Reception, ceremony held for winners of 8th District art contest

U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson announced Friday the results of the 26th annual 8th District art competition and congratulated the winners. A reception and an awards ceremony were held Friday evening at the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri.

"This contest is a great credit to the creativity and artistic skill of our students in Southern Missouri," Emerson said via news release. "I want to thank the competition judges and the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri for helping to put on this event and for being a very positive influence on the artistic lives of students throughout the region."

Winning best of show was Devin Allison of Poplar Bluff High School for his "King Ray," an example of printmaking. Allison's work will now be displayed in the U.S. Capitol building.

Honorable mentions are Emily Tiehes from Saxony Lutheran High School for her collage "Daydream," Elizabeth Green of Cape Girardeau Central High School for her pencil drawing "Guardian of the Sky," Josh Yantis of Saxony Lutheran for his painting "What If," Francisco Gomez from Poplar Bluff for his painting "Graffiti Man," Ally Herbert of Central for her ink drawing "Family Is Forever," Amy Walden from Poplar Bluff for her painting "Yesterday's Tomorrow," Lauren Lamb of Central for her acrylic "East Indian Trading Co.," Laurel Kasten from Central for the photography work "Watching from Above," John Ayuso of Central for his print "Chicago River," and Randilla Pickard from Poplar Bluff for the collage "Insight."