Congressman Buck McKeon is on an artistic quest, looking for student artists to submit their entries for the annual Congressional Art Competition to represent the 25th District. High school students who live in the district are encouraged to create a two-dimensional work in the theme “An Artistic Discovery.” The 25th District winner’s work will be on display along with student artwork from across the country in the U.S. Capitol Building.

Each spring, a nation-wide high school arts competition is sponsored by the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives. The Congressional Art Competition is an opportunity to recognize and encourage the artistic talent in the nation, as well as in each congressional district.

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 nation-wide competition.

The winning entry will be displayed for one year in the Cannon Tunnel, leading to the U.S. Capitol. Each winning student will be invited, along with one guest, to the unveiling of the exhibit and a reception for all winners in June. Two round trip tickets will be provided to the winning student.

Interested students should submit their artwork along with a copy of the Student Release to:

Congressman Howard P. “Buck” McKeon 25th District Art Competition –

Attention Margie Anne Clark and Suzette Woodruff

26650 The Old Road

Suite 203

Santa Clarita, CA 91381

Phone: 661-254-2111

Fax: 661-254-2380

2010 Congressional Art Competition Guidelines

The competition is open to high school students only. Students must be residents in the 25th Congressional District in California. In order to allow artwork to hang in the Cannon Tunnel to the U.S. Capitol, the following restrictions are enforced:

All artwork must be framed according to the appropriate framing guidelines, listed below.

Artwork must be two dimensional

Each piece can be no larger than 28″ x 28″ x 4″ (28 inches high, 28 inches wide, and 4 inches deep) including the frame. Artwork cannot weigh more than 15 lbs.

Each entry must be original in concept, design, and execution and may not violate any U.S. copyright laws. Any entry that has been copied from an existing photo (not the student’s own), painting, graphic, advertisement, or any other work produced by another person is a violation of the competition rules and will not be accepted. Work entered must be in the original medium (that is, not a scanned reproduction of a painting or drawing).

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

Artwork accepted mediums are as follows:

Paintings: oil, acrylics, watercolor, etc.

Drawings: pastels, colored pencil, pencil, charcoal, ink, markers

Collage: must be two dimensional

Prints: lithographs, silkscreen, block prints

Mixed Media: use of more than two mediums such as pencil, ink, watercolor, etc.

Computer-generated art

Photography

A typed and securely affixed large label must be applied to the back of each piece.

A TYPED copy of the Student Release Form (available here), signed by both the teacher and the student, must be attached to the back of the artwork to certify the originality of the piece.

The final decision regarding the suitability of all artwork for the 2010 Congressional Art Competition exhibition in the Capitol will be made by a panel of qualified persons chaired by the Architect of the Capitol. Artwork must adhere to the policy of the House Office Building Commission. In accordance with this policy, exhibits depicting subjects of contemporary political controversy or a sensationalistic or gruesome nature are not allowed. It is necessary that all artwork be reviewed by the panel chaired by the Architect of the Capitol and any portion not in consonance with the Commission’s policy will be omitted from the exhibit.

Framing Guidelines:

Framing guidelines apply only to the ONE winning artist/artwork that will be sent to Washington, DC.  All artwork must be framed. Frames should be kept as simple and sturdy as possible. Metal frames are recommended. No “snap on” frames with glass are to be used.

All artwork must be protected by Plexiglas or glass. Plexiglas is preferred. If glass is used, special packing and shipping arrangements are encouraged to ensure that the work is not damaged if the glass breaks.

All works, including frame, should be no larger than 28 inches high, 28 inches wide, and 4 inches deep, to the outside of the frame, and 15 lbs. in weight.

Matting can enhance or detract from a work of art and should be carefully prepared.

Use sturdy picture hangers on the back of the frame. Two sturdy eye hooks should be attached at the top right and left sides of the back of the work for hanging in order to prevent the work from leaning forward or hanging unevenly.

Do not put wire between the hooks for hanging; these will be added when the artwork is hung in the Capitol.

Do not attach labels, ribbons, etc. to the front of the piece or underneath the glass or Plexiglas.

If the artwork is abstract in design, please indicate on the backside which side is “up” with arrows.

A typed copy of the Student Information & Release Form must be securely attached to the back of the artwork.

Each work must have a label with this information securely applied to the back:

Student Name Address Phone No:

Title:

Medium:

Member’s Name: Congressman Howard P. “Buck” McKeon

State and District: California, 25th District