May 3, 2010

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Jerry McNerney (CA-11) today announced that Winnie Chang won the 11^th District Congressional Art Competition.  Ms. Chang, a sophomore at California High School in San Ramon, won for her oil painting entitled “Oh California Poppies! - Our State Flower.”  She was also the second place winner in last year’s Congressional Art Competition.

“The Art Competition is a great opportunity for talented high school students in our community to showcase their work in an art gallery and meet other young artists from the area,” said Rep. McNerney.  “I'm always impressed by the talent and creativity of our students, and this year was no exception.  My congratulations to all the students who participated and especially to the winner of this year's competition, Winnie Chang.  I look forward to seeing her piece hang in the U.S. Capitol.”

The 11^th District Congressional Art Competition was held on Saturday at the Grand Theatre Center for the Arts in Tracy.  The competition is part of the nationwide annual Congressional Art Competition intended to showcase the artistic talents and abilities of students in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. territories.  Each Member of Congress hosts a competition among high school students in his or her district. The winning art entry from each Congressional district is then displayed in the Capitol for one year. 

As the winning piece, “Oh California Poppies! - Our State Flower” will hang in the busy corridor that connects the Cannon House Office Building with the U.S. Capitol, used daily by Members of Congress and visitors to Washington, D.C.  In addition, Winnie Chang will be flown, with a guest, to Washington, D.C., to attend an awards ceremony on June 17, 2010.

Second place winner was Nari Kim of Pleasanton and a junior at Foothill High School for her pastel painting entitled “Moood.”  Caroline Kim, also of Pleasanton and a junior at Foothill High School, took third place for her acrylic painting entitled “American Hero at Haiti.”

Honorable mentions were awarded to Youjin An, of Dublin and a sophomore at Dublin High School, for a watercolor painting entitled “Mister Rooster” and to Julia Ye Rim Park, of Pleasanton and a junior at Amador Valley High School, for a watercolor painting entitled “Fairyland With Horses.”

A distinguished panel of judges from the 11^th District selected the winning entry.  The panel was comprised of the following people:

• Michael Hays, Member, Tracy Arts Commission
• Lucinda Kasser, Associate Professor, Department of Visual Arts, University of the Pacific
• Tricia Leonard, Pleasanton Artist
• Amy Whelan, Member, Morgan Hill Library, Arts and Culture Commission