U.S. Rep. Kendrick B. Meek (D-FL) Encourages High School Artists to Enter Congressional Art Competition

Miami Gardens, FL – Congressman Kendrick B. Meek (D-FL) is encouraging all artists who attend high school in his Congressional District to submit their artwork before May 2 to his Miami Gardens office for entry in the 2008 Congressional Art Competition.

The competition is open to students who attend high school in Congressman Meek’s Congressional District, which includes parts of Miami-Dade and Broward Counties.

“This competition is a great opportunity for high school students to showcase their artistic skills, and I look forward to reviewing all the entries,” said Meek.

The winning artwork will appear in a permanent exhibition in the Cannon Tunnel of the U.S. Capitol for one year, before being returned to the winning student.

All entries must be two-dimensional; no longer than 30 inches by 30 inches; and be no more than 4 inches in depth.

Artwork categories include:

• Paintings: oil, acrylics, watercolor
• Drawings: pastels, colored pencil, pencil, charcoal, ink, markers
• Collage: must be two dimensional
• Prints: lithographs, silkscreen, block prints
• Mixed media: use of more than two mediums such as pencil and ink
• Computer generated art
• Photography

A release form signed by both teacher and student must be attached to the artwork to certify the originality of the piece. The form can be obtained by contacting Congressman Meek’s Deputy District Director, Mrs. Shirlee Lafleur at (305) 690-5905.

The final decision regarding suitability for exhibition in the Capitol will be made by a panel of qualified persons chaired by the Architect of the Capitol.

Last year’s winner of the competition was 17-year-old Design and Architecture Senior High School student, Jennifer Suarez.  Her winning painting was titled Drummer Boy.

Meek’s office is located at 111 NW 183rd Street, Suite 315, Miami Gardens, Florida, 33169.

Students who attend high school in Meek’s district, but do not reside in the district are eligible to participate in this competition.

To find out if you attend high school in Congressman Meek's Congressional District, log on to www.house.gov and enter your school’s nine-digit zip code in the upper-left side of the website.

Congressman Meek serves on House Committee on Ways and Means, and the House Armed Services Committee.

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