A row of easels displaying photographs, paintings and drawings stood behind Congressman Mark Meadows as local high school students waited Saturday to find out whose work would be hung in Washington, D.C.
The winners of the 11th District’s Congressional Art Competition, chosen by a panel of judges from across the district, were announced Saturday morning at the Historic Courthouse in Hendersonville.
Meadows said the competition is a great way to recognize the importance of art to teachers and students.
“It tickles me just to see the talent we have, but the other thing is that it is so hard to pick a winner with so much unbelievable talent,” Meadows said.
Emily Papay from North Buncombe High School won first place for her portrait of a young boy, which will be displayed at the U.S. Capitol for one year, along with winners from across the country. She also received two round-trip tickets from Southwest Airlines to the national reception in Washington, D.C., and a $3,000 scholarship to Savannah College of Art and Design.
Olivia Thiery, 18, from East Henderson High took home third place and an American flag that had been flown over the Capitol for her painting “Under Observation,” which had a series of magnifying glasses overlapping to focus on different parts of a woman’s face.
The senior said she will be going to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to study exercise science in the fall, but she is thinking about minoring in art.
“It’ll be part of my life, no matter what,” Thiery said. “It is fun to be a part of seeing everybody else’s art, where they’re from all around the district, and just seeing how amazing their art is.”
Earlier this month, Thiery won the Scholastic Art silver medal for her art piece “Reflection,” which will be showcased at Carnegie Hall in June.
“Many times, art gets left out,” Meadows said. “We focus on science and math and some of the other things, but I think it is very obvious today with all of the entries that there is not a loser in the bunch. It is just the crème de le crème, and it is truly a testament to great ability.”
