(Washington, DC)  --  U.S. Rep. Steven C. LaTourette (R-Concord) today announced that the 14th Congressional District will be participating in “An Artistic Discovery,” the congressional high school art competition.

 LaTourette said the annual contest provides an excellent opportunity to recognize the rich artistic talent of our nation’s high school students.  More than 200 congressional offices have participated in this contest in the past.  The most recent winning entry from LaTourette’s district was a painting called “Smug” by Kenneth Jasinski, who was a senior at Aurora High School last year.

 “Any high school student from my district is free to submit an entry to this contest, and you don’t have to be in an art class to participate,” LaTourette said. “If you have artistic ability, this is a wonderful opportunity to have your work recognized.”

 LaTourette said the winning entry will be displayed in a corridor of the U.S. Capitol, and the student with the winning entry will receive an invitation to attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Washington on June 14, 2005.   The second place entry will be displayed in LaTourette’s Washington, DC office and the third place entry will be displayed in his District Office

 LaTourette said the contest is open to high school students who reside in the 14th Congressional District only.   All completed, framed artwork must be submitted to LaTourette’s District Office at 1 Victoria Place, Room 320, Painesville, by May 5, 2005.  Artwork can also be dropped off at LaTourette’s Twinsburg office:  Twinsburg Government Center, 10075 Ravenna Road.  Submitted artwork will be displayed in a show at Lakeland Community College that begins on May 6, 2005.

 Students should call the office at 800-447-0529 to make arrangements before dropping off their entries.  It will be the responsibility of the school or student to retrieve their artwork after the competition is completed.

 The competition is open only to high school students, but exceptions can be made for schools that have grades 7-12 in one building.  Artwork must be two-dimensional (no masks, sculptures, etc.), no larger than 32 by 32 inches framed, and no more than four inches in depth.  The following mediums are accepted: paintings -- oil, watercolors, acrylics, etc.; drawings -- pastels, colored pencil, pencil, charcoal, ink, markers, etc.; collages -- must be 2 dimensional; prints -- lithographs, silk screens, monotypes, woodcuts, and intaglio methods; mixed media; computer graphics; and photography.

 In addition, all artwork must be original.  Any entry which has been reproduced from an existing photo, painting, or any other work is a violation of contest rules and will not be permitted.  LaTourette said any submitted artwork must include the name and school of the entrant, and these should not be visible for judging.  All artwork will be judged by an art instructor from Lakeland Community College.

 Students or teachers should contact Joe Jarabek of LaTourette’s staff at 800-447-0529 if they have any questions or need copies of entry forms or contest rules.