Rep. Doris Matsui Welcomes Sacramento Winner of Art Competition to Washington, D.C.
Today, Rep. Doris Matsui (CA-05) welcomed that Damarys Solorzano, the Congressional Art Competition winner from California's Fifth District, to Washington, D.C.. Ms. Solorzano is a junior at Florin High School in Sacramento, Calif. Today, she will participate in a reception honoring the winners from across the nation and see the unveiling of her artwork in the United States Capitol.
Rep. Doris Matsui Welcomes Sacramento Winner of Art Competition to Washington, D.C.
andquot;I was so pleased to meet Ms. Solorzano and her family. The arts are an integral part of our children's education, and I hope that this trip encourages Damarys to continue creating. She is a wonderfully talented young lady,andquot; said Rep. Matsui.
Ms. Solorzano traveled to Washington, D.C. courtesy of Southwest Airlines, with hotel accommodations provided by the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission. She met with Rep. Matsui, and participated in workshops and a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The trip will culminate in a reception honoring all of the winning artists.
Ms. Solorzano's work, as well as all other entries, were displayed at an art show at Sacramento's Art Foundry Gallery earlier this year. Solorzano's winning submission is a unique, colorful, untitled piece featuring a design created by hole-punched paper. At the end of the show, Ms. Solorzano was pronounced the winner by this year's judges: Jan Geiger, Chair of the Friends of Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission; Zenaida Lopez-Cid, Arts Education and Outreach Assistant from the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission; Reverend Fran Cione, Ph.D. from the Sacred Arts Center; and Chelsea Hunt of the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission.
andquot;This is a wonderful opportunity for Sacramento students to show the rest of the nation how talented, innovative and creative they are. Every time I walk through the Capitol, it fills me with pride to see the artwork of a Sacramento student hanging on the wall. It reminds me what a wonderful place Sacramento is, and Damarys's artwork on display is a welcome piece of home,andquot; said Rep. Matsui.
Ms. Solorzano is an honors student who plans to attend art school and pursue a career in the arts when she graduates. She consistently achieves a G.P.A. over a 4.0, and typically spends her weekends working on her artwork.
This year marks the 26th anniversary of the Congressional Art Competition. First launched in 1982, thousands of contests have been held around the country. Throughout the history of the competition, more than 650,000 high school students have been involved in the program.
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