GRAPEVINE, TX - U.S. Representative Kenny Marchant announced on Saturday, March 28 the winners of the 24th Congressional District Art Competition.  Students, parents and teachers joined Rep. Marchant at the Grapevine Main Street Art Gallery for a reception to recognize the high school students who participated in this year’s art contest. 

Forty-two pieces of art and photography were submitted by local student artists.  The 2009 Artistic Discovery award winners of the 24th Congressional District are: first place, Jina Park of Coppell High School; second place, Ji Won Hyun of Coppell High School; third place, Keith Spurrier-Bailey of South Grand Prairie High School; and the “People’s Choice Award,” Sarah Lee of Coppell High School. 

The three Coppell students are all taught by the same art teacher at Coppell High School, Tamera Westervelt.  Kathy Lucket teaches art at South Grand Prairie High School.  

After all participants were recognized and had a chance to view the art, the audience heard from a local talented landscape artist, Jerry Malzahn, on the importance of staying persistent and passionate about their art.  Malzahn was recently recognized on the national stage for his holiday ornament which was featured on the White House Christmas tree.    

The winning artwork by Park, Brio, is a painting of the exterior of the Brio restaurant in Southlake.  Park’s painting will be prominently displayed with other winning entries from each district across the country for an entire year in the Cannon Tunnel in Washington, D.C.  The Cannon Tunnel connects the Cannon House Office Building with the U.S. Capitol and is traveled on a daily basis by Members of Congress, staff members and thousands of visitors.

The nationwide art competition, which is voluntarily sponsored by Members of Congress, provides young student artists an opportunity to showcase their work locally, as well as the chance to be recognized at the national level for their talent and creativity.

The Congressional Art Competition began in 1982.  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 passageway to the Capitol.

This year marks the fourth anniversary that Rep. Marchant has hosted the Artistic Discovery Congressional Art Competition. 

###

To view photos from the event, click on the following link and the photos are found under "District 24 Events/2009 Art Contest." http://marchant.house.gov/photogallery.shtm