Alyssa Underwood at Press Gallery
Join us this Thursday, September 10th to an Opening Exhibition by Alyssa Underwood at our Press Gallery. Alyssa Underwood is going into her senior year as a Visual Performing Arts Major at Classen High School of Advanced Studies in Oklahoma City. Her art has received national awards including first place at the Red Earth Youth Art Show and a Gold Key in Scholastics. Alyssa is an active youth leader in the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference of The United Methodist Church. She has been a part of the Mentorship Program with ARTSPACE Untitled for two years. We are following all the COVID-19 protocols with limited capacity (30 people at the time). We require visitors and staff to wear face coverings.
“I created this body of work to address body dysmorphia. Growing up as someone who has never been skinny nor conventionally attractive, I have had a tough time when it comes to self-image. Even as little as seven years old, I had issues looking in the mirror.
This body is a constant reminder that I do not belong. I am not skinny enough, nor do I have fair enough skin. I am not tall or dainty. I am not a Miley Cyrus or a Lindsay Lohan type. I feel as though my brown eyes are dull, and my skin is dirty.
These ideas have grown into more significant issues that inhibit me from enjoying life. I was motivated to do this project because I am tired of feeling that I am not enough. I wanted to show how beauty standards have affected me.
I have been teaching myself that one cannot allow others to define beauty standards. Learning to love yourself is a journey and a constant battle. There is no end goal because it is a continuous process. You will not always feel good, but you will never be in the same place as you were. We are always growing and healing, and that in of itself is invaluable.”
-Alyssa Underwood
