WASHINGTON – Congressman Andy Barr today announced that Bryan Station High School student, Gabriel M. Baczkowski, is the winner of the 2013 Congressional Art Competition, An Artistic Discovery, for Kentucky’s Sixth Congressional District. The winning scratchboard piece, “Atticus,” will be displayed in the halls of the United States Capitol along with winning art from other congressional districts across the country for the next year.
“I am honored to highlight all of our students’ artistic work through this year’s Artistic Discovery art competition,” said Congressman Barr. “I would like to congratulate Gabe and all the participants for their inspiring pieces of art.”
Baczkowski will be invited to travel to Washington, D.C., courtesy of Southwest Airlines, to see his winning piece hanging in the Capitol and to be honored at a Congressional Reception.
“We had a wide array of talented students living in our communities submit their art pieces and they all should be immensely proud of their work,” continued Barr. “I wish them well in the future and hope they will all continue to pursue their talents.”
Home School High School student, Lydia Underwood, was named 2nd place winner with the piece “Muse.” Honorable mentions were awarded to William Eucker of Lafayette High School for “An Innocent Curiosity” and Fleming County High School student, Cameron Dailey for “Goddard Bridge.” Their art will be displayed in Congressman Barr’s Lexington District Office.
The Congressional Art Competition was open to all local high school students in the Sixth Congressional District, which includes 19 counties across central and eastern Kentucky. A total of 18 entries were submitted, all of which can be viewed online at http://www.lasclex.org/index.php/archives/3525.
Congressman Barr was pleased to work with the Living Arts & Science Center (LASC) and its staff on the 2013 Congressional High School Art Competition. LASC Gallery Director and nationally recognized artist Jeffrey Nichols, and local artist Lennon Michalski, recently named an artist “superstar” of the south by Oxford American, were judges for the competition.
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 650,000 high school students have been involved with the nationwide competition.
The competition encourages and recognizes the rich artistic talents of young Americans. Students are encouraged to submit various styles and types of art, ranging from paintings and drawings to photography and mixed media pieces.