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A stroll through the City of Sarasota's Island Park this time of year offers more than a respite from the madness of traffic on the nearby Tamiami Trail. It is an invitation to think about "enriching lives through diversity." That is the theme of the 11th annual Embracing Our Differences juried art exhibit, which will make its home in the park until June 1. Along with creating visual interpretations, people from all over the world offered quo- tations based on the theme. The selections for the exhibit came from more than 6,000 submissions from people in 52 countries, including South Korea, Greece, Israel, Serbia, China, Canada, India, Portugal, Scotland and the United States. Students from 110 elemen- tary, junior and high schools entered both art and quotes in the competition, according to a news release. Staff Photographer Norman Schimmel was among the Sarasotans who explored the works on the opening day of the 2014 show, March 30. Organizers say approximately 275,000 people viewed the 2013 exhibit. % All photos by Norman Schimmel THE 2014 EMBRACING OUR DIFFERENCES EXHIBIT IN SARASOTA'S ISLAND PARK INVITES FAR MORE THAN PASSING GLANCES PROFOUND MESSAGES Staff Reports