HOWELL, Mich. – U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (MI-08) held a special reception on Thursday, May 26 at the Historic Howell Opera House to celebrate participants in the 2022 Congressional High School Art Competition and to announce this year’s winners. This year, entries came from 61 students at 18 different high schools across the 8th district.
After evaluating the record number of entries, this year’s judges selected “Support,” by Lansing Catholic High School student Ella Farlin, as the winning piece. The acrylic and colored pencil work depicts a homeless man sitting on the street with his two dogs, which Farlin said symbolizes how animals will stay by one's side, regardless of situation or social status. Farlin’s teacher, Ron Krauss, was himself a winner of the Congressional High School Art Competition when he was a student.
Surrounded by the student artists, teachers, judges, and family members, families, friends, and school and community leaders, Rep. Slotkin offered praise for the winning piece and her gratitude for all who entered.
“The next time Ella sees her artwork, it will be hanging in the U.S. Capitol building alongside some of the finest student artwork from across the country,” Slotkin said. “I am so proud of the depth of talent and range of expression we saw in this year’s competition, where many students tackled challenging social and emotional issues through their artwork. It’s not easy to put a piece of yourself into the world to be judged, and these student artists all displayed tremendous courage.”
Farlin, a member of the class of 2022 of Lansing Catholic High School, will attend a national reception later this year in Washington, D.C. along with all of the 2022 winning artists from across the country. She plans to enroll at Lansing Community College in the fall.
The judges also selected several honorable mention pieces. The second place piece, “Running out of Time” by Brighton High School student Annika Geyer, will be showcased in the Congresswoman’s Washington, D.C. office, while the third place piece, “Angel del Cielo” by Williamston High School student Claire Daniels, will hang in her Lansing district office. The pieces selected as 4th and 5th place will hang in the visitors’ area of her district office. The 4th place piece is “Unknown Z” by Alberto Naccarato of Lansing Catholic High School, and the 5th place piece is “Lassitude” by Abigail Rose Richardson from Williamston High School.
The Congressional Art Competition, sponsored by the Congressional Institute, was initiated by Congress in 1982 to provide an opportunity for members of Congress to encourage and recognize the artistic talents of young people living in their districts. More than 650,000 students have participated in the competition.
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