Congress offers student artists a chance to be seen

Sablan is inviting high school students from around the CNMI to enter the Congressional Arts Competition. Every spring, the U.S. House of Representatives holds the contest, which recognizes the outstanding artwork of one student from each of the nation’s congressional districts.

The winning piece from the Marianas will be displayed alongside art from around the United States for a year in the walkway that connects the Cannon House Office Building to the U.S Capitol, where congressional members, staff, and visitors walk through every day.

Sablan said the theme for this year’s contest is “Traditions of the Marianas.”

“I am encouraging talented artists on Saipan, Tinian and Rota to create a piece that illustrates the beauty and culture of the Northern Mariana Islands,” Sablan said. “This is a perfect opportunity for us to tell people in D.C. that somewhere in the Pacific is a U.S. territory with beauty unrivalled and hospitality unparalleled.”

The competition is open to high school students grades 9 through 12. Participants may submit a painting using oil, acrylic or watercolor as their medium. Those opting for a drawing may use pastels, colored pencils, charcoal, ink, or markers. Collages, lithographs, silkscreens, block prints, photographs, and computer-generated artwork will also be accepted provided they are two-dimensional.

Started in 1982, the competition is designed to promote the artistic talents of students across America. In the years since, more than 650,000 high school students throughout the United States have competed for the honor of having their work exhibited.

Artwork is judged on originality, creativity, visual impact, expression of idea or theme and use of technique.

Each entry must be original in concept, design, and execution and may not violate any U.S. copyright laws. Any entry which has been reproduced from an existing photo (not the student’s own), painting, graphic, advertisement, or any other work produced by another person is a violation of the competition rules and will not be accepted. Each piece can be no larger than 30”x30”x4” (30 inches high, 30 inches wide and 4 inches deep). Artwork cannot weigh more than 15 lbs.

A typed copy of the student release form must be attached to the artwork to certify the originality of the piece. Student release forms are available at http://sablan.house.gov/services/artistic-discovery.shtml

Artwork should be delivered to the Congressional Office on Saipan no later than 5pm, April 24, 2009 (Chamorro Standard Time). The office, located at 1345 Ascension Ct., Capitol Hill on Saipan, is open weekdays from 8am to 5pm. Entries may also be mailed to P.O Box 504879, Saipan MP 96950.

For inquiries, e-mail Michelle Tenorio at michelle.tenorio@mail.house.gov or Paul Reyes at paul.reyes@mail.house.gov. Write “Artistic Discovery Contest” as the subject of the e-mail. Interested parties may also call Sablan’s Washington, D.C. office at (202) 2252646 or his District office on Saipan at (670) 323-2647 or 48. [B][I](PR)[/I][/B]