For Immediate Release:
Tuesday, May 1, 2007

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Congressman Dan Boren today honored more than 100 local student artists and announced the top entries of the Congressional Artistic Discovery competition.  Winners were announced today at NSU Muskogee’s Conference Center by Boren’s wife, Andrea, and District Director Ben Robinson.

 

“I’m impressed with the participation by local schools, and with the talent of all our young artists,” Congressman Boren said.

 

Artistic Discovery is the annual high school art competition that recognizes student artwork from congressional districts across the country.  The winning piece from each congressional district will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol building. 

 

This is the third year Congressman Boren has hosted the Artistic Discovery competition in Oklahoma’s Second Congressional District.  149 entries were received from 78 students.  The top entries in each category were selected by a panel of judges from the Muskogee Arts Council and the local academic community.

 

The overall Best of Show winner was Laura Bowles, a student a Fort Gibson High School.  Her winning piece, titled “The Image of God,” will hang in the U.S. Capitol alongside other winners from across the nation.

 

Boren underscored the importance of encouraging artistic development in youth.  “Giving our young artists a forum for success is essential to our cultural development,” he said.  “Quality of life is an important factor in any community, and the arts are a part of that,” Boren said.

 

Local support for the contest was also drawn from community partners including: Muskogee Public Schools, the Muskogee Arts Council and Northeastern State University, which provided scholarship funds to the winner. 

 

A complete list of award winners by category is attached.

 

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Acrylic / Oil Painting

First................ “The Image of God”............................ Laura Bowles.......................... Fort Gibson

Second............ “Left Behind”....................................... Stacey Rutherford.................... Inola

Third............... “Lakeside”.......................................... Stacey Rutherford.................... Inola

Third............... “Multiple Views”................................. Josh Clinton............................. Muskogee

HM................. “Self Portrait”...................................... John Decker............................ Inola

HM................. “Self Portrait”...................................... Dustin Abad............................ Inola

HM................. “Serenity”............................................ Stacey Rutherford.................... Inola

HM................. “Blayne”.............................................. Matt Martin............................. Porum

 

Batik

First................ Untitled............................................... Rachael Mosier....................... Inola

 

Block Prints

First................ “Scream Tribute”................................. Fletcher Ross.......................... Porum

Second............ “Lucky”............................................... Cathey Lawhorn...................... Fort Gibson

 

Collage

First................ “George”............................................. Dusty Sanders......................... Inola

Second............ “The Doors”........................................ Trevor Lemaster...................... Inola

Third............... “Rolling Stones”................................... Ashlyn Corrothers................... Fort Gibson

 

Mixed Media

First................ “The Real Me”.................................... Susana Rodriguez.................... Fort Gibson

Second............ “Shades of Religion”............................ John Decker............................ Inola

Third .............. “7 Other Versions of Myself”............... Daniel Valencia........................ Fort Gibson

 

Pastel / Prism Color

First................ “I Spy”................................................ Laura Bowles.......................... Fort Gibson

Second............ “Tubular”............................................. Autumn Barnett....................... Fort Gibson

Third............... “BellaSarra”........................................ Deana Colston......................... Fort Gibson

Third............... “Plant – Pink”...................................... Lucy Mai................................. Inola

 

Pen / Ink

First................ “Old Fort Comics”.............................. Ben Gibson............................. Muskogee (home)

Second............ “Transition”......................................... Megan Young.......................... Fort Gibson

Third............... “Tennis Shoe Transition”...................... Tony Woodall......................... Muskogee

 

Pencil / Charcoal

First................ “Chris and Angel”................................ Elliot Robbins.......................... Muskogee

Second............ Untitled (Clydesdale)........................... Michelle Shoemaker................ Warner

Third............... Untitled (Palomino).............................. Michelle Shoemaker................ Warner

HM................. “Innocence”......................................... Jasmeann Boles....................... McAlester

HM................. “A maximus ad minimus”...................... Cinthia Maxey......................... Crowder

HM................. “Friendly Stirrup”................................. Stacey Rutherford.................... Inola

HM................. “Through These Hands”....................... Stacey Rutherford.................... Inola

HM................. “The Orb”........................................... Jonathan Schneider.................. Muskogee

 

Photography

First................ “Looking Past”.................................... Laura Bowles.......................... Fort Gibson

Second............ “Fiddle with Grandmother”.................. Emily Jarrett............................ Inola

Third............... “Red Berries”...................................... Emily Jarrett............................ Inola

Third............... “The Eye … Window of the Soul”....... Molly Chalfin........................... Inola

HM................. “Classic”............................................. Lindsay Louderback................ Inola

HM................. “New Beginnings”................................ Lindsay Louderback................ Inola

 

 

Scratchboard

First................ “Black Iris”.......................................... Fletcher Ross.......................... Porum

Second............ “Musical Emphasis”............................. Erica Hartshorn....................... Porum

Third............... “Tiger Lily”.......................................... Tasha Anderson...................... Muskogee

 

Tempera

First................ “In Living Color”................................. Chelsea Crittenden.................. Fort Gibson

HM................. “Full Moon”........................................ Zach Deason........................... Fort Gibson

HM................. “The Christmas Tree”.......................... Christi McAlpine..................... Fort Gibson

 

Watercolor

First................ “The Roads of Life”............................. Susana Rodriguez.................... Fort Gibson

 

The first place winner in each category is considered for the Best of Show award.  Winners in the Best of Show category were:

 

First................ “The Image of God”............................ Laura Bowles.......................... Fort Gibson

Second............ Untitled............................................... Rachael Mosier....................... Inola

Third............... “Chris and Angel”................................ Elliot Robbins.......................... Muskogee

 

Special Awards:

 

Ben Gibson of Muskogee received an award for Special Creativity on his “Old Fort Comics” which include art and history.  The judges felt that in light of Oklahoma’s Centennial Anniversary this year the artwork melded entertainment and information, through the use of comic book format.

 

Laura Bowles of Fort Gibson received a certificate of recognition as an Artist of Merit.  She entered four artwork pieces, three of which placed first in their categories.

 

Stacy Rutherford of Inola received a certificate of recognition as an Artist of Merit.  She entered eight artwork pieces and five of them placed in their categories.

 

Susana Rodriguez of Fort Gibson received a certificate of recognition as an Artist of Merit.  She had five pieces of artwork entered and two of them placed first in their categories.

 

The Inola and Fort Gibson art teachers were recognized with certificates for the level of skill and technique used in their student’s work.  

 

Rachael Mosier received a $1,000 tuition waiver from Northeastern State University as the highest placing senior in the art show.

 

Laura Bowles is eligible for a $5,000 per year scholarship from Savannah Art and Design School in Savannah, Ga. as the Best of Show winner.