By: Danielle Incognito

Millburn High School’s Angela Huang recently won second place in the Congressional Art Contest for her work, “Atarxy.”  She was celebrated alongside Grace He from Montgomery High School who won with the entry, “Besides the Water,” which will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol with the other winners from Congressional District’s across the country. 

Each spring, the Congressional Institute holds an art contest to honor artistic talent all across the nation. It began in 1982, and more than 650,000 students have participated. Students entries go to their representative’s office, and artists in the districts select the winners. The winners are recognized in their district as well as in a ceremony held annually in Washington, DC.  The winning art pieces are displayed for one year in the US Capitol.

Three winners were chosen in Congressman Tom Malinowski’s congressional art contest.   The competition ran in every congressional district in the nation, and Malinowski’s was open to high school students in New Jersey’s Seventh Congressional District. 

The congressman posted, “Congratulations to Angela Huang from Millburn High School for winning second place in the 2019 Congressional Art Competition with her work “Ataraxy”!

Other posts on Malinowski’s page read, “Angela, that is an amazing piece of art! You have a bright future!”

The student’s art works submitted by 83 students from across the seventh district were judged on visual impact, design, originality, and craftsmanship. Judges included Marjorie Nathanson, Executive Director of the Hunterdon County Art Museum.  Sculptor and Adjunct Professor Michael Wolf, along with the director of the Matheny Art Access Arts Program, Eileen Murray, also judged the art competition. 

Rules applied for the students who decided to enter. Their artwork had to be two-dimensional, and each framed artwork had to be no larger than 26 inches high, 26 inches wide, and 4 inches deep, weighing no more than 15 pounds framed. Each entry had to be original in concept and design.