WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne (D-Iowa) announced Wednesday that a charcoal drawing entitled “An Opportunity” was selected to represent Iowa’s Third Congressional District in the 2019 Congressional art contest.
The drawing was created by Wyatt Bailey, a junior at Bondurant-Farrar High School in Bondurant. Congresswoman Axne spoke with Bailey Wednesday morning by phone to let him know he had won.
“I want to congratulate every student who submitted a piece of original artwork,” said Axne. “I was beyond impressed with the talent and creativity of our high school students across the Third District. I know I can speak for our panel of judges in saying that it was an incredibly close contest.”
As the first-place winner, Bailey will be given the opportunity to fly to Washington D.C. and attend a reception held for the competition winners at the U.S. House of Representatives in June. Bailey’s work, “An Opportunity,” will also be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year.
Taking second place in the art contest was Tevka Heidi Lackmann of Norwalk High School with “Respect Your Mother.” Third-place winner was Ceth Bennick of Bondurant-Farrar High School with “Lost in Dead Space.”
“I’d like to especially congratulate our first place winner, Wyatt Bailey, whose piece depicts the beauty of Iowa agriculture as well as the struggles facing all of our communities,” Axne said. “I look forward to seeing his artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol over the next year.”
A panel of five artists and art professionals from across the Third Congressional District chose the three winners. The panel of judges included:
- Siobhan Spain, director of Mainframe Studios in Des Moines
- State Rep. Ray Sorenson, Iowan House of Representatives member and muralist in Fontanelle
- Jenny Kruger, dean of the Iowa Western Community College Art Department in Council Bluffs
- David Purdy, DMACC art professor and photographer in Des Moines
- Trish Bergren, director at the Clarinda Carnegie Art Museum in Clarinda
Each spring, the Congressional Art Institute sponsors the Artistic Discovery Contest to recognize and encourage the artistic talent across the nation. High school students throughout Iowa’s Third Congressional District were invited to submit original pieces of art to Rep. Axne’s office.
