Congressman Hudson recognizes the need for art in schools

“It (Art) is critical,” said the Congressman, at the reception. “It’s part of brain development. It makes people better students by accessing that part of the brain, and getting them to think critically.”

Researchers have long known that art paves new pathways through the brain, unlocking those higher-level thinking skills, but teachers have probably known that a lot longer.

“You can’t build and design a skyscraper if you can’t draw a cube,” said Concord High School art teacher Quin Dionne. “It starts with that foundation, and building on and understanding the process is where the arts come in.”

Winners of the Congressional Art Competition include Sunni Ballard, Jordan Banks, Madison Barnhardt, Keyona Bost, Maurice Brown, Reese Brown, Kendall DePina, Courtney Durant, Opal Dye, Yoni Early, Sophia Farrar, Tatiana Gantt, Molly Handler, Jayden Harper, Summer Hopkins, Maxton Horton, Ashton House, Titania Hunter, Kamrin Kuenzel, Vasilios Labrakis, Breanna Lautzenheiser, Karina McMillan, Marisa McMillan, Abby Moose, Kelsey Owens, Allan Pinto, Rebecca Poole, Tyler Revis, Hannah Tatman, Ava Thomas, Ammini Thompson, Neinke Velderman, Bryce Vorreyer, Abby Wise, and Qing Xi Li.

Karina G. McMillan, a senior from Lumberton High School won first place for her graphite piece, My Family, which will hang for one year in the U.S. Capitol. McMillan is also invited to attend the national ceremony in Washington, D.C., celebrating district winners across the country.

Westover High School eleventh grader, Jayden Harper’s untitled piece, a pencil drawing of black leaders Barack Obama, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, jr., and Malcolm X, won second place. His work will hang in Hudson’s D.C. office for the one year.

Ashton House, a senior at Concord High School, won third place for her chalk pastel piece, Carolina Champ, whichwill hang in Hudson’s D.C. office for the one year.

At the reception, Keyona Bost, an eleventh grader at Westover High School in Fayetteville watched as people studied her piece, Last Light. When asked about her thought process, the girl who had been quietly observing had plenty to say.

“When I drew it, there were a lot of things going around in my head at the time,” said Bost. “I wanted to include all of my different emotions in the flame.”

Bost’s mother, Lavern, said her daughter has always expressed herself through art, which has blossomed through high school art classes.

“I hope they never take that away from the children because it’s their way of expressing their trueness, their individuality, their inner thoughts,” she said. “Some kids can’t do that through talk, but they can through art and painting.”