Norton to Announce Congressional Student Art Competition Winner at Exhibit on Saturday

Norton to Announce Congressional Student Art Competition Winner at Exhibit on Saturday

May 20, 2011

WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will announce the winners of the D.C. Congressional Art Competition on Saturday, May 21at 12:30 p.m., following the exhibition of all student entries from 11:00 a.m. to noon at the Willard InterContinental Hotel, 1401 Pennsylvania Avenue NW. The artwork of the first place winner will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol, along with the work of the other first place winners from across the country. The District winner will also accompany Congresswoman Norton to the opening ceremony of the National Exhibit, which will begin with a reception at the U.S. Capitol attended by members of Congress, renowned artists, and celebrities. Several of the top D.C. students will receive college scholarships and other prizes, and their artwork displayed at the Wohlfarth Galleries, the DC Chamber of Commerce and at Reagan National Airport.

"With the display of tremendous talent at the art competition each year, you would think school districts across the nation are pouring money into art programs, rather than taking it out," said Norton. "Each year, students up the ante of the competition with their professional and high-quality submissions. I am always proud to help display the talent of District students."

This year's D.C. competition received 380 submissions from 196 students representing 17 schools, including five D.C. Public Schools, seven private schools, and four public charter schools. The art competition is open to students in grades 8 - 12, and represents the vast wealth of artistic talent found among District students. This is the first year students from Gallaudet University's Model Secondary School for the Deaf will participate in the competition.

Norton said that, through a lot of work with our local schools, organizing committee, and jurors, the competition received the largest number of submissions in years.

The Congresswoman established an organizing committee lead by Donnell Lewis, Founder and President of One Creative Source. The competition jurors are: Lou Stovall, Founder of Workshop, Inc.; Diane Kidd, National Air and Space Museum Early Childhood Program Manager; Malik M. Lloyd, Founder of Art Information Bank; and Bryan Young, Graphic Designer at The Washington Informer.

Acclaimed artist Lou Stovall will also sign some of his prints to give to attendees, as well as donate a signed copy of his print Sea to Shining Sea to the school of the winning student.