ARTS COMMISSION ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF THE NINTH DISTRICT CONGRESSIONAL ART EXHIBITION

Toledo – The Arts Commission of Greater Toledo and Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, in conjunction with Oberlin College and Firelands Association of the Visual Arts, announce the winners of the Annual Congressional Art Competition for high school students in the Ninth Congressional District.

First place was awarded to Jason Kolbicz (Whitmer High School). Runners up were awarded to Jacquelyn Pitts (Oberlin High School) and Lyon Ganun (Sylvania Northview High School). Honorable Mentions were awarded to Lindsay Vollmar ( Bowsher High School), Micha Washington (Bowsher High School), Seth Ellis ( Whitmer High School), Charity Covington (Whitmer High School), Jennifer Rolsten ( Whitmer High School), Katie Bocian (Notre Dame Academy), and Megan McCellan (Edison High School). This year’s exhibition also includes awards sponsored by the University of Toledo, Bowling Green State University, and Eastman and Smith Inc: Attorneys at Law. The UT College of Arts and Sciences awards were received by Brandy Hammond (Toledo School for the Arts), Tyler Biddle (Waite High School), Amanda Ball (Waite High School), and Brianna Bergman (St. Ursula Academy). The UT Center for Visual Arts award was received by Robert Hadley (Sylvania Northview High School) and Natasha Smith (Bowsher High School). The BGSU College of Arts and Sciences awards were received by Scott Deca (Central Catholic High School) and Elizabeth Schenk (Clay High School). The BGSU School of Art awards were received by Dennis Patterson (Whitmer High School) and Stevie Tanner (Oberlin High School). The Eastman and Smith award was received by Mariana Parisca (Sylvania Southview High School).

The competition is part of “Artistic Discovery,” a nationwide activity initiated by members of the U.S. House of Representatives to recognize and encourage young people’s artistic creativity. Works exhibited include paintings, drawings, collage, prints (lithograph, silk screen, monotype, woodcut, and intaglio methods), mixed media, photography and computer-generated art.

The first place entry will have his/her artwork placed on exhibition in Washington, D.C. for one year. Two runners-up will display their artwork in Congresswoman Kaptur’s office. The winner of the Eastman and Smith award will also have his/her work on display in the firm’s Toledo office. All awards were given based upon the merit of the artwork submitted. All participants in the exhibition will receive a Congressional Certificate indicating that their artwork was in this competition. The Ninth Congressional District includes Lucas, Ottawa, Erie and Lorain Counties. Jurors for this year’s exhibition included Murray McKay (BGSU, Coordinator of Fine Arts Admissions & Promotion), Barbara Rollins (FAVA, Board Member), Brent Dedas (UT, Visiting Assistant Professor in Art), Linda Sattler (Bowsher High School, Former High School Art Teacher) and Sandy Shult (Libbey, Graphic Artist).

For the Commercial Design Award, the artwork of Elizabeth Schenk (Clay High School) was selected to be reproduced into glassware by Libbey, Inc. In addition to the regular judging criteria, the following students have been selected to attend a commercial design workshop hosted by Robert Zollweg and Libbey, Inc.: Elizabeth Schenk ( Clay High School), Jason Kolbicz ( Whitmer High School), Natasha Smith (Bowsher High School), Logan Hamel (Whitmer High School), Abigail Bischoff (Bowsher High School), Kelsey Wallette ( Bowsher High School), Mariana Parisca (Sylvania Southview High School), Samantha Meacham (Bowsher High School), Aleila McCulloch (Rogers High School), Stephanie Stover (Bowsher High School), Micah Washington (Bowsher High School), Kelly Wawrzyniak (Bowsher High School), Katherine Dunne (Sylvania Northview High School), Brianna Bergman (St Ursula Academy), Kaela Mason (Whitmer High School), Heather Klatt (Clay High School), Amanda Ball (Waite High School), Sarah Halcomb (Waite High School), and Megan McClellan (Edison High School).

The commercial design component was judged by Robert Zollweg and Sandy Shult.

The exhibition will be on display in the lobby of Fifth Third Center at One Seagate from February 4th through 24th and will travel to Oberlin College Science Center in Oberlin, OH and be on display from March 3rd through 21st. Receptions for the participants will be held on Sunday, February 10th, 4-6pm in Toledo and on Sunday, March 9th, 1-3pm in Oberlin. Congresswoman Kaptur will speak, present awards and acknowledge all Congressional Show participants.

For more information, contact the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo, 419.254.ARTS.

The Arts Commission of Greater Toledo is the longest standing arts commission in the state of Ohio that develops and promotes the arts in the community, serving Fulton, Lucas and Wood counties since 1959.