What is UNITY?
In June of 2016, Nancy Belmont created UNITY, an interactive public art project, as a response to the divisiveness and negative rhetoric in American politics. Created to raise consciousness about the labels we give ourselves and others and explore how those labels both support and limit building interconnected, interesting communities. UNITY is a larger-than-life structure that helps us celebrate our uniqueness and strengthens our ties to each other. The project consists of 32 posts, each with identifiers such as, “I’m a parent; I speak English as a second language; I identify as LGBTQ,” etc. Participants tie colorful yarn to posts that reflect their identities. Their yarn intertwines with others’ to create a web of interconnectedness. In the end, we see that we are all connected by something, and it's our diversity that builds a strong and vibrant community. View the identifiers and plot your course on the UNITY map.
With the help from Upworthy, this video received over 8 million views on social media, creating a true global experience! A special thank you to Daniel Sheire (www.sunroadfilms.com) who directed the video, Patricia Armstrong for additional camera and sound, and Mike Olliver Photography for the still photography.
UNITY: The Global Movement
Over 1,000 people from 48 states and 32 countries have downloaded the UNITY manual. Become a part of this global movement in the making!
Can I Build UNITY in my Community?
Yes! We published an instruction manual for how to bring & build UNITY in your community. To date, the manual has been downloaded over 1,000 times! Download the UNITY manual for a comprehensive guide to building UNITY with links for materials; assets to help you brand and promote your event; and planning and curation tips.
Who's Behind This?
Nancy Belmont is the CEO and Chief Inspiration Officer at Vessence Corporation. In May 2015 she launched the Courage Wall as a way to raise awareness of the fears that hold us back from living big, bold authentic lives. In December 2016 she created Be the Light to help people see they have a choice about how to show up in the world. In June 2017, she launched Soar, a project that encourages us to release our burdens so we can be free to fly. And in 2018, she created The Sanctuary, a project that helps people create a positive inner voice. The Courage Wall, UNITY, Be the Light and Soar projects fall under Nancy's #WeLiveBig initiative to promote human flourishing. A big thank you to Bean Creative for allowing us to use their lot for these projects.
Is UNITY on Social Media?
Yes, UNITY is alive and well on social media! Follow Nancy Belmont - We Live Big on Facebook and don't forget to follow us on Twitter and Instagram. If you are hosting or attending a UNITY event, remember to tag your experiences @Nancy_Belmont_WeLiveBig and #UNITY!