Kents Hill student is Congressional Art Competition honorable mention

PORTLAND — A Kents Hill student was an honorable mention winner in the 2019 Congressional Art Competiton for Maine’s 1st District. Wanqi Su, who attends Kents Hill School in Readfield was one of three honorable mentions for the photograph “Quick Moment.”
The winner of the contest was Julia Lee, a junior at Falmouth High School. Her illustration, “Facet,” will be on display at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. for a year.

“It’s always exciting to see the submissions that this competition produces every year–not just for their exceptional quality but for the perspectives these young artists offer of the world around them,” U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-1st District, who announced the winners, said in a news release.. “The many layers of Julia’s poignant drawing are sure to make many people pause at the Capitol. My congratulations to her and all the top finishers of this year’s competition — clearly, Maine’s legacy of artistic expression shows no signs of fading. And congratulations as well to Falmouth High School art teacher Susan Morse, who has fostered the talents of not one but two of the top three finishers this year.” Other winners were:
* 1st Runner Up Sam Kemmerer of Portland High School — “Boy with Tunic” (painting) * 2nd Runner Up Katie Han of Falmouth High School –” Morning Reflection” (photography) * Honorable Mention Elwen Bernard of Baxter Academy for Technology and Science — “The Story Begins” (drawing) * Honorable Mention Autumn Heil, a Gorham student who attends Portland Arts and Technology High School –” We All Sink Together” (mixed media)
Held each year, the Congressional Art Competition takes place in participating congressional districts across the country. One winning work from each district hangs in a special exhibit at the U.S. Capitol for a year. This year, a jury put together by the Maine Arts Commission and Maine College of Art selected Maine winners from the top finishers in the regional Scholastic Art Competition.
First-place winners will travel to Washington to participate in an opening ceremony in June. Winners and runners-up from both Congressional districts will have their art on display at the State House in late April, followed by reception in Augusta. The Maine College of Art offers winning high school seniors a scholarship to their BFA program, and younger students receive a scholarship to their PreCollege program.

“A Quiet Moment,” a photograph by Kents Hill School student Wanqi Su, won honorable mention for the staet in this year’s 2019 Congressional Art Competition. (Wanqi Su photo)