Photo Courtesy of Rep. Meng’s Office
Congresswoman Meng congratulates Mofan Chen for winning her annual congressional art contest. Chen’s winning piece, pictured in between him and Meng, will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol.
By Forum Staff
Mofan Chen, a senior at St. Francis Preparatory High School in Fresh Meadows, has won U.S. Rep. Grace Meng’s (D-Flushing) annual 6th Congressional District art contest, the elected official announced on Monday.
Chen won the competition for his acrylic drawing titled “Facing the World.” Beginning next month, his winning work, along with the first-place pieces from art contests in congressional districts throughout the country, will be displayed for one year in the Cannon Tunnel, a heavily traveled corridor that connects the Cannon House Office Building to the Capitol.
“[Chen] is an impressive and talented artist and I look forward to his winning entry being on display for all who visit the Capitol,” Meng said.“I also applaud all the students who submitted artwork for the competition. They are the future artists of our country and I’m proud of each and every one of them.”
The congresswoman announced Chen as the winner during a reception she hosted for students and their families, art teachers, principals and school administrators. It was held at the Queens Museum in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, where all of the submitted artwork had been on display.
In addition to Chen, Meng announced second and third place winners whose artwork will be displayed in her offices.
Second Place: April Mendiola, a student at Newtown High School in Elmhurst whose artwork will be displayed for one year in Meng’s Washington, D.C. office.
Third Place: Xin Qing Shi, a student at Newtown High School in Elmhurst whose artwork will be displayed for one year in Meng’s Flushing office; and Thomas Jankowski, a student at the Lowell School in Flushing whose artwork will be displayed for one year in Meng’s Forest Hills office.
Meng also noted that Chen will be awarded two roundtrip airplane tickets to Washington, D.C. – courtesy of Southwest Airlines – to join Meng at the opening ceremonies of the national art competition. The ceremony, scheduled to take place on Capitol Hill in June, will recognize Chen’s artistic talents as well as the talents of other young artists who won congressional district contests.
In addition, Chen, and the winners of each competition, will be eligible for a scholarship to the Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia. Chen has indicated that he is seeking to major in art and design in college.
The contest, which featured entries from Queens high school students, is part of “An Artistic Discovery,” the national art contest sponsored each year by the House that showcases the artwork of all congressional district art contest winners from across the nation.
Entries were submitted in several mediums including paintings (oil, watercolors, acrylic, etc.), collages, drawings and prints (lithographs, silk screens, etc.).The judges consisted of officials and staff members from the Queens Museum.
“Winning Congresswomen Meng’s art contest is a huge honor and I thank the judges for selecting my artwork as the winning entry,” Chen added. “I am excited about my piece hanging in the Capitol of the United States, and I look forward to traveling to Washington for the opening ceremonies of the art competition.”
