Published Wednesday, May 9, 2012
By: Bora Mici
"Untitled" ink and watercolor; by Candice Collins, of Germantown, a senior at Northwest High School. Instructor: Katherine Hess. Credit: Bora Mici
Work by high school artists from the 8th District is on display at VisArts in Rockville through May 17.
VisArts in Rockville is hosting an exhibit of work entered in the Congressional Art Competition for High School Students sponsored by U.S. Rep. Christopher Van Hollen Jr.'s office now through May 17.
This is the 10th year that Van Hollen (D-Dist. 8) of Kensington personally congratulated the young artists, presenting them with certificates of participation and recognition in the national competition, which began in 1981. An awards ceremony on April 30 at VisArts included competition participants, their families, teachers and competition sponsors and organizers.
The juried exhibit of 95 selected entries is on view in the Kaplan Gallery at VisArts. More than 260 students from 25 local schools participated in the competition.
"When jurying a show such as this, we look for good technical skills, excellent composition, and a fresh approach to the subject," the jurors said in their statement about the exhibit.
Polymer artist Fran Abrams, painter Val Lewton and photographer Emma Norman juried the show and chose the 15 award winners. Abrams, a Rockville resident, served as director of grants for the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County for 10 years.
Walt Whitman High School junior Annibel Rice took first place with her conté drawing "Isolation." Her work will be on display in the U.S. Capitol for one year, beginning in June, alongside the work of winners from congressional districts around the country.
The Jane E. Lawton Memorial Award went to John F. Kennedy High School senior Natithorn Bhusri for his charcoal drawing "First Wave."
The award honors the late state delegate's devotion to the arts and recognizes "singular vision or unique use of materials, reflecting Delegate Lawton’s individuality and vitality," according to a news release from Van Hollen's office announcing the winners.
VisArts awarded its Rising Star Award for technical virtuosity to Albert Einstein High School senior Chrissy Lockwood for her painting "Emily."
Runners-up, whose work will be displayed in Van Hollen's congressional offices, are:
- Hyeung Geun Song, a junior at The Heights School.
- Lauren Ahn, a sophomore at Holton-Arms School.
- Matthew Schick, a sophomore at Landon School.
- Denna Ameen, a senior at Northwest High School.
- Candice Collins, a senior at Northwest High School.
- Julia Leiby, a senior at Richard Montgomery High School.
Honorable Mentions are:
- Jennifer Guo, a sophomore at Holton-Arms School.
- Sean Koczot, a sophomore at The Katherine Thomas School.
- Dan Saadia Tuchman, a junior at Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy.
- Annabelle Ledgard, a sophomore at Northwest High School.
- Jia Gao, a junior at Richard Montgomery High School.
- Stephanie Buria-Hellbeck, a junior at Walt Whitman High School.
Kaplan Gallery hours are noon to 9 p.m., Wednesday through Friday, and noon to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. Closed Monday and Tuesday.
Source: rockville.patch.com
