Young ladies and gentleman, gesso that canvas, start your paintbrushes, and prepare to make an artistic discovery for the Congressional Art Competition 2012.

(2011 Winner “Kayla’s Dream” by Tyler Recchia)

Congressman Howard P. “Buck” McKeon is inviting high school aged students in the 25th Congressional District to participate in the 2012 Congressional Art Competition: An Artistic Discovery.

Sponsored by the U.S. House of Representatives, each congressional district across the nation hosts a district-wide art competition to encourage student participation in the arts and to choose a winning piece of artwork from that district to hang in the Cannon Tunnel of the U.S. Capitol in June.

Local sponsors for the display and judging of the artwork include KHTS AM 1220 and FASTFRAME, located at 24204 Valencia Boulevard on Wednesday May 9, 2012. The winner and runners up will be chosen by a judging committee.   Participants and their families as well as teachers are encouraged to attend.

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Eligibility

• All high school age students who are residents in the 25th Congressional district are eligible to enter.

• Students must be currently enrolled in high school, or equivalent alternative, vocational, or private school.

• Participants must be residents of the 25th Congressional District

• Artwork must be two-dimensional – no sculpture – but can be in virtually any medium, including paintings, drawings, collage, prints, mixed media, computer-generated, and photography.

• The artwork must be no larger than 28” by 28” to the outside dimensions of the frame, and no more than 4” in depth. Please note that the work, including frame cannot weigh more than fifteen (15) pounds. Work must be suitable to hang in the Capitol, but the decision about this suitability is made by the Capitol Architect. In accordance with this policy, exhibits depicting subjects of contemporary political controversy or a sensationalistic or gruesome nature are not allowed.

• The artwork must be original in design, concept and execution – the student and teacher must sign a form attesting to this originality. Student entrants must also sign a release form, which gives the Capitol permission to reproduce their work in conjunction with promotion of the art competition.

• Artwork will hang in the Capitol for the entire year of the exhibition and cannot be returned to students earlier, Students should therefore submit artwork they will not need for other purposes.

Submissions

All works must be accompanied by a Student Information and Release Form and an art entry label taped to the back of the work. Submissions should also be ready and able to hang (That means mounted or framed, or in some condition to be placed on a wall). Framing is not necessary for submission, but the winning work will eventually need to be framed. Students will be able to pick up their artwork after the show’s completion.

McKeon’s office suggests that at least five pieces of artwork be submitted by each high school.  In addition to having their artwork sent to hang in D.C., the winner is invited to attend a reception and ribbon-cutting ceremony in June.

Entries are due on May 4, 2012 and may be submitted at Congressman McKeon’s Santa Clarita District Office at 26650 The Old Road, Suite 203 or at Congressman McKeon’s Palmdale district office at 1008 W. Ave M-14 Suite E-1, Palmdale, CA 93551.

If you have any questions or concerns contact Congressman McKeon’s  Santa Clarita District office at (661) 254-2111.