Saipan Tribune

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Monday, March 11, 2013

2013 Congressional Art Competition is now open

WASHINGTON, D.C.-Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP) is once again inviting high school students from the Northern Mariana Islands to participate in the annual Congressional Arts Competition. The winning artwork of one Northern Marianas student will be displayed at the U.S. Capitol alongside the works of students from each of the nation's 441 congressional districts.

“This is the fifth year that the Northern Mariana Islands will have one of our student's artwork on display at the Capitol,” said Sablan. “It remains exciting to see our home represented in the gallery along with the work of other talented young people from around the country.

“And visitors to the congressional office are always so pleased to see the Northern Marianas art on display, when we take them on the Capitol tour.”

The Congressional Arts Competition is open to high school students from grades 9 through 12. There is no specific theme that artists must follow, though in years past the Northern Marianas entries have often depicted scenes from the islands.

Previous years winners have been:

* 2009: Rosanna Camacho, Marianas High School

* 2010: Aaron Tomokane, Kagman High School

* 2011: Bryan Jose Obaldo Deleon Guerrero, Marianas High School

* 2012: Hannah Alcordo, Marianas High School

The winning Marianas entry is selected by a panel of local artists.

“I would not want to make that decision,” Sablan said. “Each year we receive more entries; and each year the quality of the art is quite amazing.”

Work in any media is allowed as long as the work is essentially two dimensional. There is great variety represented among the winning entries: paintings in oil, acrylic, and watercolor hang beside drawings in pastels, colored pencils, charcoal, ink, and marker. Collages, lithographs, silkscreens, block prints, photographs, and computer-generated artwork have all been chosen in the national competition.

Each entry must be original in concept, design, and execution and may not violate any U.S. copyright laws. Any entry that has been reproduced from a photo, painting, graphic, advertisement, or any other work produced by another person will be disqualified.

The artwork cannot weigh more than 15 lbs nor be larger than 28 inches high by 28 inches wide by 4 inches deep.

Guidelines and student release forms are available at http://sablan.house.gov/serving-you/art-competition

The deadline for submissions is Friday, April 12, 2013. Entries should be delivered or mailed to one of the congressional district offices on Saipan, Rota or Tinian, which are open Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm. The Saipan office is also open on Saturday from 8am to noon.

For further information, contact Michelle Tenorio at the Washington, DC office (michelle.tenorio@mail.house.gov, phone toll free: (877) 446-3465), Paula Bermudes at the Saipan office (paula.bermudes@mail.house.gov, phone: (670) 323-2647/8), Harry Masga at the Rota office (harry.masga@mail.house.gov, phone: (670) 532-2647), or Jose Kiyoshi at the Tinian office (jose.kiyoshi@mail.house.gov, phone (670) 433-2647). (PR)