Graves announces student art exhibit kickoff in Calhoun

Published 12:00 am Monday, March 18, 2019

Submitted by Rep. Tom Graves Congressional Office

The local student artwork submitted for the Congressional Art Competition will be on display to the public in Calhoun beginning today, said U.S. Rep. Tom Graves, R-Ranger.

Monday kicks off the three-week free exhibit at Harris Arts Center at 212 S. Wall St. In partnership with Harris Arts Center and the Gordon County Chamber of Commerce, local residents will be able to visit the exhibit and vote for their favorite pieces.

Each spring, the Congressional Institute sponsors a high school visual art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent across the nation and in each congressional district. In the past few weeks, local student artists from high schools across the 14th Congressional District, which includes Murray and Whitfield counties, have submitted their artwork to be considered part of this national competition.

“I am always encouraged and amazed by the incredible student artwork shared with my office during this annual competition,” Graves said. “Northwest Georgia is full of talented young artists and I know they are excited to share their work with our community.”

The Congressional Art competition winners will be announced during a reception with Graves on Thursday, April 4, at 6 p.m. at Harris Arts Center. Winning pieces, which include first, second and third places and two honorable mentions, will be displayed in Graves’ Dalton Congressional Office. There will also be a “People’s Choice” award in partnership with the Harris Arts Center and the Gordon County Chamber of Commerce.

The first place winner’s artwork will be shipped to Washington, D.C., where it will remain on display in the Cannon House Office Building’s Capitol Tunnel for one year, alongside the first place artwork from every congressional district in the country. There will also be a winner’s reception in Washington in June.