Great Neck’s loss is Bayside’s – and the U.S. Capitol’s gain.
Congressmember Gary Ackerman recently honored Bayside student Kang Hee Kim in Washington, D.C. for winning the Congressman’s 2010 “Fifth Congressional District Art Contest.”
Her winning artwork – along with winning entries from art contests in Congressional districts throughout the United States – will now be displayed for one year in the Cannon Tunnel, a heavily traveled corridor of the United States Capitol.
Kim moved to Bayside from Great Neck in May, but finished her semester and graduated from Great Neck North High School last month. She plans to attend the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore this fall.
The annual competition, which consists of entries from high schools throughout Ackerman’s district in Queens and Long Island, is part of “An Artistic Discovery,” the nationwide Congressional art contest that showcases the artwork of high school students from across the nation.
The Artistic Discovery competition began in 1982 as a way for Members of Congress to showcase the creative work of local high school students. Ackerman has participated in the contest each year since he was elected to Congress in 1983.
Kim attended the opening ceremony of the art competition on Capitol Hill, courtesy of Southwest Airlines, after Ackerman invited her to be part of the event. The ceremony recognized her outstanding artistic talents as well as the talents of other young artists from across the nation.
She was crowned the winner of Ackerman’s art contest in June, during a reception Ackerman hosted for students, parents and teachers at the Nassau County Museum of Art in Roslyn Harbor. Kim won for her painting entitled “Museum.”
In addition to the winner, there were two runners-up (one each from Queens and Nassau Counties) and several honorable mentions. Entries included paintings, collages, drawings and prints. The judges consisted of a juried panel of artists and art educators.
“The terrific works of art that were entered in this year’s Fifth Congressional District Art Contest exemplify the enormous amount of talent and creativity that exists in our local high schools” said Ackerman.
“I commend all of the students who participated, and congratulate Kang Hee Kim for winning this very competitive competition. I look forward to her outstanding artwork representing our Congressional District in the United States Capitol where it will be seen by hundreds of thousands of people from across the nation,” he continued.
