Griffin, National Co-Chairman of Congressional Art Competition, Welcomes Winners to Capitol
Jun 20, 2012 Issues: Congressional Issues, Education
WASHINGTON – Congressman Tim Griffin (AR-02) issued the following statement after welcoming more than 400 high school student artists and their families to the U.S. Capitol for the unveiling of the Congressional Art Competition gallery:
“As National Co-Chairman of this year’s Congressional Art Competition, I am honored to congratulate each of the winners. This competition provides an opportunity for us to encourage and recognize the artistic talents of high school students from across the country. For the next year, their work will be on display in the U.S. Capitol for its 3 million annual visitors to see. It was also great to have two artists from Little Rock here to speak about what it’s like to be illustrators for some of America’s most famous superheroes.”
Griffin is the first Representative from Arkansas to co-chair the Congressional Art Competition. Since 1982, more than 650,000 high schools students have participated in the competition nationwide. This year marks the 31st Congressional Art Competition, the theme of which was An Artistic Discovery.
Dallin Duke, a rising senior at Vilonia High School and the winner from Arkansas’s Second Congressional District, was on hand for today’s unveiling. His piece, “Me and Mine”, was selected from the 55 submissions to represent Arkansas’s Second Congressional District. Duke credits his art teacher, Sandy Ragland, for helping him develop his artistic talent.
“Mrs. Ragland is the best teacher in the world,” Duke said.
Also playing a key part in today’s event were illustrators Mitch and Elizabeth Breitweiser, alumni of Harding University. From their studio in Little Rock, Arkansas, this dynamic duo has brought some of Marvel Comics most well-known superheroes to life. They have illustrated such iconic superheroes as Spiderman, Captain America, The Fantastic Four, Iron Man and The Hulk. The Breitweisers shared their stories of turning their passion for art into careers.
