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Charlotte NC

Rep. Adams Celebrates Congressional Art Competition Winners

June 28, 2020

Reception highlights talented local high school artists; winner "Working Man" pictured

Charlotte - Today, Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12) hosted a reception honoring the winners of the Congressional Art Competition in North Carolina's 12th Congressional District.

A copy of the video is available hereand on Facebook.

A power point with pictures of all of the submissions is available here.

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Screen Shot of Zoom Reception

On the call, Adams, a former art professor at Bennett College and member of the Congressional Arts Caucus, announced the winners of the 2020 Congressional art competition.

During the reception, 22 pieces of artwork submitted by high school students in North Carolina's 12th Congressional District were displayed and judged by three local artists: Gordon James, Al Foster, and A.J. Foster.

"As an artist and former art professor, I share these students' passion for expression through art," said Congresswoman Adams. "The student artists in North Carolina's 12th Congressional District are tremendously talented and I'm proud of the young people who submitted their artwork for the competition. I look forward to hosting this year's winner, Francis Genco, in D.C. and seeing his artwork, entitled "Working Man", exhibited in the U.S. Capitol.

The first place winner won tickets to D.C. for the nationwide Congressional art competition reception. Their art, along with other high school students across the country, will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year. The second and third place entries will be on display for one year in Congresswoman Adams' D.C. office and the two entries that received honorable mentions will be displayed in her district office.

The U.S. House of Representatives hosts a Congressional art competition each year as an opportunity to recognize and encourage artistic talent in the country. Each Representative holds a competition in their District and selects winning entries.

A full list of the winners of the 2020 NC 12th District Congressional Art Competition is below:

First Place:

"Working Man"
Artist: Francis Genco
Grade: 10th
School: Northwest School of the Arts
Medium: Oil

Second Place:

"Before the Sun"
Artist: Kendyl Brown
Grade: 12th
School: Pine Lake Preparatory
Medium: Digital Photography

Third Place:

"Distracted"
Artist: Kimberly Hoang
Grade: 11th
School: Ardrey Kell High School
Medium: Acrylic Paint

Honorable Mention:

"Compulsive"
Artist: Oliver Coria
Grade: 10th
School: Northwest School of the Arts
Medium: Graphite

Honorable Mention:

"Wild Things"
Artist: MacKenna Hanson
Grade: 11th
School: Woodlawn School
Medium: Ink

Gordon James is a professional illustrator and award-winning fine artist. He has worked as a full-time illustrator for Hallmark Cards, Inc. and is a recipient of a Caldecott medal. Mr. James is also a children's book illustrator and his illustrations have recently been published in the children's book "Let ‘Er Buck".

Al and A.J. Foster are art collectors and own their own small business called "Fosters Frames and Art Gallery" in Huntersville, North Carolina. Mr. and Mrs. Foster provide framing for art pieces and have a beautiful gallery that showcases original art and limited edition prints that allow local and national artists the chance to demonstrate their skills.

Congresswoman Alma Adams represents North Carolina's 12th Congressional District (Charlotte) and serves as Vice Chair of the House Committee on Agriculture. Additionally, she serves on the House Financial Services Committee and the House Education & Labor Committee, where she serves as Chair of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee. In 2015, she founded the Adams Hunger Initiative to address food insecurity across Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, and the 12th Congressional District.