Congressman Dennis Cardoza (D-Merced) announced that talented high school students living in California's 18th Congressional District have the opportunity to display their artistic talent in the U.S. Capitol by competing in the annual Congressional Art Competition.
This nationwide art competition provides young student artists with an opportunity to showcase their work locally, as well as the chance to be recognized at the national level for their talent and creativity. Each member of Congress can choose one grand prize winner from his or her district. The winning entry from Congressman Cardoza's district will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol complex in Washington, D.C.
"The Congressional Art Competition gives thousands of visitors to the U.S. Capitol the opportunity to see pieces of art created by students from around the country," said Cardoza. "I encourage Valley high school students to enter their works of art in my 2012 competition and demonstrate the immense creative and artistic talents of our young people in the Central Valley."
The winning artist and one guest will also be invited to a Capitol Hill awards ceremony this summer to honor young artists from around the nation and officially unveil their artwork in the Capitol. The reception traditionally features a celebrity from the entertainment industry.
All entries must be submitted by 5 p.m. on April 20 to Congressman Cardoza's Stockton, Modesto, or Merced district offices. All artwork submissions will be on display for the public at the San Joaquin County Law Library in Stockton. The winning artwork will be announced during a public reception at the library hosted by Congressman Cardoza from 2 p.m. to 4p.m. on May 6 at the Law Library, 20 N. Sutter St., Stockton. The winner will be selected by a panel of judges convened by Congressman Cardoza that includes professional artists and gallery curators.
Guidelines for Congressman Cardoza's competition are as follows:
• Participants must be high school students residing or going to school in the 18th District. To view a map of the 18th district go to www.house.gov and enter your zip code to find your U.S. Representative.
• Artwork must be no larger than 28-inch by 28-inch framed (framing not required) and two-dimensional.
• Eligible forms of artwork are paintings, prints, drawings, collages, computer art, mixed media and photography.
• The artwork must reflect life in the Central Valley of California in some way (people, landscapes, landmarks, etc.).
• A release form certifying the originality of the art piece must be signed by teacher and student. The forms are available at high schools and Congressman Cardoza's district offices in Stockton, Modesto, and Merced.
The 2011 winner of Congressman Cardoza's art competition was Anna Kiesser, then a senior at Central Catholic High School. Anna created a black-and-white pencil drawing entitled "Home in the Valley" depicting the museum in the center of Patterson, with the Sierra Nevada Mountains in the background. Anna's drawing has been proudly displayed since last June in the in the passageway leading to the U.S. Capitol from the Cannon House Office Building, where thousands of visitors pass through every year.
Created in 1982, The Congressional Arts Competition's goal is to give creative students the chance to have their talents recognized nationwide. Since then, more than 650,000 students have participated in the competition and the works of thousands of young American artists have been showcased in the halls of Congress.
For more information, including the student artwork release form and other important instructions, visit cardoza.house.gov.
