Pearl River HS Student Wins 2016 Congressional Art Competition

From the Committee of House Appropriations:

Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey (Westchester/Rockland), the ranking member on the House Appropriations Committee, announced that Kayla Terry, a junior at Pearl River High School in Pearl River, is the winner of the 2016 Congressional Art Competition for New York’s 17th Congressional District. Kayla’s photograph, “Sunset Grill,” was judged to be first of 10 entries.

“I congratulate Kayla on winning this year’s Congressional Art Competition,” said Lowey. “New York’s 17th Congressional District will be well represented in Washington, D.C. by her outstanding artwork on display in the United States Capitol, where millions of visitors may see it.”

“Pearl River High School and our local community are thrilled that Kayla’s photograph was selected to represent Nita Lowey’s Congressional District at the Art Competition Exhibit in our Nation’s Capitol Building,” said Pearl River art teacher Paul Martin. “Kayla’s youthful enthusiasm, self-dedication and hard work embody all that is great about our country and the bright promise of our future. Her keen artistic eye has captured the rich spirit and heritage of America in her photograph, ‘Sunset Grill.’ We thank Congresswoman Lowey for providing this wonderful opportunity for all of Rockland and Westchester’s talented, young artists.”

Cyle Rockoff, a Harrison resident and a junior at Harrison High School, came in second place for his painting entitled “bontanica du désir étrange;” Ellen Xing, Palisades resident and senior at Tappan Zee High School, came in third for her “Wrath” drawing; and Peter Zuidema, a Pearl River resident and sophomore at Pearl River High school, received an honorable mention for his photograph, “Route 66.”

“Our region is fortunate to be home to so many excellent young artists,” said Lowey. “I’m proud of Cyle, Ellen, Peter and all of the participants in this year’s Congressional Art Competition. Their artistic talents are excellent contributions to the Lower Hudson Valley’s cultural identity.”

The Congressional Art Competition is a nationwide, high school, visual art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent in the nation and in each congressional district. Each spring, students submit entries to their representative’s office, and panels of district artists select the winning entries. Winners are recognized both in their district and at an annual awards ceremony in June in Washington, D.C. The winning works are displayed for one year at the U.S. Capitol.

The awards ceremony was held at the Music Conservatory of Westchester on Monday, April 25. The three judges who chose the winners were Steven Lam, Director and Associate Professor at the School of Art + Design, Purchase College, SUNY in Purchase; Adam Chau, Program Manager at Clay Arts Center in Port Chester and Logan Hanley, gallery coordinator at ArtsWestchester in White Plains.

In addition to promoting arts through the annual Congressional Art Competition, Congresswoman Lowey has been stalwart in her defense of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and served on the prestigious National Council for the Arts in recognition of her leadership.