BEVERLY — Several Cape Ann students were among the winners of this year’s 6th District Congressional Art Show & Competition, hosted by Beverly’s Montserrat College of Art and sponsored by U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Salem.
The competition showcases the creative work of students from private or public high schools in the district in grades 10-12, including students who are homeschooled.
Winning Best of School awards were:
Cade Cooper from Gloucester High for “Found Fahim.”
Caitlin Morin from Rockport High for “Melodic Burnout.”
Miles Takayesu of Manchester Essex Regional High School for “Unity.”
Manchester Essex Regional student Henry Swerdloff received honorable mention for his still life “We All Love Poppa Marvin.”
“I am always moved when I see so many talented young artists across the North Shore using art to express themselves,” Moulton said. “We all spend far too much time staring at the screens these days. We should take the lead of these talented students and spend more time doing things that inspire us.”
Moulton encouraged the students to continue their art endeavors.
“Keep harnessing those talents and keep creating,” he said.
Manchester Essex Regional High School Principal Julie Sgroi and art educator Tamera Burns had words of praise for Takayesu and Swerdloff.
“Congratulations to all of our students,” said Sgroi. “I am so glad they earned this opportunity to showcase their vision and talent and we are beyond proud to have their work represent MERHS.”
Sgroi and Burns also recognized Addison Lai, Cora Hughes, Pippa Springler and Ali Erdogan whose art was displayed in the contest.
The jurors select a Best of School award from each submitting school, which was then considered for the four top awards — Grand Winner Award, First Prize, Second Prize and Third Prize.
Burns said the effort made by the students paid off.
“Each student worked so hard on their projects and to see them get the acknowledgement they deserve is beyond rewarding,” she said. “These students should be extremely proud.”
This year’s grand prize winner is Herin Lee from Billerica High School, whose piece, “Vulnerable,” will be sent to Washington, D.C., to hang in the Capitol building.
Erica Langlais from Danvers High School won first prize for “Yin & Yang” while Alexi Sutaria of the Landmark School earned second for “Tweety.” Chloe Nickerson from Marblehead High School earned a third prize for “Lost in the Shadow.”
Other local students who wonthe Best of School category ware Lauren Parga from Beverly High School who won for “Childlike Indulgence,” Julia Bial from Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School for “Taxi” and Annabelle Johnson from Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School for her work “The Blues.”
Also winning in the “Honorable Mention” category was Joelle DiGrazia from Masconomet Regional High School for “Video Games.”
Each year, the entries are submitted for the contest by high school art faculty and the works are displayed in a formal gallery setting. The works are judged by a panel of three jurors with a background in the arts and arts education.
Stephen Hagan can be reached at 978-675-2708 or at shagan@northofboston.com.