Winner will receive two round-trip air tickets to see their artwork displayed in US Capitol

Washington, DC - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) today invited high school students from across Iowa's First Congressional District to submit original artwork for the annual Congressional Art Competition, "An Artistic Discovery."

The Congressional Art Competition, first held in 1982, is a nationwide high school arts competition sponsored by the US House of Representatives.  One winning piece of artwork from each House district will be selected to be displayed in the Cannon Tunnel of the US Capitol Building in Washington for the next year.

"I encourage Iowa high school students to participate in this year's art competition," Braley said.  "There are many gifted young artists in eastern Iowa, and this is a great opportunity for their work to be displayed for thousands of people to see.  It's a great honor to feature the work of an outstanding young artist in the US Capitol."

Any high school student from the First Congressional District of Iowa is eligible to submit their artwork for consideration.  To enter, students must submit a digital image of their artwork via Braley's website.  The submissions will be compiled into an internet gallery for public voting.

The submission deadline is April 23^rd, 2012.  There is a limit of one submission per student.  Voting will close on May 1^st, 2012, and the winner will be announced.  He or she will receive two round-trip airline tickets to Washington, DC, to see their artwork displayed and attend a winners' reception.

For full details on the 2012 Art Competition, including information on how to enter, please visit Braley's website at http://braley.house.gov/art-competition.

List of Past Iowa First District Art Competition Winners:

2007    Jonathan Welser, Davenport

2008    Stephanie Tarnish, Davenport

2009    Mitch Doll, Davenport

2010    Emily Schroeder, Cedar Falls

2011    Krista Stork, Dubuque

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Bettendorf – With a week off from school, area parents and kids are looking for fun and exciting activities during spring break. From March 11 - March 17 the Family Museum is offering seven days of just that: programs ranging from live music, live animals, science, and performance art. Events and performances are included with paid admission or Family Museum membership.

SUNDAY, MARCH 11

Jim Gill

Performance at 2:00 PM

Jim Gill, an award-winning musician and author, offers more than a show - each concert is an opportunity for family play! In concert, Jim strums energetic rhythms on his banjo while everyone claps, sings, dances and even sneezes along to silly and inspiring musical games!

MONDAY, MARCH 12

Comedy Sportz

Performance at 10:00 AM

Get ready for some laughs! The Comedy Sportz team from right here in the Quad Cities will take the stage at the Family Museum! The act-letes' hilarious audience-involved improvisation skits will have kids giggling!

Instrument Petting Zoo

Stop by anytime 1:00 - 3:00 PM

Get ready to roll up your sleeves and pet some instruments! Our friends from West Music are bringing along a sampling of instruments kids can try for themselves. It's a great way to pique a musical interest in young children.

TUESDAY, MARCH 13

Chasing4Life

Presentation at 10:00 AM

Are you and your family prepared in case a disaster strikes?  What do you do if a tornado is headed your way? How do your prepare your children without scaring them?  Experts in storm chasing get to the facts to educate you about disaster preparedness.

Niabi Zoo

Presentation at 2:00 PM

Meet some friendly critters from the Niabi Zoo!  A Zookeeper will bring a variety of animals for you to see, and they will share with us the zoo's role in animal conservation.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14 and THURSDAY, MARCH 15

Insect Zoo

Thursday: Zoo is open from noon - 2:00 PM with a presentation at 1:00 PM

Friday: Zoo is open from 10:00 AM - noon with a presentation at 11:00 AM

Do you love bugs? Come see, touch, and learn about all kinds of awesome insects with the Iowa State University Department of Entomology Insect Zoo! You'll meet insects found in Iowa and throughout the world.

FRIDAY, MARCH 16

Bubble Wonders: Anything Is Possible!

Performance at 10:00 AM

You won't want to miss this fun, inspiring, sticky, and educational show! Bubble Wonders is full of amazing tricks like the Bubble Caterpillar, the Bubble Volcano, the Dancing Bubble, a Bubble Merry-Go-Round, and much more!

SATURDAY, MARCH 17

Grossology!

Performances at 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM

Boogers, vomit, urine, sweat, pimples...nothing is off limits with Sylvia! Come prepared for a little bit of gross-out with a lot of education as to why this icky stuff is crucial to human health and well-being.

Sponsored by the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs

The Figge Art Museum is opening its new Artica Gallery on Saturday, February 25th, at 2 pm. A formal program in the auditorium will honor all project participants, followed by a ribbon cutting. Light refreshments will be served. The installation was made possible with support from the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust.

Artica helps visitors discover where artists find inspiration, how artists use their imagination to be creative, and how artists express their ideas. Artica also encourages visitors to look, imagine, and create. Five images from the Figge's permanent collection, reproduced in vinyl, serve as the inspiration for the displays and hands-on activities. "Artica Guides" offer tips for parents and caregivers on what to talk about with children when viewing the five works of art.

Activities are designed for children, but many activities can be adapted to visitors of all ages. A brief description of each station is listed below:

Station 1:  Artists challenge us to see the world differently.

A linoleum print of a woman's face by Spanish artist Pablo Picasso is the inspiration for the drawing activities at this station. To learn about the relief printmaking process, watch the 7-minute video featuring St. Ambrose University Art professor Joseph Lappie demonstrating how a multi-colored linoleum print is made. The film was produced by Matt Carroll, a professor in the Communications Department at St. Ambrose University. Self-portraits drawn by students who attend elementary schools in Bettendorf, Davenport, Geneseo, Moline, and Pleasant Valley are sprinkled throughout the gallery.

Station 2: Artists express what we feel.

Why are penguins vacationing in the Caribbean? After viewing this humorous picture painted by Haitian artist Jasmin Joseph, make your own penguin finger puppet or draw a picture of your favorite animal playing a musical instrument. Colorful pictures depicting animals playing musical instruments drawn by students who attend elementary schools in Bettendorf, Davenport, Geneseo, Moline, and Pleasant Valley will serve as inspiration.

Station 3: Artists make the ordinary extraordinary.

How could an artist transform a simple chair into a throne? One Haitian painter did just that by embellishing it with painted designs and flowers. After viewing this colorful work, try making your own miniature chair using a variety of materials.

Station 4: Artists engage our imagination.

The colorful "gingerbread" houses that were constructed in Haiti around the turn of the 20^th century are characterized by bright colors, tall ceilings, decorative latticework, and wrap-around porches. After viewing this imaginative painting, construct your own "gingerbread" house using the provided template. Colorful blocks and Legos are also available for aspiring young architects.

Station 5: Artists play with line, shape and color.

The Spanish artist Joan Miró created playful images using expressive lines, unique shapes, and bright colors. Experiment with color using the large wall board or the computer software programs.

The Artica Gallery also includes picture books that help teach children about the Artica concepts of inspiration, imagination, and expression.

Leanne Paetz of Pederson Paetz, Omaha, designed the Artica Gallery. The palette of cool colors including aqua, blue, and green was inspired by the colors in the painting of the penguins described above. The playful font and design elements create a lively, animated space that will appeal to children and those young at heart.

Admission to the reception is $10 per families. Admission is free to Figge members and institutional members. The Artica Gallery is open during regular museum hours and is free with admission or membership.

For information about museum programs, visit the Figge website at www.figgeart.org.

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