Since 1992
Print and digital marketing
PHOTO: “Family Room,” by Jillian Wight, winner of the 2023 Congressional Art Competition for Maine’s 1st District. (Submitted photo)
PORTLAND – Freeport High School senior Jillian Wight is winner of the 2023 Congressional Art Competition for Maine’s 1st District.
Wight’s drawing, “Family Room,” will be on display in the U.S. Capitol for one year She placed second in last year’s competition.
Other winners were:
Second Place: “Ramen with My Dad,” by Sophia Blanco, Winthrop High School
Third Place: “I Can’t See You Through the Glass” by Cosette Spier, Cape Elizabeth High School
Honorable Mention: “The Experimental Combination of Thoughts,” by Finnian Furtney, Freeport High School; “Master Puppets,” by Rihanna Antoine, Freeport High School; “City Street,” by Teagan Slone, Freeport High School.
The Congressional Art Competition was created in 1982 to give members of Congress the opportunity to encourage and recognize the artistic talents of their young constituents. Every spring, students in participating Congressional Districts across the country submit their work to their representative’s office to be judged by a panel of district artists. One winning work from each district hangs in a special exhibit at the U.S. Capitol for a year.
“[Wight] should be very proud of this unique achievement,” said U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, Maine-1st District, who announced Wight’s win. “Her eye-catching and creative piece of art will represent our great state well in the halls of the U.S. Capitol. To all the students who participated this year, thank you for sharing your creativity with us, and many thanks to the art teachers who inspire our students every day.”
Competition judge Anna Dibble said, “I was strongly drawn to all of Jillian Wights’ work. She is clearly ‘pushing the envelope’ with a variety of mediums and content, yet able to retain a unique style and vision. ‘Family Room’ stands out from the others because of the perspective, dazzling color choices, and simply its powerful overall impact on the viewer.”
Judge Meg Hahn said, “This work really stood out to me because of its inventiveness in color and composition. This scene is both familiar and uniquely new. Jillian’s technical skill is also really strong in the use of subtractive details, that viewers really need to take their time to see.”
