Red Dirt

As a native Oklahoman, I carry feelings of both pride and embarrassment,

especially during the last few years. Oklahoma is simultaneously a

wonderful, and a frustrating place to live.

Oklahoma is known for having red clay, rather than traditional, brown

dirt. In fact, when I was in kindergarten, I got in trouble with the teacher

for making dirt the color orange on my coloring pages. I honestly

believed that all dirt was this reddish, burnt orange color until I was in

upper elementary school. Whenever I travel and then come back home, I

always know I’m back in Oklahoma when I look out the airplane window

and see that red dirt sprawled in all directions.

This artwork is the physical manifestation of my struggle between feeling

proud of my Oklahoma roots, and exasperated about how the

conservative culture here negatively affects so many things. This battle

within me has taught me that two opposing feelings can exist together in

one being: me.

This piece is 40 inches by 30 inches and is acrylic on reclaimed canvas.