Grace Yoon's Painting To Be Displayed In The Capitol Over The Next Year

NEW YORK - Congressman Charles B. Rangel joined local arts leaders, students and parents as he announced this year's winner of the 15th Congressional District's Congressional Arts Competition.

Grace Yoon of the Trinity School will next travel with her parents to Washington, D.C., where she will participate in a national reception that will bring together winners from all congressional districts throughout the country. Her piece, "Cat's Cradle," will then hang in the U.S. Capitol for the next year.

"It takes a lot of courage and effort to submit your artwork to be displayed in our nation's capital, where millions of tourists visit each year.  I hope that all of you are as proud of your work, as I am of you today," said Rangel. "This is just a taste of the talent in our neighborhood, talent that deserves to be nurtured, and that deserves to succeed."

The Congressional Art Competition is part of the nationwide effort hosted by members of the U.S. House of Representatives to display the artistic talents and abilities of students in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. territories. Last year, Datuawn Frazier of the Choir Academy and his piece "The Truth Beneath the Sea," was selected as the local winner.

This year's winner was chosen among seven finalists after letters were sent out to local high schools soliciting artwork. The pieces were judged by a group of local arts community leaders that included:  Greg Mills, Curator of the Adam Clayon Powell Jr. State Office Building Art Gallery, Dr. Marta Moreno-Vega of the Caribbean Culture Center; Voza River of The Dwyer Center, Dr. Jorge Pina- Culturarte Center, Michael Unthank of the Harlem Arts Alliance, Rocio Alvarado of El Musio del Barrio, Thelma Golden of the Studio Museum of Harlem and Thomas Lunke of the Harlem Community Development Corporation.

The artwork of the finalists were on public display in May in the Second Floor Art Gallery of the Adam Clayton Powell State Office Building. This year's artwork and that of last year's winner will also be on display later thsi week on Congressman Rangel's website at http://rangel.house.gov.

"The arts play a crucial role our community, both as a form of expression and as an economic engine that creates jobs and entrepreneurs," said Rangel. "We must find a way to support arts programs both in and out of schools so that our students can express their creativity and become visionary leaders that they are meant to be."

The Congressional Art Competition began in 1982 as an opportunity for Members of Congress to encourage and recognize the artistic talents of students in their districts.  Since then, over 650,000 high school students have participated in the nationwide competition.  One piece from each congressional district is selected to displayed for a period of one year.