversations and connections between people.
Conceptualized by local Batik artist Mary Therese, visitors are invited to enjoy the space underneath the umbrellas while reflecting on the messages depicted in the colorful images.
“With this exhibit, I hope to create an atmosphere of reverence, a place where people can experience the space under the umbrellas to reflect on the images that honor and celebrate racial diversity while creating conversations and connections between peoples.” – Mary Therese
Celebrating Unity in Cultural Diversity
“The umbrella symbolizes the canopy of the heavens, shelter, and protection. It is often recognized in art as an emblem of power and dignity; the shape of a circle, a sacred symbol for life.
“Art is a powerful tool to evoke social change. Without uttering a single word, artists can enlighten, educate and affect change around the world. These artworks are meant to share the positive message of enriching lives through diversity. Join us in creating a community where embracing diversity and moving beyond tolerance to genuine acceptance and respect is not only a way of thinking and feeling – but most importantly, of acting. Together, we can create a vibrant community where differences are embraced and individuality is celebrated.
“Many thanks to the Watermark Art Center for the support, space, art supplies and umbrellas to the other members of the exhibit and sharing in this important message.
“This show is dedicated to my niece, Colleen Romano, who dedicated her life to uplifting humanity.”
-Mary Therese
The Dancing Umbrella of Unity
Unity in Diversity is used as an expression of harmony and unity between dissimilar individuals or groups. It is a concept of “unity without uniformity and diversity without fragmentation” that shifts focus from unity based on a mere tolerance of our differences towards a more complex unity based on an understanding that difference enriches human interactions.
Humanity may be likened unto the many flowers of one garden. There is unity in diversity. Each sets off and enhances the other’s beauty.
– Mary Therese
This activity is made possible, in part, by a Region 2 Arts Council Individual Artist Grant with funding from the McKnight Foundation.
