The rainbows and art have been removed from local sidewalks, but colors are coming back—one stone at a time. This weekend, community members will gather at the FAB Arts Center to press colorful shards of glass and tile into wet concrete, each mosaic paver carrying words or symbols of resilience. The event is free and supplies will be provided. All are welcome.

“In response to the ban on trans athletes in Florida six years ago, we started to organize soccer for queer people and it exploded with activism,” says the event's organizer, Sarah Smith.

The project is about creating spaces and connections that the state has sought to erase. “Something a lot of people are missing is the young adult group in Florida," she says. "We have young professionals who have passion and skills and want to form a community."

The idea for the mosaic project grew out of frustration with temporary demonstrations. “Chalk is a fickle thing [when it comes to] rain, and I wanted a more evergreen solution," Smith explains. "Not having a solution was haunting me and I didn’t want to wait. Right now, the energy is high since the [sidewalk art] crosswalk removals.”

The process is simple but hands-on: participants use a silicone mold, pour in concrete, then press in shards of glass and tile donated by Sarasota Clay Company. People can inscribe words or designs into the surface. Once it sets, the stone becomes a permanent, colorful paver.

The stakes are heightened by recent events. “What happened at Pulse [in Orlando in 2016] was horrific, and [the rainbow-colored crosswalk outside the former nightclub] being erased is a signal to the community that tragedy to queer and minority bodies is OK," Smith says. "But we need to make it clear that's not representative of many Sarasota constituents.”

Each paver stone, she says, carries symbolic weight. “Some people think it’s not important to fight for, but there’s a symbolism. It’s such a point of fun to create them too. It’s effective in that we see something physically change our community. It's a guided path for us."

The permanence of the stones matters, too. “This is a form of protest that's hard to halt,” she says. She hopes to place them at private businesses and other places and spaces that want to show them off. Once they're placed, more can be made.

At the same time, she emphasizes inclusion. “I want everyone to be welcome here, [and] to highlight the individual voice at the same time,” she says. She quotes Langston Hughes to underscore the point: “'Life ain’t no crystal stair.'

"Sometimes it’s hard and the paths are [literally] torn up and difficult, but you have to persevere," she continues. "[Our community] understands this very well.”

Even destruction can be transformed into creation, she points out: “If they smash glass, we’ll build a mosaic from the broken pieces.”

The project is also about reclaiming a sense of belonging. “I want people to remember a time when they walked through their community and there was a feeling that they belonged," Smith says. "When I walk through a place with stickers of the equal sign or a rainbow, I feel more included.”

And at its heart is a commitment to leaving no one behind. “Community spaces are created by individuals," Smith says. "It’s your neighbors and communities that make them. We can’t forget anyone when it comes to inclusivity.” 

More Community Art 

The mosaic event isn't the only art protest happening this weekend. Harvest Sarasota, a non-denominational church on 17th Street, will also host an event on Sunday, Sept. 14, in which the public can paint a rainbow crosswalk on its campus in response to the state-ordered removal of Sarasota’s downtown Pride crosswalk.

The mosaic stepping stone-making event takes place Sunday, Sept. 14, from 4 to 9 p.m. at FAB Arts Center. Click here for more information.

The Harvest Sarasota rainbow crosswalk-painting event takes place Saturday, Sept. 14, at noon. Click here for more information.