Giffords honors local high school artists

“Buena students win Congressional District Art Competition”

Friday, May 11, 2007

Sierra Vista Herald

Three Buena High School students have won the 8th Congressional District’s 2007 Art Competition and will be honored at a reception this weekend in Tucson.

They will receive their monetary awards and certificates from Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano.

Michael Puett placed second for his drawing of a hummingbird, Nicole Gates placed second in the figurative category for her self portrait and Lauren Smith received an honorable mention for her self portrait.

Their works will now be on display for one year in the nation’s capitol.

All three of the Buena winners in the 8th congressional district art competition are students in Buena art teacher Laurie Giangregorio’s class.

Each spring, a nationwide high school arts competition is sponsored by the members of the U.S. House of Representatives.

The Artistic Discovery Contest is an opportunity to recognize and encourage the artistic talent in the nation, as well as in each Congressional District.

The Artistic Discovery Contest was open to all high school students in each district.

The overall winner of each district’s competition will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol.

The original artwork categories may be:

• Paintings – including oil, acrylics, and watercolor
• Drawings – including pastels, colored pencil, pencil, charcoal, ink, and markers
• Collage
• Prints – including lithographs, silkscreen, and block prints
• Mixed Media
• Computer Generated Art
• Photography

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.

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