Representative Rick Crawford searching for student artist to represent district

JONESBORO- A colored pencil drawing of combat boots draped with dog tags, a painting reflecting
the anxiety a student felt during COVID, and hundreds of torn magazine pieces glued to create a
portrait of a basketball player, all winning artworks previously chosen by Representative Rick
Crawford to represent Arkansas’s First District in a national artwork display in Washington D.C.
Crawford is encouraging student artists, grades 9-12, to enter his annual Congressional Art
Competition for a chance to represent the district in a nationwide visual arts competition sponsored
by the Congressional Institute.
Any student residing in the First District of Arkansas can submit their artwork in one of the
competition’s seven categories: collage, drawing, digital design, mixed media, painting,
photography, and print. Winners will be chosen from each category, and there will be an overall
winner of the competition.
The overall winner’s artwork will have the honor of representing Arkansas’s First District in the
impressive national winner’s display at the U.S. Capitol for a year. In addition, they will receive
round-trip airfare for two to attend the Congressional Art Competition’s annual awards ceremony
in Washington, D.C. where all the winners from around the country will be recognized. The
submission deadline for the congressman’s competition is April 15th
.
“The level of imagination and creativity the students in my district possess is amazing,” said
Crawford.
“Judging over 200 entries and choosing one winner to represent our district is a
challenging task but something I look forward to each year.”
Crawford said he is proud to have the district winner displayed at the Capitol, but he also takes
time to recognize all the first place category winners for their talents. “They are all winners in my
book, and that is why I like to host a reception where I can meet each of the artists, their families,
and instructors, and hear the inspirations behind their artwork,” said Crawford. He also arranges
for the winning artwork pieces to be displayed at a local Jonesboro coffee shop so the community
can enjoy their accomplishments.
Crawford said last year’s competition received over 200 student entries representing 28 schools.
The painting titled, “Family Reminiscence,” created by Liza Shaddy from Mountain Home High
School, was selected as the overall winner and is currently on display at the Capitol. “Liza painted
her older brother wading in a river holding a beautiful rainbow trout,” said Crawford. “He was
grinning from ear-to-ear and I thought her painting communicated an emotion many in my district
could relate to.”
More information on the competition’s guidelines and how to submit artwork can be found on the
congressman’s website https://crawford.house.gov/congressional-art-competition. Any additional
questions can be directed to his Jonesboro office at 870-203-0540 or the
email AR01.art@mail.house.gov