Watercolor, pen, ink on paper. Line and wash drawing.

“We Rise by Lifting Others” traces the outlines of hands of different people from our community, ranging from 11-76 years old symbolize the different ethnicities and diversity in Eugene. Each of the hands is painted in a different color and have a vine entangled through and greenery representing Eugene also known as the Emerald Valley.

This artwork conveys that no matter what our backgrounds or our ethnicities are, we can all learn to live in harmony and cultivate a sense of diversity and inclusion in our city by lifting others. I believe by helping others, we in turn help ourselves, which makes for a better community. This leaves a positive impact on us and the people around us. It highlights that our success and happiness are not dependent on our own efforts but as a collective we can build something great that benefits everyone. Together, no matter what our background is or which country we come from, or what our profession is, we can all help others to achieve their goals and aspirations and create a positive cycle of support and encouragement that benefits our community. We can live in a world where we celebrate our uniqueness and realize our similarities. Together, we are a community.

Diversity matters in this ever-changing world so we can learn to accept one another and celebrate our differences and by that we rise as a collective. Every day, in our own lives, we are afforded the opportunity to lift others up and contribute to the betterment of our communities. Whether it's through volunteering, offering help to a friend, neighbor or colleague, or simply offering a kind word to someone who needs it, every small act of kindness and support can make a difference. By lifting others up, we can all rise together!

For artist and artwork inquiry, contact the artist at [email protected]