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Case Announces Winners Of His 2024 Congressional Art Competition

The winning entry will be displayed in the Capitol for a year along with other Congressional District winners from across the country

(Honolulu, HI) – U.S. Congressman Ed Case (Hawai‘i – District 1) announced the winners of his 2024 Congressional Art Competition during an awards ceremony at the Bishop Museum, where entries have been on public display.

“Forty-six art pieces were entered this year from fourteen schools throughout my district (Urban Honolulu),” said Case. “All of this year’s contestants earned our respect for participating in a contest that featured so many quality art pieces and made it so difficult for our judges to select the winners.”

“The quantity, quality and diversity of the artwork presented was inspiring and truly showcased the range of artistic talent across my district. I’ll be very proud to highlight the winners’ work in the U.S. Capitol and in my Congressional offices,” said Case.

Each spring since 1982, the Congressional Institute has sponsored a nationwide high school visual arts competition to recognize and encourage artistic talents in each Congressional district. Most U.S. House offices participate.

The winners for Case’s event this year are:

1st Place

Emily Yanos

Grade 12

Moanalua High School

Title: “Land of Love”

Medium: digital art

She and a guest will receive a round trip for two on Southwest Airlines to attend the National Awards Competition in Washington, D.C., among other prizes. 

Her image representing Hawai‘i’s 1st Congressional District will also be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year along with those of the winners in other districts.

2nd Place

Kai Yara

Grade 11

Punahou School

Title: “Weaving Tradition – Lei”

Medium: acrylic on canvas

His image will be displayed in the Washington, D.C. Office of Congressman Case for one year, along with a certificate.

3rd Place

Amelia Sofos

Grade 12

Punahou School

Title: “Thank you for growing with us”

Medium: alcohol markers on paper

Her image will be displayed in the District Office of Congressman Case in downtown Honolulu for one year, along with a certificate.

Honorable Mentions

Lingyan Chen

Grade 12

Farrington High School

Title: “Calm”

Medium: photography

Ariel Young

Grade 11

Kalani High School

Title: “July 7th, 1898”

Medium: photography

 Vheronica Jane Reinares

Grade 12

Farrington High School

Title: “Dysmorphia”

Medium: photography

Sophie Chan

Grade 10

Punahou School

Title: “Reframing Tropical Theatrics”

Medium: oil paint

“I want to especially thank our panel of judges who reviewed the works and made some very tough decisions,” said Case. The judges were:

-      Dwayne Adams

Local artist and art instructor focusing on watercolor painting. He resides in Kailua and his work focuses primarily on Hawaiian art, featuring scenes in and around Kailua, Honolulu, and other locations throughout the Hawaiian Islands.

-      Kelly Ciurej

Artist and photographer born and raised on Chicago’s Southside. Through the use of photographs, performance, artificial materials, and digital printing processes, she is interested in the ways in which photographs distort memories and instead create invented realities. She is a lecturer in photography at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.

-      Atis Puampai

Atis Puampai grew up in Pearl City and started his photographic endeavors documenting his local skate crew. He is currently interested in depicting various perspectives of time utilizing alternative capture  methods with homemade or modified equipment. Puampai is currently teaching at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa and resides in Honolulu.

-      Josephine Wu-Vuylsteke

Wu-Vuylsteke was a professional broadcaster in Taipei, Taiwan before becoming a full-time advocate for women's participation in civil society. She is currently a board member for both the Asia-Pacific Liberal Women Association and the International Network for Liberal Women. She is an active member and past president (2019-2020) of the North American Taiwanese Women's Association (NATWA), Hawaii Chapter, and is also an advisor and Asian Liaison to the Druk Foundation, a non-profit supporting the preservation of sacred arts in the nation of Bhutan.

Attachments:

  1. Picture of 1st place winner - Emily Yanos, Senior, Moanalua High School.
  2. Picture of 1st place entry - “Land of Love” (digital art)
  3. Group photo with Congressman Case, students who submitted entries, and judges.
  4. Video clip of event – one with 1st place winner Yanos announced.

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