Unity in Diversity
Detroit, MI, USA 2017
In this Mural, I communicate the concepts of transition, diversity, preservation, and unity. I aim to do this through portrayals of cultures and symbolism related to and connecting both Detroit’s historical and modern cultural landscapes. From the cultural roots of Native Americans, to the large and diverse modern ethnic minority populations of Hispanics and African Americans, to past and present large European immigrant populations; in addition the historical tolerance for various religious belief systems, such as Islam, and associated immigrant populations from many Nations such as Pakistan, Lebanon and Palestine, as well as African American Muslims, Detroit is a striking microcosm of the combination of diversity and unity that can exist within a community, including one that is in constant transition and frequent hardship A Native American figure and connected symbolism, such as the “great turtle” and the Tree, which represents the roots and foundations of a society, will take a prominent role in this Mural, with more modern images and symbolism branching out from this central point to unify the diverse modern demographic of the inspiring, resilient and creative Detroit community.
