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Pocan Announces 2017 Congressional Art Competition Winners, Thanks Judges

May 9, 2017

MADISON, WI - U.S. Representative Mark Pocan (WI-02) announced the winners of the 2017 Congressional Art Competition on Monday evening at an event at the Goodman South Madison Library with the student artists, the panel of judges, teachers and other community members.

This year's competition featured 39 pieces of art, from eight different high schools from throughout the Second Congressional District.

The Grand Prize winning submission was "Dreaming of Climate Change" a colored pencil drawing by Coral Cramer-Carlson from La Follette High School. She will be flown to Washington, D.C. for a reception in June honoring her artwork, which will be proudly displayed in the U.S. Capitol for the next year.

The Second Place winner was "Together: Alone," an acrylic painting created by Abigail Ball from Madison Country Day School. Third place went to Mount Horeb High School's Sarah Gerg, who made "Pure Imagination," a gouache, ink and ballpoint pen piece. These pieces will be on display in the Congressman's D.C. and district offices.

Rep. Pocan congratulated all these creative students and thanked their high school art teachers and the panel of community judges who selected the winning artwork.

"I am so impressed by the deep artistic talent we have among high-school students across our District," Rep. Pocan said of the Congressional Art Competition submissions. "It is never an easy task for our judges to choose a winner, due to the exceptional talents showcased here. My congratulations go to all of these talented high-school artists and I hope they will continue to express their creativity and continue to share it with our community."

The annual Congressional Art Competition invites high school students to submit their original artwork in the following categories: paintings, drawings, collage, prints, mixed media, computer-generated art and photography.

2017 Congressional Art Competition Judges:

Veronica Lazo, since moving to Madison from Isabela, Puerto Rico in 1994, has become well known for her work as the Executive Director of UNIDOS, providing support and advocacy for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking. She is also a mixed-media artist by training and owns MVF Art and Design, a small business offering affordable access to art workshops as a way of healing from trauma.

Carolyn Fath has been the Art Director at Isthmus Newsweekly since 2001. She has spent more than 30 years lending her creative eye to the editorial and advertising fields, including previous experience with art, design and photography with such places as Chicago Magazine and Land's End.

Christine Echtner is an artist and Co-President of the Madison Art Guild. Growing up in a family of artists, Christine has been looking at and making art since she can remember. Her maternal grandmother was especially influential in introducing her to mixed media and sparked her interest in combining materials. She taught Christine to see the creative possibilities in everything.

Sherry Klinkner is a jewelry designer and Co-President of the Madison Art Guild.

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