2008 Congressional Art Competition seeks student submissions

The 2008 Congressional Art Competition is under way. Rep. Thomas M. Reynolds, R-Amherst, encourages high school students from across Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Orleans, and Wyoming counties to participate and make submissions.

"Year in and year out, our district has so many gifted young artists, that it's always very difficult to choose a winner," Reynolds said. "I don't expect this year to be any different. I'm always amazed by the high level of artistic talent displayed by our Western New York high school students."

The first congressional art competition was held in 1982. Since then, hundreds of thousands of high school students have participated in the contest across the country. The winning entries from last year's competition currently hang in the Cannon Tunnel at the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.

The winning student from Reynolds' district, to be selected in May, will have his or her artwork displayed in the Cannon Tunnel for the coming year. An awards ceremony with district winners from across the country will be held in Washington this summer. The winner will receive a round-trip plane ticket to Washington, D.C. from Southwest Airlines to attend the awards ceremony for the new display. The winning student will be eligible for a Savannah College of Art and Design scholarship.

Participating students may choose from seven artistic categories: painting, drawing, collage, print, mixed media, computer-generated art or photography. The art pieces will be selected first at the county level, then at the district level. Two honorable mention selections will be displayed in Reynolds congressional district offices for the year.

Students should contact their high school art teacher or county art council for more information. A link to contest guidelines and rules is also available on the congressman's Web site at http:// www. reynolds. house. gov/.