Washington, D.C. Representative Jane Harman (D-Venice) recently hosted a reception to announce the local winners of the 2008 Congressional Art Competition.  The event was held at the Manhattan Beach Creative Arts Centers and celebrated the theme “All You Need is Art” -- a play on the Beatles’ song title.    

“I am thrilled with this year’s batch of paintings and photographs,” said Harman.  “The amazing talent of South Bay students is a huge point of pride.”

 An Artistic Discovery is a national annual art competition sponsored by Members of Congress.  The competition – first launched in 1982 – has attracted hundreds of thousands of talented high school students who submit artwork in the “Fine Art” and “Photography” categories. 

To a full room of student artists, their teachers, proud parents and art lovers, Harman announced the three winners from each category and a Grand Prize winner, who with his family and arts teacher, receives round-trip airfare to Washington, D.C., a cash prize, and will have their artwork displayed in the Cannon Tunnel, a walkway leading to the U.S. Capitol, for the next year. 

Winners from the “Fine Art” category are Francis Kang, Torrance West HS (1st place); Michelle Ahn, Torrance South HS (2nd); and Danbee Ha, Torrance West HS (3rd).  Winners from the “Photography” category are Laura Pavlakovich, Torrance HS (1st); Zohra Sultany, Torrance HS (2nd); and Sofia Vigilante, Redondo Union HS (3rd).  This year’s overall winner is Ji Yong Kim, from Torrance West HS, for his painting titled “Palette of Art.”  All entrants received a Certificate of Congressional Commendation. 

“I look forward to welcoming Ji Jong Kim to the Capitol this month and to seeing his work on display every day for the next year,” said Harman.

 
Above: Congresswoman Jane Harman with overall winner, Ji Yong Kim, and his painting, “Palette of Art.” “Going to Washington, D.C. and seeing my painting on the wall is such an honor,” said Kim. (Left to right: MBUSD Superintendent Beverly Rohrer, Torrance West art teacher, Mary Lang, Ji Yong Kim, Congresswoman Jane Harman, MB Councilman Jim Aldinger)

Above: Congresswoman Jane Harman with “Fine Art” category winner, Francis Kang, and his painting “Aesthetic Embrace.”  (Left to right: MBUSD Superintendent Beverly Rohrer, Francis Kang, Congresswoman Jane Harman, MB Councilman Jim Aldinger)

 

Above: Congresswoman Jane Harman with “Photography” category winner, Laura Pavlakovich, with her photograph “What is There to See.” (Left to right: MBUSD Superintendent Beverly Rohrer, Torrance art teacher, Linsey Latimer, Laura Pavlakovich, Congresswoman Jane Harman, and MB Councilman Jim Aldinger)