REP. MIKE THOMPSON ANNOUNCES 2014 CONGRESSIONAL ART COMPETITION

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-5) today announced the beginning of the 2014 Congressional Art Competition, and urged high school students in California’s 5^th Congressional District to enter their artwork. The annual competition showcases the artistic talents and abilities of students in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories. The 2014 competition is open to all high school students in California’s 5^th District. The deadline to submit artwork is April 21^st.

“This yearly competition is an excellent opportunity for our community to support our student artists, and I encourage all eligible students to submit their great work,” said Thompson. “Every year our office receives outstanding submissions from talented artists all across our district. I look forward to seeing all of this year’s artwork.”

Since 1982, the Congressional Art Competition has given Members of Congress the opportunity to encourage the artistic talents of their young constituents. Each Member of Congress hosts a competition among high school students in his or her district. The winning artwork from each district is then displayed in the United States Capitol for one year. In addition, the grand prize winner will be flown with a guest to Washington, D.C. to attend an awards ceremony in June.

Vallejo’s Benjamin Yu of Jesse M. Bethel High School won last year’s competition for his work titled “Monotony.” Yu’s work is currently on display in the U.S. Capitol.

A panel of judges will select the winning entry and their decision will be announced in early May.

All artwork must be submitted by Monday, April 21^stto one of Congressman Thompson’s district offices:

• 1040 Main St., Suite 101, Napa, CA 94559
• 985 Walnut Ave., Vallejo, CA 94592
• 2300 Country Center Dr. Suite A100, Santa Rosa, CA 95403

Guidelines for the Congressional Art Competition include the following:

• Artwork must be two-dimensional.
• Each piece can be no larger than 28” x 28” x 4” (28 inches high, 28 inches wide, and 4 inches deep), including the frame.
• Framed artwork cannot weigh more than 15 lbs.
• Acceptable mediums for artwork are as follows:
  • Paintings: oil, acrylics, watercolor, etc.
  • Drawings: pastels, colored pencil, pencil, charcoal, ink, markers
  • Collages (must be two-dimensional)
  • Prints: lithographs, silkscreen, block prints
  • Mixed Media: use of more than two mediums such as pencil, ink, watercolor, etc.
  • Computer-Generated Art
  • Photography

• All submissions must be accompanied by a completed Student Information/Release Form (PDF).

Students and teachers interested in the Congressional Art Competition may contact Rebecca Hermosillo in Congressman Thompson’s Santa Rosa office at (707) 542-7182 for further guidelines and information.

Complete guidelines are also available here: 2014 Art Competition Guidelines for Students (PDF).

Congressman Mike Thompson is proud to represent California’s 5^th Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma Counties. He is a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Rep. Thompson is also a member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition and chairs the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Wine Caucus.