Rep. Johnson Announces Student Winners of Congressional Art Competition
Washington, D.C. – Today U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) announced Emily Hughes, from Pierre, as the winner of the 2019 Congressional Art Competition for South Dakota. Hughes won for her acrylic on vinyl painting, “Koi,” which depicts a swimming koi fish painted on a vinyl record. Hughes is a junior at T.F. Riggs High School. Her art teacher is Jill Kokesh. The artwork will hang in the Cannon Tunnel, which runs from the U.S. House of Representatives to the U.S. Capitol, along with the winning artwork from other congressional districts for the next year.
Artwork by Emily Hughes from T.F. Riggs High School in Pierre
Second-place was awarded to Ashley Geraets, a senior at Roosevelt High School in Sioux Falls, taught by Lisa Dresch. Geraets’ artwork, “Ushinawareta Umi (Lost Ocean),” will be displayed in Rep. Johnson’s Washington, D.C. office for the next year.
“I want to congratulate both Emily and Ashley on their accomplishments as artists,” said Johnson. “Even though they are young artists, their work shows a skill level and maturity beyond their years. I’m excited and proud to display this student artwork in Washington, D.C., as a representation of the great student artists in South Dakota and the benefits afforded students through quality arts education programs in our schools.”
Artwork by Ashley Geraets from Roosevelt High School in Sioux Falls
The Congressional Art Competition is sponsored by Rep. Johnson’s office in partnership with the South Dakota Arts Council. The Congressional Art Competition began in 1982, providing members of Congress with an opportunity to recognize talent in their home districts.
The South Dakota Arts Council, an office of the South Dakota Department of Tourism, is a state agency serving South Dakotans and their communities through the arts with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts and the State of South Dakota.
The artwork can be viewed at www.artscouncil.sd.gov/CAC/index.aspx.
Great idea and some good submissions!