Violet Stripes | Ringling CDI

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Violet Stripes brings together an intergenerational LGBTQ collective of folx, including Ringling College students and local residents, to share stories of their individual journeys. These powerful stories range from personal discovery and acceptance, to coming out, to facing intolerance and discrimination, to embracing love.

MEET THE TEAM

Syeda Fyruje

she/her/hers
Fyruje is a Junior in Motion Design major and minoring in Photography. She was born and raised in Bangladesh and attended High School in India. She loves combining her work between 2D and 3D to bring something exceptional in front of the audience. Her art inspirations come from her favorite authors Margaret Atwood, Haruki Murakami, artists like Vincent Van Gogh, Jean Giraud, botany, as well as her Bengali culture.
Website: https://www.fy-motion.tv/

Shpresa Mehmeti

she/her/hers
Instagram: @shpresa.theflorist
Shpresa Mehmeti was born and raised in Kosovo, Europe. She is a Junior studying Business of Art and Design at the Ringling College of Art and Design. From a very young age, Shpresa had many interests; she was a chess champion in high school, was part of the Astronomy Club of Kosovo, and was an active member of her community. She left Kosovo at the age of 17 to pursue her studies in UWC Mostar, Bosnia, and Herzegovina. In the past two years as a Ringling Student, she was the International Cultures Club President, was awarded a few scholarships in addition to “The Emerging Leader of the Year” award. In the future, she plans to join the Flower Industry and start her own business. Shpresa wants to use business and design to have an impact on the communities she belongs to.

Ana Brighton

she/her/hers
Instagram: @anarbrighton and @anarbrighton_photos
Ana is a Student Outreach Coordinator working with the Center for Diversity and Inclusion while also getting her B.F.A in Film with minors in Creative Writing and Photography. She has had a passion for social justice and equality from a young age and hopes to use her artwork and the stories that she investigates in order to help create media that sheds light on issues all around the globe.

Celi Midtieri

she/her/hers
Instagram: @celimidtieri
When people think of art, through their minds goes a multitude of perceptions and interpretations. There is no one correct way to see it. It instigates refection. And that is why I chose it.
What I want in life is to leave something even long after I am gone. A lasting thought. People don’t have to always agree with my work. They don’t have to try getting into my mind while I was making each piece. The viewer just has to think about it rationally and emotionally. If my work is able to evoke that in people, then I have succeeded in it.

Almendra Kovac

she/her they/them
Instagram: @almendrakovac_
She was born and raised in Mendoza, Argentina, but at 17 years old, she went to an international school in Wales "UWC Atlantic College." She is now a Sophomore in the Film major at Ringling College. For her, art is a way of communicating, protesting and inciting change. Through her work, they want to make people reconsider their beliefs, defy stereotypes and empathize with other realities while exploring their own understanding of the world.

Yoleidy Rosario-Hernandez

Instagram: @cdi_ringling
Ze is the Associate Dean of Students for Diversity and Inclusion & Director of the Center for Diversity and Inclusion at Ringling College of Art and Design. As an Afro-Dominican & Tainx trans educator, diversity consultant, and performing artist who utilizes the pronouns Ze, Zir, Zirs, Yoleidy implements and facilitates intercultural and intersectional programs and initiatives, trainings and workshops that address important social justice issues through the interdisciplinary investigation of indigenous and diasporic cultures, histories, narratives, healing and the arts.

Robert Rogers

he/him/his
Instagram: @boro2020
He is a comitted culture hound, determined dreamer, documentarian, flaneur, global citizen, humanitarian, nature lover and zythophile. He hoards artwork and feels most at home in airports and hotel rooms. He is currently building an epic studio in the woods and planning something awesome.

SCREENING DATES

STUDENT SCREENING

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COMMUNITY SCREENING

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STORYCORPS PODCAST

Series of interviews with LGBTQ+ members of the community conducted by Robert Rogers.

CHECK IT OUT

These toolkit and discussion guides have been assembled to help you engage in conversations that connect family, friends, classmates, colleagues, and communities.

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