2010 Congressional Art Competition

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As your U.S. Representative, I am proud to sponsor the 6th Annual Third Congressional District Art Competition for talented high school student artists in south Louisiana. I encourage all our young artists to submit their best artwork for the chance to represent our state in the national art exhibit, "An Artistic Discovery."

The Third Congressional District Art Competition is part of a nationwide event, voluntarily sponsored by Members of Congress, to provide young student artists with the opportunity to showcase their work locally, as well as the chance to be recognized at the national level for their artistic achievement.

The Grand Prize-winning artwork from the Third Congressional District will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year, along with other winning entries from across the country. The Grand Prize winner from the Third Congressional District also will receive a renewable $5,000 scholarship to the Savannah College of Art and Design and will be flown, with a guest, to attend an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. in June 2010.

The second and third place winners will have their artwork displayed in my office over the next year for visitors to appreciate.

Rep. Melancon with 2009 Grand Prize winner Kimberly Lasseigne of South Lafourche High School.

3rd district art competition winner.jpg

2009 Grand Prize Winner of the Third Congressional District Art Competition, created by Kimberly Lasseigne of Lafourche Parish. This colored pencil drawing was inspired by photographs Kimberly took at Monet's Garden while studying in France.

The Grand Prize winner of the 2009 Third Congressional District Art Competition was Kimberly Lasseigne, a student at South Lafourche High School in Lafourche Parish. Her colored pencil drawing of flowers has represented Louisiana's Third Congressional District in the U.S. Capitol art exhibit since last June.

Kimberly's artwork has been viewed for the past year by thousands of visitors to the Capitol and showcases the imagination and innovation of our student artists in Louisiana. She should be very proud of her significant accomplishment and I thank her for sharing her talent with us.

My district staff will host the final judging of the competition on Saturday, May 15, 2010, at the Terrebonne Parish Main Library located at 151 Library Drive in Houma, Louisiana. The judging will occur from 10:30-11:00 a.m., followed by a public viewing and awards presentation from 11:00-1:30 p.m. All entries must be submitted to one of my four district offices by the close of business on Friday, May 7, 2010.

I encourage all of our talented young artists in south Louisiana to participate and share their creativity.

Congressman Charlie Melancon

Click Here for the Student Information and Release Form

2010 ART COMPETITION GUIDELINES

General Guidelines
• The competition is open to high school students only. Each student will have the opportunity to enter one piece of art work into the Congressional art Competition

• Official resources are to be used only to the extent authorized by the Committee on House Administration and the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct.

• In order to allow an artwork to hang in the Cannon Tunnel of the U.S. Capitol, the following restrictions are necessary:
       * Piece must be two-dimensional
       * Each piece can be no larger than 30 inches by 30 inches to the outside dimensions of the frame
       * No more then 4 inches in depth
       * Artwork must arrive in Washington by the time specified and framed to the appropriate framing guidelines (see below)

• Artwork will hang in the Capitol for the entire year of the exhibition and cannot be returned to students earlier. Students, therefore, should submit artwork they will not need for other purposes.

• Artwork categories are as follows:
          * Paintings: oil, acrylics, watercolor, etc.
          * Drawings: pastels, colored pencil, pencil, charcoal, ink, markers,
         * Collage: must be two dimensional
          * Prints; lithographs, silkscreen, block prints
        * Mixed Media: use of more than two mediums such as pencil, ink, etc.
          * Computer generated art
          * Photography

• A copy of the typed Student Release form, signed by both the teacher and the student, must be attached to the artwork to certify the originality of the piece.

• Each entry must be an original in concept, design, and execution and may not violate any U.S. copyright laws.
Note: any entry which has been reproduced from an existing photo, painting, graphic, advertisement or any other work produced by another person is a violation of the competition rules and will not be accepted.

• The final decision regarding the suitability of all artwork for the exhibition in the Capitol will be made by panel of qualified persons chaired by the Architect of the Capitol.

Framing Guidelines
• Entries must be framed to be hung in the Art Competition.

• All artwork, except for oil paintings, must be protected by a Plexiglas or glass frame.

• All artworks, when framed, should be no larger than 30 inches high, 30 inches wide, and 4 inches deep including the outside dimensions of the frame. Please double check size before sending the entry to Washington. Due to wide participation of Member offices, framed work larger than the specified dimensions will be turned away.

• Frames should be kept as simple and sturdy as possible. Metal frames are recommended.

• No "snap on" frames with glass are to be used

• Plexiglas is better to use than glass over the artwork in order to avoid breakage. If glass is used, cover the entire surface completely with masking type prior to shipping.

• Matting can enhance or detract from a work of art and should be carefully prepared.

• Use sturdy picture hangers. Two hooks should be attached at the right and the left sides of the back of the work in order to prevent the work from leaning forward or hanging unevenly.

• Since frames will be suspended by wire from overhead molding, please do not put wire between hooks.

• Do not attach labels, ribbon, etc. to the front of the piece or underneath the glass or Plexiglas.

• If the artwork is abstract in design, please indicate on the back side which side is up with arrows.

• As directed by the House Oversight and standards of Official Conduct committees, each winner is responsible for framing his or her own entry. Any hardship cases should be assisted at the district level; works can no longer be framed by the Architect of the Capitol.

• A copy of the typed Student Release form must be attached to the back of the artwork along with an adhesive label as shown.

• Please use the largest label you have available.

Adhesive label (label information should be typed)
  Member Name:
  State and District:
  Title of Piece:
  Medium:
  Student Name:
  Student Address and Phone Number:
(Congressman Melancon's office will supply this for the winning piece)

Drop Off Locations
• All entries must be turned into the Congressional office no later then the close of business on Friday, May 7th, 2010.

Houma Congressional Office
423 Lafayette St., Ste. 107, Houma LA 70360

Chalmette Congressional Office
8201 W. Judge Perez Drive, Chalmette, LA 70043

New Iberia Congressional Office
124 E. Main St., Ste. 220-A, New Iberia, LA 70560

Gonzales Congressional Office
1201 S. Purpera Ave. Ste. 601, Gonzales, LA 70737

Prizes To Be Awarded
• The Grand Prize winner receives a renewable $5,000 per year scholarship to the Savannah College of Art and Design.
• The Grand Prize art work will be displayed in the Cannon Tunnel at the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, DC in the Cannon Caucus Room.
• The Grand Prize winner and one guest will be invited to attend the reception in Washington, DC.
• Two complimentary airline tickets to Washington, DC.
• Any additional cost to attend the awards ceremony in DC will be the responsibility of the winner

• Other prizes to be awarded:
* The Second Place and Third Place winning entries will hang in Congressman Melancon's office for one year.
* Honorable mentions will be acknowledged and each entrant will receive a Certificate of Congressional Recognition from the Congressman for participating.

Suitability Guidelines
• As outlined in this guideline, the final decision regarding suitability for exhibition in the Capitol is left to a panel of qualified persons chaired by the Architect of the Capitol. While it is not the intent to censor any artwork, we do which to avoid artwork that is potentially inappropriate for display in the Capitol.

• Artwork must adhere to the policy of the House Office Building Commission. In accordance with this policy, exhibits depicting subjects of contemporary political controversy or a sensationalistic or gruesome nature are not allowed. It is necessary that all artwork be reviewed by the panel chaired by the Architect of the Capitol and any portions not in consonance with the Commission's policy will be omitted form the exhibit.

Artwork Pickup:
• Entries not picked up will be taken back to the Gonzales Congressional Office.

If you are interested in participating in this competition or have any questions, please contact Renee Buchanon at my Gonzales Office at (225) 621-8490.

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Washington D.C. Office
404 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
ph: (202) 225-4031
fx: (202) 226-3944

Houma (985) 876-3033
Chalmette (504) 271-1707
Gonzales (225) 621-8490
New Iberia (337) 367-8231

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