Washington, D.C. – Emmett High School student James Page joined hundreds of other aspiring young artists last week in Washington, D.C., for the annual Artistic Discovery Contest, a competition sponsored by the members of the U.S. House of Representatives.
“It was an honor to meet James and his mother, and a pleasure to host the two of them at my office in Washington,” Idaho Congressman Walt Minnick said.
Each member of Congress selected one winner from his or her district. Page’s winning submission – a penciled portrait of a cowboy – was handpicked by Minnick after a vetting process at the Idaho Arts Commission.
“His work evokes an image familiar to Idaho, and his creativity and talent are clearly worthy of recognition,” Minnick said. “We wish him the best as he returns to Idaho to finish school and pursue his art.”
Each of the local winners – all high school students – received an expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., for a ceremony and workshop. The winning art from each district will be displayed for the next year in the Cannon Tunnel, a pedestrian corridor leading to the U.S. Capitol.
Page, the son of Vicky and Dennis Page, will be a senior at Emmett High School in the fall. Like many his age, he is unsure about future plans but has an interest in science as well as art. James enjoys sketching portraits the most, and has been recognized for his artistic ability in the past.
The Congressional art competition began in 1982 to provide an opportunity for members of Congress to encourage and recognize the artistic talents of their young constituents. Since its inception, over 650,000 high school students have been involved in the competition.
