– New Canaan High School students Bhaskar Abhiraman, Amy Chu and Katherine Zaborowska have taken their love of art and shaped it into a unique and thought-provoking exhibition that celebrates our collective diversity. Colors Across Cultures will be on display in the Library's Adrian Lamb Room, beginning Friday, April 17 from 5:30 - 8:00, and remaining on display through Monday evening, April 20.
In addition to the exhibition, fundraising is a component of the initiative, as select pieces will be offered for sale in hopes of raising money to purchase supplies for art programs in public schools with limited budgets.
The exhibition features mixed media artwork submitted by community members that explores that individual's culture and background, including ethnicity, religion and culture. According to Amy Chu, "the ultimate goal of the Colors Across Cultures gallery is to give the public an opportunity to appreciate and celebrate the beauty of differences across the world."
The Colors Across Cultures project is one of three finalists to be considered for a monetary stipend as the next Wilburn Fellow, named for and inspired by Reverend Dr. Gary A. Wilburn, the highly-esteemed senior pastor who served at First Presbyterian Church of New Canaan for 12 years until his death in 2010. Reverend Wilburn's deep belief in the beauty of diversity inspired the fellowship's mission: “To foster the understanding of humanity’s differences, whether of gender, race, ethnicity, nationality, religion or culture, such that those differences can be respected, learned from, embraced and celebrated."