The winning entry of the 2014 “Sixth Congressional District Art Contest,” entitled “New York City in a Room” uses a mutitude of artistic mediums including pen, water colors, pencil and charcoal. It will hang in the U.S. Capitol for one year. Photo courtesy of Congresswoman Meng’s office
U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens) honored Queens student Xiangkun Kong in Washington, D.C. for winning the Congresswoman’s 2014 “Sixth Congressional District Art Contest.”
Meng’s second annual art competition, which consisted of submissions from numerous high schools throughout Queens, is part of “An Artistic Discovery,” the national Congressional art contest that showcases the artwork of high school students from across the nation.
Kong’s winning artwork – along with the winning pieces from art contests in Congressional districts throughout the United States – will now be displayed for one year in the in the Cannon Tunnel, a heavily traveled corridor of the United States Capitol.
Kong, along with his mother, Weipin Nie, traveled to Capitol Hill Thursday to attend the opening ceremonies of the art competition. The ceremonies recognized his exceptional artistic abilities as well as the artistic talents of other young artists from around the country. Kong was a graduating senior at St. Francis Preparatory High School last week.
Kong won this year’s competition for his artwork entitled “New York City in a Room,” a drawing he created using pen, water colors, pencil and charcoal. Kong plans to attend Penn State this fall and major in engineering. He was crowned the winner of Meng’s art contest in April.
This year a total of 34 students from 12 high schools participated in Meng’s competition. In addition to the winner, there were three runner-ups. They included:
• First runner-up
Jiayong Fan, a student at The Windsor School in Flushing
Artwork will be displayed Meng’s Washington office
Title of artwork: Surface Change
Medium: Acrylic
• Second runner-up
Natasha Fernandez, a student at Newtown High School in Elmhurst
Artwork will be displayed Meng’s Flushing office
Title of artwork: 2Pac
Medium: Charcoal
• Third runner-up
Niceha Choudhury, a student at Forest Hills High School in Forest Hills
Artwork will be displayed in Meng’s Forest Hills office
Title of artwork: Clouded Judgment
Medium: Collage
The Artistic Discovery competition was launched in 1982 for Members of Congress to showcase the artistic work of high school students from around the nation.
