A Pittsburgh artist visited the Monroeville Library on Wednesday to start a project that aims to educate people on diversity and eventually to install a permanent art piece on the library’s property.
Andrea London, of Point Breeze, brought a part of her art installation, entitled “We Are All Related,” in support of the Human Dignity Project of Monroeville through the Office of Public Art.
The project, a collaboration between the Monroeville Library and the Monroeville Interfaith Ministerium, is in its infancy stages. It is expected to have two components. The first involves building an art structure and the second incorporates diversity education.
The group hopes to raise $30,000 by the end of this year. The project is expected to cost around $500,000, which the group plans to raise through grants, foundation support and individual donations.
The Sept. 18 event attracted about 25 people as London discussed her “We Are All Related” portraits, book and film. The project includes black-and-white portraits of people from diverse backgrounds.
Kade Ellinger, who identifies as gender fluid and is featured as one of the many portraits in the book, shared with the group.
In London’s book, Ellinger wrote: “Beneath the negative thoughts I created for myself from others’ perspectives, I found something I thought I had lost. I rediscovered the child that I once was. That child was trans.”
Subjects photographed include Muslims, Jews, Sikhs, Hindus and Buddhists, and people who have been held in internment and concentration camps.
The next Human Dignity Project of Monroeville event will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Sept. 29 at the library. Jeannine Marie Pitas, a poet and English-Spanish translator, and Michelle Gil-Montero, an associate professor of English at Saint Vincent College, will read works by Argentinian poet Romina Freschi.
The pair will discuss the cultural significance of literary translation and host a Q&A.
