Congressional District Art Competition at Memorial Nottingham Library
The Memorial/Nottingham Library hosted The Eleventh Congressional District Art Competition, for the first time, this year. The exhibit was on display at the library from May 9th until June 3rd. The awards ceremony was held on May 25.
The art competition is a nationwide program, sponsored by the Congressional Institute, to recognize artistic talent in students from local high schools, in each district. Fifty three students from eight high schools in the 11th District submitted works of art in six different categories: collage, drawing, mixed media, painting, photography, and printmaking.
The student artwork represented a variety of styles, and ranged from a colorful explosion of flowers emerging from a small box, (Crystin King, Cleveland Central Catholic High School,); to a bleak black and white photo of a lone figure sitting in a chair at the end of an alley between two dilapidated buildings, (Chris Martin, Charles F. Brush High School).
With many of the arts being deleted from our schools' curricula, it was nice that “traditional fine art” was represented. Ashley Wagner’s block print, "Calligraphy," was a field of movement with its multi-print design of musical notes in red and orange, and Myesha Gardner’s photograph, “Untitled,” showed contemplation in a female face obscured by delicate floral lace. Many of the students did more than just create artwork, they commented on social themes as well.
John Hairston Jr., District Director, for the 11th District, spoke on behalf of Representative Marsha L. Fudge. “We have to accentuate the positive things our young people are doing,” he said. “Marsha Fudge is proud of our young people.” The artwork in today’s exhibit represents the students' “creativity, thought, focus, energy and direction.”
A member of the Congressional Staff, Anita Gray, called the winners from each category to receive their awards and have their pictures taken. State Representative, Kenny Yuko, was among the over 160 attendees.
The First Place winner (and Best in Show), went to Marcus Billingsley, Cleveland School of the Arts, for his delicately shaded pencil drawing, “Inside & Out-Self Portrait,” of two faces peering out of a paper barricade that they are ripping open with their fingers.
This is the second time Billingsley has won a Best in Show Award. He is a graduating senior, and will be attending the Columbus School of Design. He will also attend a ceremony in Washington DC, and his artwork, along with the Best in Show winners from all the other national districts will be on display in the U.S. Capitol for one year.
The other winners in each category were: Collage: Carmi Rothberg, Fuchs Mizrachi School, "Self Portrait" - 1st Place
Drawing:Marcus Billingsley, Cleveland School of the Arts, "Inside & Out-Self Portrait" - 1st Place, Thais Reyes, Cleveland School of the Arts, "Feline Decay" - 2nd Place, Kassidie Butler, Cleveland School of the Arts,"Utada Hikaru" - 3rd Place.
Mixed Media:Mario Davenport, Cleveland School of the Arts, "Optical Illusion" - 1st Place, Crystin King, Cleveland Central Catholic High School, "Pandora’s Flower" - 2nd Place, Crystin King, Cleveland Central Catholic High School, "Tropical Bird" - 3rd Place
Painting:Halle Davis, Cleveland Central Catholic High School, "Optical Illusion" – 1st Place, Ashley Rowell, Bedford High School, "Untitled 103" – 2nd Place, Martin Kurtz, Cleveland Central Catholic High School, "Keith in Concert"- 3rd Place.
Photography: Ariana Peterson, Charles F. Brush High School, "Family Pack (Sandwiched Negative Print of my Siblings)" - 1st Place, Myesha Gardner, Cleveland School of the Arts, "Peace's Piece" - 2nd Place, Myesha Gardner, Cleveland School of the Arts, "Untitled," - 3rd Place.
Printmaking: Kiara Brown, Cleveland School of the Arts, "Michael Jackson's Thriller Wallpaper" - 1st Place, Fred Timothy Lowe, Richmond Heights High School, "Death by Pollution" - 2nd Place, Ashley Wagner, Bedford High School, "Calligraphy" - 3rd Place.
The other participating school was: Beachwood High School.
Afterwards, light refreshments were served, and the students had a chance to meet and talk with each other. For further information about the Congressional Art Competition, please visit their website: http://www.house.gov/content/educate/art_competition/
Jeanne Coppola
Jeanne Coppola is a resident of the Collinwood neighborhood, and is interested in art and writing. She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Cleveland State University, where she was a writer for the multi-cultural student magazine, "The Vindicator."
Jeanne is pleased to be able to write for "The Collinwood Observer," and offer her comments and opinions for this new and exciting community newspaper.