U.S. Representative Jeff Denham (R-Turlock) congratulated the winners of the 2015 10th District Congressional Art Competition at a reception held at the Mistlin Art Gallery in Modesto.
Annually, the Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide high school visual art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent. The Artistic Discovery competition began in 1982 and has had over 650,000 high school participants since its start.
Jazmyne Griffin, a John H. Pitman High School student, received first place for her piece, “Midnight Forest Dreams.”
Griffin’s artwork will be featured for the next year as part of a national exhibition in the United States Capitol Building alongside other winning submissions from across the country. Her piece will hang in the Cannon Tunnel, where members of Congress and thousands of annual visitors will pass it as they enter the U.S. Capitol. She will receive a scholarship and have the opportunity to visit Washington, D.C. to be honored at a reception for other winning students at the U.S. Capitol where the National Winner will be announced.
Second place was presented to Rachel Kiesser, a Central Catholic High School student from Patterson, for her acrylic painting, “Palette of Passion.”
Turlock resident, Habibatu Mboka, who also attends John H. Pitman High School was awarded third place for her oil painting titled, “Hold Your Breath and Count to Ten.”
As second and third place winners, Kiesser and Mboka will have their artwork on display in Denham’s Modesto District office.
Competition winners were awarded based on votes via ‘likes’ on Facebook, giving 10th District residents the opportunity to participate in recognizing the talent of local high school students.
All pieces can be seen on Denham’s Facebook page.
Third place winner Habibatu Mboka, of Turlock, with Congressman Jeff Denham.
Courtesy of U.S. Representative Jeff Denham
