As a proud member of the Congressional Arts Caucus, I have the opportunity to participate in the Annual Congressional Art Competition. This contest provides a wonderful opportunity for our community to acknowledge our gifted young artists and to showcase the creativity of the talented students from the South and Central Coasts.

Every spring, I invite high school students from the 23rd Congressional District to enter a piece of art work for the Congressional Art Competition. Once a winner is chosen, he or she is invited to Washington D.C. for a ceremony and his or her winning piece is proudly displayed in the Cannon Tunnel of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, DC for an entire year.

2010 Important Dates

Friday April 30th - Artwork turned in to congressional district offices by 5:00 pm

If you, or a young artist you know, would like to participate in An Artistic Discovery 2010, please:

• Review the Congressional Art Competition information for specific entry details.
• Complete the student release form, which must accompany all art entries.
• Deliver all entries to the district office closest to you by the appropriate deadline.

Santa Barbara      p. (805) 730-1710          301 E. Carrillo Street, Ste. A Santa Barbara, CA 9310
San Luis Obispo   p. (805) 546-8348         1411 Marsh Street, Ste. 205 San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Port Hueneme      p. (805) 985-6807         2675 N. Ventura Road Ste. # 105 Port Hueneme, CA 93041

Art Competition Staffers: Ms. Brenna Barber, who can be reached at (202) 225-3601 and Ms. Tasha Zuzalek, who can be reached at: tasha[dot]zuzalek[at]mail[dot]house[dot]gov

2010 Congressional Art Competition Guidelines

General Guidelines

• The competition is open to high school students only.
• Artwork must be two dimensional.
• Each piece can be no larger than 28”x28”x 4” (28 inches high, 28 inches wide, and 4 inches deep) including the frame. Artwork cannot weigh more than 15 lbs.
• Each entry must be original in concept, design, and execution and may not violate any U.S. copyright laws. Any entry that has been copied from an existing photo (not the student’s own), painting, graphic, advertisement, or any other work produced by another person is a violation of the competition rules and will not be accepted. Work entered must be in the original medium (that is, not a scanned reproduction of a painting or drawing).
• Artwork will hang in the Capitol for the entire year of the exhibition and cannot be returned to the students earlier. Students should, therefore, submit artwork they will not need for other purposes.
• Artwork accepted mediums are as follows:
o Paintings: oil, acrylics, watercolor, etc.
o Drawings: pastels, colored pencil, pencil, charcoal, ink, markers
o Collage: must be two dimensional
o Prints: lithographs, silkscreen, block prints
o Mixed Media: use of more than two mediums such as pencil, ink, watercolor, etc.
o Computer-generated art
o Photography

• A typed and securely affixed large label must be applied to the back of each piece.
See example:

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

- The final decision regarding the suitability of all artwork for the 2010 Congressional Art
Competition exhibition in the Capitol will be made by a panel. 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. Artwork not in consonance with this policy will be omitted from the exhibit.

Framing Guidelines
Framing guidelines apply only to the ONE winning artist/artwork that will be sent to Washington, DC.

• All artwork must be framed. Frames should be kept as simple and sturdy as possible.
• Metal frames are recommended. No “snap on” frames with glass are to be used.
• All artwork must be protected by Plexiglas.
• All works, including frame, should be no larger than 28 inches high, 28 inches wide, and 4 inches deep, to the outside of the frame, and 15 lbs. in weight. Please double check the size before sending the entry to Washington, DC. Due to wide participation of Member offices, framed work larger than the specified dimensions will be turned away.
• Matting can enhance or detract from a work of art and should be carefully prepared.
• Use sturdy picture hangers on the back of the frame. Two sturdy eye hooks should be attached at the top right and left sides of the back of the work for hanging in order to prevent the work from leaning forward or hanging unevenly. Do not put wire between the hooks for hanging; these will be added when the artwork is hung in the Capitol.
• Do not attach labels, ribbons, etc. to the front of the piece.
• If the artwork is abstract in design, please indicate on the backside which side is “up” with arrows.
• Each district winner is responsible for framing his or her own entry. Works cannot be framed by the Architect of the Capitol.
• A typed copy of the Student Information & Release Form must be securely attached to the back of the artwork.
• Each work must have a label with the following information securely applied to the back: Student's Name, Address, Phone Number, Title, Medium, Member's Name: Rep. Lois Capps, State and District: California - 23.
 

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