A Path to Tolerance

By AVESSA Mag

Updated 01:09 pm EDT, April 1, 2024

Published 11:24 pm EST, January 8, 2023

featuring students from miami international university of art & design
creative directoR: nestor camacho
models: alyssa bartashy, sophia whipple, Iheb Derbali @ FRONT MANAGAMENT, TAYLOR LONDRES @ THE WALK COLLECTIVE
hair & make-up artists: lorena alvarez, sabina karac
photography: flávio iryoda
RETOUCHING: LUIZ CAMARGO

A Path to Tolerance

Embark on a transformative journey of art and tolerance, as MIU's creations inspire unity, acceptance, and empathy.

By AVESSA Mag

Updated 01:09 pm EDT, April 1, 2024

Published 11:24 pm EST, January 8, 2023

featuring students from miami international university of art & design
creative directoR: nestor camacho
models: alyssa bartashy, sophia whipple, Iheb Derbali @ FRONT MANAGAMENT, TAYLOR LONDRES @ THE WALK COLLECTIVE
hair & make-up artists: lorena alvarez, sabina karac
photography: flávio iryoda
RETOUCHING: LUIZ CAMARGO

In 2017, Mirko Ilic was inspired to launch the Tolerance Project following the “House of Tolerance” film festival in Ljubljana, Slovenia. He asked 28 artists to create a poster about tolerance, the only requirement being that they write “tolerance” in their native language. After a successful 10-day show in Ljubljana, Mirko decided to tour the posters globally. 

The Tolerance Project is dedicated to reaching people who usually do not visit galleries or museums. Since 2017, it has brought a message of inclusion and acceptance to over 400,000 people in over 40 countries.

In Miami, the Tolerance Project was brought by Vesna Cremona from AMER_ICAN and directed by Nestor Camacho, a professor from Miami International University. 

The Tolerance Project. ARTIST: JOHEL PEREIRA | FASHION DESIGNER: CAROLINA RINCHERE
ARTIST: JOHEL PEREIRA | FASHION DESIGNER: CAROLINA RINCHERE

The word Tolerance could be interpreted in many different ways. To me, tolerance means accepting something and embracing it. In my experience, the word tolerance has mostly been used in a negative way. For example, in school, my teachers would always complain, “I cannot tolerate this behavior, Johel! ” and because of that, I perceived it as a negative term, but it’s definitely not a negative term from my fresh perspective. Tolerance means stepping out of your comfort zone and expanding your boundaries.

The Tolerance Project. ARTIST: Monica Czukerberg | FASHION DESIGNER: JORDAN RAFN
ARTIST: Monica Czukerberg | FASHION DESIGNER: JORDAN RAFN

Tolerance is to be accepting of people that are outside of your circle. It is allowing others the freedom to be unapologetically themselves. To hold space for everyone, even if they aren’t like you. Diversity is strength and tolerance is important for a healthy community.

The Tolerance Project. ARTIST: Monica Czukerberg | FASHION DESIGNER: VIVIANA HENRIQUEZ
ARTIST: Monica Czukerberg | FASHION DESIGNER: VIVIANA HENRIQUEZ

Tolerance –for me– refers to respect for all human beings. The survival of the world and of humanity depends on the existence of tolerance: Without it, peace, harmony, and coexistence are broken. Tolerance is born from love, friendship, and healthy relationships between people.

The Tolerance Project. ARTIST: JOHEL PEREIRA | FASHION DESIGNER: ALEJANDRO BÁRZAGA
ARTIST: JOHEL PEREIRA | FASHION DESIGNER: ALEJANDRO BÁRZAGA

To be tolerant, to accept people with different views from mine and respect their opinions.

The Tolerance Project. ARTIST: CHICA JACOBS | FASHION DESIGNER: SHANIELE GORDON
ARTIST: CHICA JACOBS | FASHION DESIGNER: SHANIELE GORDON

For me, tolerance is accepting the permanent contrasts that life brings. I do think that we are different and I embrace it; that’s what make us unique human beings. We need to learn and respect each other’s gifts, and then we will all shine.

The Tolerance Project. ARTIST: JOHEL PEREIRA | FASHION DESIGNER: TAYLOR CROSLEY
ARTIST: JOHEL PEREIRA | FASHION DESIGNER: TAYLOR CROSLEY

Tolerance is the ability or willingness to tolerate something, particularly opinions or behavior that one does not necessarily agree with. Working on this project was meaningful to me as I believe in tolerance for everyone. No person should be disrespected, harmed, or degraded for simply living in their truth, be it their sex, race, religion, ethnicity, sexuality, and any other aspects of their life that make them different from another human being. Tolerance is simply the most basic decency we all deserve and still a long way from actual equality and acceptance.

The Tolerance Project. ARTIST: Fabiana Kübler | FASHION DESIGNER: TAYLOR CROSLEY
ARTIST: Fabiana Kübler | FASHION DESIGNER: TAYLOR CROSLEY

It is important to show my kids what tolerance means: to teach them to be respectful and kind; to teach them to see the world around them with compassion instead of judgment.

The Tolerance Project. ARTIST: Cecilia Marti | FASHION DESIGNER: VIVIANA HERNANDEZ
ARTIST: Cecilia Marti | FASHION DESIGNER: VIVIANA HERNANDEZ

To be tolerant is the ability to accept the existence and opinions or behaviors of others, not to judge and understand the difference between us.

I see beauty in every culture and nation. This is a world where everyone has to be accepted and treated the same way and have the same rights.

The Tolerance Project. ARTIST: Daniela Gabay | FASHION DESIGNER: Gregory Flesh
ARTIST: Daniela Gabay | FASHION DESIGNER: Gregory Flesh

Tolerance means accepting everyone the way they are. Whether we have different views, beliefs, practices, or abilities, and as long as we don’t harm others with or for them, tolerance means understanding everyone is different and treating them with respect.

The psycho-dynamic theory revolves around how influential your past is in relation to your current self. It is unsettling knowing that previous decisions have been made outside our grasp, and has substantially impacted our overall development. My garment aims to visually display how close we were (and currently are) to being displaced in a significantly dissimilar scenario and struggling mental state, and to represent how little input we really have on the matter.

The Tolerance Project. ARTIST: CHICA JACOBS | FASHION DESIGNER: TAYLOR CROSLEY
ARTIST: CHICA JACOBS | FASHION DESIGNER: TAYLOR CROSLEY

Tolerance is the ability or willingness to tolerate something, particularly opinions or behavior that one does not necessarily agree with. Working on this project was meaningful to me as I believe in tolerance for everyone. No person should be disrespected, harmed, or degraded for simply living in their truth, be it their sex, race, religion, ethnicity, sexuality, and any other aspects of their life that make them different from another human being. Tolerance is simply the most basic decency we all deserve and still a long way from actual equality and acceptance.

The Tolerance Project. ARTIST: Daniela Gabay | FASHION DESIGNER: Carolina Rinchere
ARTIST: Daniela Gabay | FASHION DESIGNER: Carolina Rinchere

To be tolerant means that you don’t put your opinions above others. Without tolerance, lasting peace of societies cannot be maintained, and loyalty for each other cannot be established. Lack of tolerance leads to fighting, violence in the world, and it destroys the peace and security of society.

The Tolerance Project. ARTIST: Monica Czukerberg | FASHION DESIGNER: Shaniele Gordon
ARTIST: Monica Czukerberg | FASHION DESIGNER: Shaniele Gordon

In the world we live in now everyone should be more tolerant to one another; this project is very important to me, and I know that it will open the eyes of others to see that we are all different, but we all deserve to be accepted and tolerated.

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