2011 marks the decade anniversary of 9/11. Though it's a difficult memory for us all and unpleasant to think about, it's important to pay tribute to the people who lost their lives and to the brave souls who saved lives.
Local philanthropist/artist Richard Sean Manning is a prolific painter who has used his talents toward charitable causes. In his latest project, Manning has pledged to name an original work of Unity Art to honor each of the 2,976 people (and counting) who perished on 9-11. So far he has created more than 700 pieces.
To make the project accessible to more people, he has committed to copy each original in a numbered, limited-edition series of 275 archival giclée reproductions, printed in three sizes per original.
Individuals can choose one of the works of Unity Art to memorialize a loved one who was lost prematurely due to being in the wrong place at the wrong time, or through illness, to register a loved one's name at themanningarts.org.
Preview 250 original works of Unity Art as well as a memorial to Christina Taylor Green, the bright 9-year-old girl who died during the Jan. 8 Tucson shootings. The series of 18 original works of art is called "Pure of Heart." Selected works of Unity Art will remain on public display in the Mahaffey Theater Gallery and can be viewed prior to all performances thru April 3.
Mahaffey Theater is at 400 First St. S., St. Petersburg. 727-892-5767. (Pictured right, "Dancing Hearts," one of a body of work created by St. Petersburg artist and philanthropist Richard Sean Manning).
