UNITY Mural

-->

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

‘UNITY’ Mural to Unveil in October in Flagstaff, Arizona

“We all should know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in value no matter what their color.”

― Maya Angelou

Flagstaff, Arizona. September 14, 2018-- 'UNITY’ represents 5 hands of different skin tones spelling the word unity in American Sign Language with a rainbow starburst background. This mural is a call for people of every race, creed, gender, ability or disability to come together. Artist Karen Fiorito and local artists R.E. Wall and Sky Black executed the piece in early September with the support of Together We Will Northern Arizona, Flagstaff Pride and the Beautification and Public Art Commission. The unveiling will take place at the Orpheum Theater in Historic Downtown Flagstaff on October 6, 2018 at 8pm to coincide with Flagstaff Pride’s annual Coming Out Drag Show.

The original concept for the design was done by Fiorito for a billboard in Phoenix, AZ and was also used in the Phoenix Pride Parade in 2017. The original had the Arizona Flag in the background, but Fiorito redesigned the image for the mural to be more inclusive by replacing the flag with a rainbow starburst. TWWNAZ and Northern Arizona Pride Association, who offered to also fundraise for the project, then proposed the revised design to the Orpheum Theater. The Beatification and Public Art Commission approved Fiorito for a grant, and she also has been fundraising to cover the costs incurred on the project on GoFundMe.

Fiorito worked with Together We Will twice before in Flagstaff. The first time was for Free Speech Week in October 2017 when Fiorito gave a speech about her public art projects. The second time was for the Northern Arizona Nasty Women Art Exhibition in March of this year. Both talks raised funds for the ACLU and Planned Parenthood respectively. This time Fiorito and TWWNAZ have partnered with Flagstaff Pride to bring this message of diversity and inclusivity to Historic Downtown Flagstaff. The 8-foot by 19.5-foot mural can be seen from North Beaver Street approximately 20 feet from the ground on the west wall of the Orpheum Theater’s parking lot at 15 West Aspen Avenue.  This mural not only enhances the current location, but the quality of life for special needs persons and minority communities within the city.