DENVER – U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) announced today that Alden Weissfeld, a Thomas Jefferson High School junior, won the 2009 First Congressional District Arts Competition.  As part of the award, Mr. Weissfeld’s, “An Old Time,” painting, will be displayed in the Cannon Tunnel of the United States Capitol in Washington, DC.  He will also accompany Rep. DeGette to a special reception this summer in the nation’s capital.

“I am pleased to award Alden the Best of Show Award and the honor of having his work displayed in the U.S. Capitol,” said DeGette. “I am incredibly impressed with the quality of art from our talented students in this year’s competition. I am very proud of all of our student artists and our Denver area high school’s art education programs.”

The First District Congressional Arts Competition is part of a nationwide program, entitled An Artistic Discovery, in which Members of Congress raise awareness of the importance of art education by recognizing outstanding artistic students from their Congressional districts. This year 42 high school students from the First District submitted artworks for the competition.

“The Art Institute of Colorado has hosted this art show for the past eight years and I am thrilled to see how this show continues to get larger with remarkable talent.  On behalf of the school, we are pleased to reward these efforts today by giving $18,000 in scholarships to the top winners of the competition. Our Best of Show winner, Alden Weissfeld will receive a $5,000 scholarship to The Art Institute, ” said Art Institute of Colorado President, David Zorn.

Mr. Weissfeld’s winning painting and the rest of the First Congressional District Arts Competition submissions can be viewed at the John Jellico Gallery, at The Art Institute of Colorado, 1200 Lincoln Street in Denver until April 30.

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