Alexis Lee (10th grade; Supplemental Portfolio Student; Crean Lutheran High School) got Best-In-Show Student from Embracing Our Differences International Art Contest. Embracing Our Differences (aka EOD) is a nonprofit organization based in Sarasota, Florida, that uses the power of art and education to expand consciousness and open the heart to celebrate the diversity of the human family. EOD accomplish this through an annual, large-scale, juried art exhibition and a comprehensive series of educational initiatives, programs and resources designed for teachers and students.

On January 22, EOD’s 2023 Art Exhibition was held in Bayfront Park, Sarasota. They said the 2023 Exhibit had an impressive response to the call for artwork and inspirational quotes, with 13,733 entries pouring in from 119 countries and 45 states. Students from 424 schools around the world submitted artwork or quotes to the juried exhibit and more than 65% of submissions were from students.

In this exhibition, Alexis has been nominated as Best-In-Show Student with the art work Stretching Beauty (worked with Instructor Song Yi Park). She said about the painting as:

“Using acrylic paints, I created a painting representing body dysmorphia. I decided to make the figure a ballerina because many dancers fall under body dysmorphia, eating disorders, and body image issues due to the strict ideal body image represented and taught from childhood. In my painting, the ballerina is very malnourished and thin, but as she looks into the mirror she sees herself as much larger than she actually is. I added a nutrition wrapper for the background of the mirror to represent counting calories which is something I did for a period of time when I didn’t feel confident in my own skin. Body dysmorphia is something so many people go through as they try to reach the extremely demanding beauty standards of society which usually leads to eating disorders. I currently have a close friend in the hospital recovering from anorexia, so this theme means a lot to me and I definitely think that there should be more body positivity in today's society.”