By Sydney Holder Riverbend News
Suwannee High School (SHS) 10th grade student Jake Wooley tied for third place in a prestigious congressional art competition, the Artistic Discovery Contest for the Second Congressional District of Florida. Wooley won with his colored pencil artwork, "Quiet Reverie."
The Regional Director for the Office of Congressman Neal Dunn, Meghan Myhill, notified art teachers of high schools in District 2 on Monday, May 24.
Dunn's office received 30 student submissions from across District 2, and local professionals judged the submitted artwork, Myhill reveals.
"Year after year, we are reminded that District 2 has so many talented young artists," Myhill wrote in an email to the teachers of District 2. "This year we had a total of 30 art submissions throughout our 19 counties. We would like to extend a special 'Thank You' to the students, art teachers and judges for lending their time and talents to this year's competition. We hope that you will continue utilizing your creative talents and join us again next year."
Wooley took his first year of high school art while in the eighth grade and took Art 2 and Art 3 during his freshman and sophomore years with SHS art teacher Pamela Williams. Williams reveals that Wooley will be taking Advanced Placement art for his upcoming junior year.
"Jake is an outstanding artist," Williams said. "His ideas are always inventive and executed with a high level of skill and artistry. He is an ideal art student to have."
The first-place winner was North Bay Haven Charter Academy's Kaitlyn McCarty, with her piece, "The Calm After the Storm." The second-place winner was Marianna High School's Anna Barber, with her piece, "Stunning, Refreshing...Essential!" and the other third-place winner was Marianna High School's Elizabeth Baggett, with her piece, "The Joseph W. Russ House."
Every spring, the U.S. House of Representatives hosts the Artistic Discovery Contest, a nationwide high school art competition open to all high school students. Students may submit paintings, drawings, collages, prints, mixed media, computer-generated art or photography pieces.
The contest serves to recognize young talent in our nation's congressional districts and encourage artistic growth.
The U.S. House of Representatives will display the first-place winner's artwork of District 2 in the U.S. Capitol for one year. McCarty's art will also feature on House.gov's Congressional Art Competition page.
For additional rules and information about the 2021 competition or to read more about the Congressional Art Competition first-place winner, visit dunn.house.gov.