Jessica Zevalkink will have her artwork displayed on Capitol Hill

      Congressman Vernon J. Ehlers, R-Grand Rapids, presented the award to the 17-year-old East Grand Rapids junior in a ceremony held at the Gerald R. Ford Museum in Grand Rapids. Zevalkink’s oil-on-canvass painting of a father and daughter sailing was judged the best of the entrants by a panel of judges.

      Sixty-four students from 17 different high schools in the Third Congressional District submitted entries, which were adjudicated by a committee representing the sponsors of the competition – the Grand Rapids Art Museum, Kendall College of Art & Design of Ferris State University, the Kent Intermediate School District, Art Works, the Arts Council of Greater Grand Rapids. All the entries were on display during the week preceding the congressman’s public meetings held at the museum Saturday.

      “The variety and quality of the artwork submitted to this year’s competition was commendable,” Ehlers said. “It is clear that the judges had a difficult time choosing a winner because there were so many terrific entries.”

      Zevalkink and a companion will be flown to Washington to participate in the June 28 opening of the 2006 Congressional Arts Competition exhibit, where approximately 300 pieces of student art from around the country will be on display in a corridor that connects the U.S. Capitol and the Cannon House Office Building. The travel is provided courtesy Travel by Gagnon travel agency of Grand Rapids and Midwest Airlines.

      Five other pieces of art were also recognized by the committee:

·         The Grand Rapids Art Museum Award: Lexi Reed, a Caledonia High School senior, for her photograph of her sister, titled “Francesca Running;”

·         The KISD Award: Jesse Kidwell, a senior at Caledonia High School, for his oil & spray paint on wood panel titled, “Avian Evasion;”

• The Kendall College of Art & Design Award: Krista Pomorski, a senior at Kelloggsville High School, for her acrylic paint on canvas stretched and primed with gesso titled, “Been There – National Cathedral, Washington DC;”

·         The Art Works Award: Vi Nguyen, a senior at Wyoming Park High School, for her batik of a flamenco dancer titled, “Dancing Girl;”

·         The Arts Council of Greater Grand Rapids Award: Brittanee Kane, a freshman at East Kentwood High School, for her soft pastel landscape titled, “Essence of Autumn.”