Those who participated in the lunchtime panel discussion heard the art- ists share their thoughts on what diversity means to them as expressed through their art. Ms. Berns, who through her work, compels us to contemplate the delicate balance between the natural world and the world of human cultural constructs, propounded the question of why many people easily appreciate the value of biodiversity, yet are skeptical of the value of human diversity. Ms. Blanco discussed the challenges of embarking on an art career and some of the particular challenges minority artists face seeking appreciation for their work beyond the confines of ethnocentric expression. Dr. Cutts uses her art to explore other cultures and actively looks for similarities as well as differences in the symbols used by various cultures. Dr. Hardaway presented the universality of art as the flip side of diversity and shared how her work, which personally reflects her own experience, is embraced by people of many different backgrounds as expressing something from their own personal experiences.

This enlightening exhibition concluded with an Artists Reception where participants immersed themselves in the beautiful art work, mingled with each other and the artists, and enjoyed delectable wine and cheese.

Volume 1 Issue 7       October 2005 GoddardView

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