JONESBORO, Ark. — A colored pencil drawing of combat boots draped with dog tags, a painting reflecting the anxiety a student felt during COVID, and hundreds of torn magazine pieces glued to create a portrait of a basketball player, all winning artworks previously chosen by Rep. Rick Crawford to represent Arkansas’s First District in a national artwork display in Washington D.C.
Crawford is encouraging student artists, grades 9-12, to enter his annual Congressional Art Competition for a chance to represent the district in a nationwide visual arts competition sponsored by the Congressional Institute.
Any student residing in the First District of Arkansas can submit their artwork in one of the competition’s seven categories: collage, drawing, digital design, mixed media, painting, photography, and print. Winners will be chosen from each category, and there will be an overall winner of the competition.
The overall winner’s artwork will have the honor of representing Arkansas’s First District in the impressive national winner’s display at the U.S. Capitol for a year. In addition, they will receive round-trip airfare for two to attend the Congressional Art Competition’s annual awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. where all the winners from around the country will be recognized. The submission deadline for the congressman’s competition is April 15.
“The level of imagination and creativity the students in my district possess is amazing,” said Crawford. “Judging over 200 entries and choosing one winner to represent our district is a challenging task, but something I look forward to each year.”
Crawford said he is proud to have the district winner displayed at the Capitol, but he also takes time to recognize all the first-place category winners for their talents. “They are all winners in my book, and that is why I like to host a reception where I can meet each of the artists, their families, and instructors, and hear the inspirations behind their artwork,” said Crawford. He also arranges for the winning artwork pieces to be displayed at a local Jonesboro coffee shop so the community can enjoy their accomplishments.
Crawford said last year’s competition received over 200 student entries representing 28 schools. The painting titled, “Family Reminiscence,” created by Liza Shaddy from Mountain Home High School, was selected as the overall winner and is currently on display at the Capitol. “Liza painted her older brother wading in a river holding a beautiful rainbow trout,” said Crawford. “He was grinning from ear-to-ear and I thought her painting communicated an emotion many in my district could relate to.”
More information on the competition’s guidelines and how to submit artwork can be found on the congressman’s website, crawford.house.gov/congressional-art-competition. Any additional questions can be directed to his Jonesboro office at 870-203-0540 or the email AR01.art@mail.house.gov.
