Students honored with Congressional Art Contest awards

Eleven high school students from throughout Missouri's Eighth Congressional District were honored for their achievements in art Thursday night in Cape Girardeau.

The students were selected as the top high school artists in the district in the Congressional Art Contest.

This year's Best of Show winner, junior Kyla Clark of Dexter, will have her winning piece on display with winners from other districts in the U.S. Capitol until May 2007. Cape Girardeau Central High School senior Karen Broemmelsick and junior Ryan Hammond were two of 10 students honored as finalists in the contest.

The 24-year-old contest drew 255 entries this year from as far away as Rolla and Farmington. All 11 finalists were from the Southeast Missouri area.

Clark's winning entry is a drawing using white charcoal against black paper called "Catharsis." The subject is two hands playing a piano.

"It's definitely amazing for someone who lives in Dexter," Clark said of having her work on display in Washington, D.C. "I was shocked."

Broemmelsick's entry, a black-and-white drawing of the character Captain Jack Sparrow from "Pirates of the Caribbean," makes her seem like a big Johnny Depp fan. But Broemmelsick said she's not a big fan of the actor -- the drawing was inspired by her friends.

Hammond's entry into the contest was a still life chalk and pencil drawing. To Hammond being selected as a finalist was "no big deal."

"I don't really care about contests," he said.

One of the competition judges was Cape Girardeau artist Craig Thomas, who said he was amazed by the quality and amount of work submitted.

"It was really hard to choose just 10 works," Thomas said.

Contests like this one lend legitimacy to artistic pursuits and show children art is a viable career option, he said.

"The value to me is the fact that there is enough interest at the national level to have a show in Washington, D.C.," said Thomas. "To even have one is important."

But more important is recognizing students for their efforts and abilities, he said.

"It's always good to get recognition, at any age, at any level of work you do," Thomas said. "They were all worthwhile to see. Anyone who participated should be proud."

msanders@semissourian.com

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