On Saturday, April 29, Sen. Doug Lamborn hosted the first congressional art competition at the Cottonwood School of Art in Colorado Springs, Colo. Five Falcon High School students participated, and all received recognition for their individual pieces.In the painting category, Helen Andrews placed first and Alice Coles third, and Kelly Champlain received an honorable mention. Lisa Shipley brought home an honorable mention in the mixed-media category.And Emily Giles was awarded “Best of Show” with her piece “He’s My Son,” a portrait with words and emotions.Giles was assigned an art project that incorporated words into a piece of art. She chose a portrait. She sketched a child’s face and created facial features and shadows with the words of a song. “It was a risk because I have never even attempted anything like this before, but I feel I was more than successful in my original goal of simply completing the assignment,” Giles said.The inspiration for her piece came from the words to the song, “He’s My Son,” by Mark Schultz. A father is praying for the life of his son who was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Giles said she identified with the lyrics because one of her best friend’s little brother had lymphoma. “This song resonated through their home and hearts,” she said. “They inspired me with their strength as a family.”The sleeping boy’s face in her picture is that of Giles’ little brother, Noah. “I wanted the piece to really personify the song, and I thought that would come across better if the child was a little boy of the appropriate age,” she said.Giles plans to pursue a degree in art history and/or art preservation. She’ll attend the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs this coming year, with hopes to then attend the Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Ga.Sarah Johnson, Giles’ art teacher at Falcon said her winning piece will hang in the Capitol in Washington, D.C. along with art pieces from high school students across the country.Giles is invited to the official ribbon cutting ceremony at the Capitol June 28. She’ll also receive a $5,000 scholarship to the Savannah College of Art and Design, where she plans to pursue a degree in art history and/or art preservation. She’ll spend this next year at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.This is Johnson’s first year teaching at Falcon High School. With almost 700 students in the advanced placement art program and participation in six art shows this past year, Johnson is off to a good start. But she said she has big plans for the art department. One goal is to increase the number of shows next year.And she hasn’t been stifled by school cutbacks in art departments statewide. She said D 49 has retained funding for its art program, and another art teacher may be hired this fall. “The district has been absolutely great and very supportive of our art program,” Johnson said.Art is about more than just “mushing paint around,” she said. “Art is about problem solving.”CONGRATULATIONS FROM THE NFH TO ALL THE FALCON HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FOR THEIR INDIVIDUAL ACHEIVEMENTS IN THE FIRST CONGRESSIONAL ART SHOW
