The Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide high school visual art competition every year to recognize and encourage artistic talent in each congressional district. Since this competition began in 1982, more than 650,000 high school students have participated, according to the U.S. House of Representatives website.
Both first place students will have their artwork on display at the U.S. Capitol for one year and will be offered respective scholarships to attend Maine College of Art & Design in Portland. All recognized artwork will be on exhibit at the Maine State House in Augusta in 2020.
Congresswoman Chellie Pingree notes, “Year after year, I am continuously impressed by the quality and creativity of the Maine students’ work being judged for the Congressional Art Competition. This year was certainly no exception. We are so lucky to live in a state where the arts flourish and creativity is encouraged. Congratulations to all of the outstanding student artists and to everyone who was recognized today for their work. You make me proud to support the arts in Maine and in Washington.”
Congratulations to all of this year's winners!
District 1 Winners
1st Place
Gus
Alek Gideon
Grade 10
Freeport High School
2nd Place
Abandoned Chairlift
Jacob Smith
Grade 11
Winthrop High School
3rd Place
Respiratory Roy
Reagan Davis
Grade 12
Freeport High School
Honorable Mention
Follow her Lines
Magnolia Sinisi
Grade 12
Freeport High School
Honorable Mention
At The End of Stream
Eliza Goodwin
Grade 12
Waynflete School
Honorable Mention
Fishbowl
William Gordon
Grade 12
Portland High School
District 2 Winners
1st Place
Noor Aden
Carolyn Adams
Grade 12
Lewiston High School
2nd Place
Indigo eye
Lilly Hallock
Grade 10
Lewiston High School
3rd Place
tell me all your darkest secret
Jasmine Weiang Li
Grade 12
Hebron Academy
Honorable Mention
Sleepy Hollow
Lauren Farmer
Grade 12
Rangeley Lakes High School
Honorable Mention
Connection
Sophia Carson
Grade 11
Edward Little High School
Honorable Mention
Rose Waters
Cassie Cielinski
Grade 10
Rangeley Lakes High School
About the Congressional Art Awards
The Congressional Art Competition began in 1982 to provide an opportunity for Members of Congress to encourage and recognize the artistic talents of their young constituents. Since then, over 700,000 high school students have competed for the honor of having their work shown in the U.S. Capitol.
The competition is open to all high school students. The overall winner of each participating district will have the opportunity to have their work displayed in the Cannon Tunnel of the U.S. Capitol for the entire year, beginning in June. In addition, winners will be flown to Washington, D.C. for the official opening of the show in June.
The Maine Arts Commission partners with the Maine College of Art & Design (MECA&D) and the National Scholastic Art and Writing Awards to select the artwork. Artwork that MECA&D has invited to exhibit for the annual Maine Regional Scholastic Art Awards are automatically submitted to be juried for the Congressional Art Competition.
For information about the Congressional Art Competition please contact Julie Horn of the Maine Arts Commission, at julie.horn@maine.gov or 207-287-2790.
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Honorable Mention: At The End of Stream, by Eliza Goodwin, Grade 12, Waynflete School