Artworks by three Mount Madonna School (MMS) seventh grade students – Ruby Bracher, Sienna Clifton and Sydney Ota – were selected for inclusion in “An Artistic Discovery,” the 2013 Congressional Competition held earlier this week in Watsonville, and organized by District 20 Congressman Sam Farr (D-Carmel).
“It’s a source of pride to have our students’ work on display in this art discovery competition,” commented MMS middle school art teacher and local Santa Cruz artist Sandy Shaw. “MMS has talented students with amazing passion for creating art. I want to support them in having their work out there publicly and getting them the recognition and praise that is so well deserved.”
The three selected artworks are: I Can Breathe Glitter Now, pencil and glitter on paper, Bracher; The Dead Flower, watercolor and Sharpie on paper, Clifton; and My Hand, pencil drawing on paper, Ota.
Each U.S. Congressional district has the option of holding a competition and choosing one winning entry to be exhibited along with others students’ work in the halls of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
“I want to challenge Central Coast students to join youth across the country in opening their creative minds and discovering their artistic talents,” said Congressman Farr. “I am proud to play a role in this important competition and I strongly believe that art allows students to think outside the box to solve problems and fosters creativity. The arts are an integral part of our nation’s cultural fabric.”
The Congressional Art Competition was open to all local high school students in the 20th Congressional District (as well as 7th and 8th graders from schools with both middle and high programs). A total of 22 entries were submitted from 8 schools from the Central Coast. The entries were judged by Tobin Keller, Instructor of Art, Gallery Director and Co-Chair Program at Cabrillo College.
The Artistic Discovery competition encourages and recognizes the rich artistic talents of young Americans. Students are allowed to submit various styles and types of art, ranging from paintings and drawings to photography and mixed media pieces. The winners are determined using criteria based on originality, skill of execution, excellence in use of materials and conceptual strength of the project.
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 nationwide competition.
All of MMS’ middle school students studied art with Shaw this year, utilizing a curriculum rich in fine art subject matter and techniques. In addition to exploring an array of mediums, Shaw encourages each student to grow individually through their own personal art pieces.
“It’s a pleasure teaching art to all of the MMS middle school students,” said Shaw. “I’m happy to give them a place where they can freely express their creativity, while supporting their individual growth and technique. There are a lot of students interested in pursuing careers in fine art – whether architecture, graphic design, painting, or something else – and it all begins with getting their art out there and having it seen.”
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Contact: Leigh Ann Clifton, Media & Public Relations,
Nestled among the redwoods on 355 mountaintop acres, Mount Madonna is a safe and nurturing college-preparatory school that supports students in becoming caring, self-aware and articulate critical thinkers, who are prepared to meet challenges with perseverance, creativity and integrity. The CAIS and WASC accredited program emphasizes academic excellence, creative self-expression and positive character development. Located on