Rep. Matsui Congratulates 2010 Congressional Art Contest Winner
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, June 17, 2010
CONTACT: MARA LEE
(202) 225-7163
Sacramento Student Visits Washington, D.C. to See Her Art Displayed in U.S. Capitol
Today, Representative Doris Matsui (CA-05) congratulated this year's winner of the Fifth District Congressional Art Competition, Joan Lopez, of Sacramento. Joan traveled to Washington, D.C. this week to participate in a reception honoring the winners from across the nation, see the unveiling of her artwork in the Capitol, and meet with Congresswoman Matsui.
This year marks the 28th anniversary of the Annual Congressional Art Competition. In the Fifth District, twenty-five pieces of art were submitted from eight different schools. Students created a piece of artwork that represented Sacramento or America to them. Joan's winning piece, Good Morning Traffic on J Street , is a pastel prism depicting Sacramento's well-known J Street in the morning light. The same piece recently received 2nd place in the Henriette Doglietto Art Exhibition.
The Annual Congressional Art Competition is a wonderful opportunity for Sacramento to show off its talented young artists to everyone who visits the Capitol, said Congresswoman Matsui. Joan's work is a beautiful depiction of our shared hometown, and I am so pleased that Joan and her sister were able to travel to DC to celebrate this joyous occasion.
Joan recently graduated from St. Francis High School in Sacramento, CA with a cumulative 4.0 GPA, Fine Arts program honors, and two excellence awards in Fine Arts. An accomplished singer and musician, Joan previously was unable to pursue both visual and performing arts in her curriculum. However, towards the end of her senior year, Joan began to dedicate more time to the visual arts.
Art has been a new way to explore my abilities and express my emotions, said Joan. I m super excited for this opportunity to advance my position in the art world. I hope I continue to improve and grow in all of the art medias.
While in Washington this week, in addition to meeting with Congresswoman Matsui, Joan will be able to participate in workshops and attend the official ribbon-cutting ceremony. In the fall, Joan will attend California State University, Sacramento, where she will be a member of the Concert Choir and will continue to take art classes.
Joan's accommodations were provided by the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission, and Southwest Airlines provided airfare for Joan and her sister.
To see pictures of Joan and Rep. Matsui at the art competition in Sacramento earlier this month and the celebration in Congress Thursday, please click HERE .
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