Embracing Our Differences Was Vandalized Last Night
A piece by Tampa artist Donna M. Richardson called Women of the Bluest Eye, featuring an accomanying quote by sixth-grade student Ojasvi "Oju" Ramani of Ashburn, Virginia, was vandalized in Bayfront Park on January 31, 2023.
Image: Courtesy Photo
The Embracing Our Differences exhibit at downtown Sarasota's Bayfront Park—which is currently celebrating its 20th anniversary season—was the victim of vandalism late last night, according to the organization's executive director, Sarah Wertheimer.
Specifically, a piece called Women of the Bluest Eye by Tampa artist Donna M. Richardson, was targeted. The artwork is accompanied by a quote from sixth-grade student Ojasvi "Oju" Ramani of Ashburn, Virginia: "An ideal world would be one where you accept others, but a perfect world is one where you accept yourself."
Embracing Our Differences estimates it will cost about $3,000 to repair the piece.
Image: Courtesy Photo
In an email, Wertheimer wrote that the vandals cut Women of the Bluest Eye off its framing, detached the straps that connect it to its anchor and knocked over the piece's entire tripod, "which is very heavy," she wrote.
She added that an eyewitness saw the vandalism happening and called the Sarasota Police Department, who now have a suspect and are re-interviewing the witness.
Women of the Bluest Eye by Donna M. Richardson
Image: Donna M. Richardson
As for the artwork, "we have sent the banner to the printer to re-print, and our setup crew is working on what machinery they will need to stand it back up," Wertheimer wrote. "This will cost us about $3,000 total because of the printing and labor. But it will not deter us. We know that our work is needed more now than ever before."
