Leeds Arts Council June Featured Artist

Leeds Arts Council June Featured Artist:  Amber Orr is the Leeds Arts Council’s featured artist in June.  The public is invited to the opening reception on June 4, 2017, 1:30-3:30 pm, to view her delightful art work.  Admission is free.

Leeds Arts Council June Featured Artist

Amber Orr is a Birmingham artist.  She is a 2007 graduate of the Alabama School of Fine Arts and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in drawing with a minor in art history from The University of Montevallo.  One of her recent portraits graced the front cover of the fall 2016 issue of the Birmingham Arts Journal.

The artist says, “My work celebrates the internal and external relationship of self-discovery.  I am being honest about who I was, am, and choose to become.  I haven’t always loved what I looked like on the outside.  Self-criticism left me feeling ugly, left me believing I was never enough.  During this endless cycle of frustration, I discovered I was the ultimate cause of my own unhappiness.  Constantly belittling myself only kept me thinking negatively.  Once I respected myself, inch by inch and day by day, I gained confidence.”

“The key to my happiness is positive thinking.  Instead of perfecting my appearance, I have chosen to accept it.  My hair is kinky, my skin is black, I have scars and marks times more.  I want to encourage you to embrace who you are.  We are all beautifully imperfect human beings.  That is worthy to be celebrated.”

Ms. Orr’s paintings will be on exhibit through June 30, 2017.  You can follow her art journey on Instagram: @mizzambero

The Arts Center is located at 8140 Parkway Drive, in downtown Leeds.  The gallery is open during events and Fridays 11:00-2:00.  In case of inclement weather, call the center at 205-699-1892 to confirm opening hours.