Students Recognized at Congressional Art Competition
Art Students attended the Congressional Art Awards ceremony and reception in Montpelier. (L-R) Sarah Fickes ’19, Yinan Lin ’20, Liam Tobin ’19, and Isabella Mertens ’20. Jiaxun Zhang’19 is missing from the photo.
St. Johnsbury Academy Fine Arts students were honored at the Vermont state house in Montpelier recently during the 38th annual Congressional Art Competition awards ceremony and reception. Five students were selected by their instructors to submit art for consideration: Sarah Fickes ’19, Yinan Lin ’20, Liam Tobin ’19, and Isabella Mertens ’20, and Jiaxun Zhang ’19. Isabella Mertens won a Congressman’s Choice Award for work produced in Photography II class — a portrait of her father entitled, “E-4.”
“I am so impressed by the talent and creativity of these young Vermont artists,” Welch said. “Their work continues Vermont’s storied tradition of artistic excellence and is a reflection of our state’s first-rate art programs.”
The Congressional Art Competition is open to all high school students in Vermont. The winning artwork is displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol in an exhibit that includes the winning artwork from all participating schools from around the country. The Congressional Art Competition’s website reads, “Each spring, a nation-wide high school arts competition is sponsored by the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives. The Congressional Art Competition is an opportunity to recognize and encourage the artistic talent in the nation, as well as in Vermont.”
Head of the SJA Fine Arts department Rosie Prevost said, “Making art, as with any pursuit of excellence, takes time and dedication. Behind that finished piece of art there is a process of practice, trial and error, revisions and reshoots, successes and failures. And, behind those students are knowledgeable, dedicated faculty, guiding and inspiring them. It’s rewarding when our art students are recognized.”
