Cicilline Announces Winners of High School Art Competition

PAWTUCKET, RI – This week, U.S. Congressman David Cicilline (D-RI) announced the winners of the 2011 Congressional Art Competition for high school students at an award ceremony held in his District Office. The art competition is part of a national initiative that provides high school art students the opportunity to have their creative work acknowledged and the honor of having their work displayed in the United States Capitol.

The student finalists in Rhode Island’s First Congressional District were Nicholas Dellasanta of Little Compton; Rosabel Forte of Providence; Brynn Carley of Barrington Bean Costa of Pawtucket and Rebekah Sullivan of Slatersville.

The art piece of the first place winner, Bean Costa, will be displayed in the United States Capital, and Costa will receive roundtrip airline tickets donated by Southwest Airlines to Washington, DC in order to attend the national reception and view her artwork on display in the Capitol. The second place winner was Brynn Carley. Carley’s artwork will be displayed in Congressman Ciciilline’s office in Washington, DC. The runners up, Nicholas Dellasanta, Rosabel Forte and Rebekah Sullivan, all received Congressional Recognition for their work, and their artwork will be displayed in the Congressman’s district office in Pawtucket.

“I am proud to have such artistic talent in our state and to be able to celebrate that creativity. The artwork we received from the students is beautiful and I am glad we can provide these students with the opportunity to have their creative work displayed,” said Congressman David Cicilline.

The judges for the competition were Rhode Island State Council on the Arts Executive Director, Randy Rosenbaum and Community Arts Program Director, Elena Calderon Patino. The submissions were judged on creativity, originality, technical skill, subject matter and creative impact. The judges’ comments on each of the work of the finalists included: 

Youth by Nicholas Dellasanta

• You are immediately drawn to the children
• Makes you wonder where are they going
• Unique tone of green is interesting, makes you think about the technique used to achieve that tone

Arbor Day by Rosabel Forte

• Eye is led down the cemetery towards a colorful point in the distance
• The flag and flowers are attractive and add a touch of color to the piece, draws your eye to them

Perception by Brynn Carley

• Interesting
• Difficult technique used
• Lots of different textures

Self-Portrait by Bean Costa

• Makes you ask: What is she brooding over? What is she thinking?
• Lots of emotion in the piece

A New Start by Rebekah Sullivan

• Says something about hope
• Painting leads the eyes up from the person to the dove
• Very spiritual

Sponsored by the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives, the art competition provides an opportunity for Members of Congress to encourage and recognize the artistic talents of their young constituents across the nation. Congressman Cicilline’s Office coordinated the competition locally.