The Maryland 8th Congressional District's art competition drew 125 entries, which congressman Jamie Raskin said provide a window into the lives of teenagers. Have a look at all the winners.
The first-place winner “Promise to Keep You Safe,” by Yun Ji Choi, 16, of Walter Johnson High School.
(Courtesy Yun Ji Choi)
Courtesy Yun Ji Choi
Second-place winner “Loss of the Mind,” by Hamza Woodson, of Winters Mill High School, in Westminster, Maryland.
(Courtesy Hamza Woodson)
Courtesy Hamza Woodson
Second-place winner “El Camino de Esperanza,” by Taylor Palomo, of Winters Mill High School, in Westminster, Maryland.
(Courtesy Taylor Palomo)
Courtesy Taylor Palomo
Second-place winner “Every Which Way,” by Emily Stillings, of Liberty High School, in Eldersburg, Maryland.
(Courtesy Emily Stillings)
Courtesy Emily Stillings
Second-place winner “Pearfection,” by Aidan Leskoski, of Oakdale High School, in Ijamsville, Maryland.
(Courtesy Aidan Leskoski)
Courtesy Aidan Leskoski
Second-place winner “Purple Mystery,” by Natalie Fox, Middletown High School, in Middletown, Maryland.
(Courtesy Natalie Fox)
Courtesy Natalie Fox
Second-place winner “October Potomac,” by Olivia Brett-Major, of Holton-Arms School, in Bethesda, Maryland.
(Courtesy Olivia Brett-Major)
Courtesy Olivia Brett-Major
Second-place winner “Composed,” by Katherine Yoon, of Holton-Arms School, in Bethesda, Maryland.
(Courtesy Katherine Yoon)
Courtesy Katherine Yoon
Second-place winner “Static,” by Ava Dettling, of the National Cathedral School, in Washington, D.C.
(Courtesy Ava Dettling)
Courtesy Ava Dettling
Second-place winner “Chinatown,” by Myka Fromm, of Richard Montgomery High School, in Rockville, Maryland.
(Courtesy Myka Fromm)
Courtesy Myka Fromm
Second-place winner “The Puppeteer,” by Jerry Ji, of the Landon School, in Bethesda, Maryland.
(Courtesy Jerry Ji)
Courtesy Jerry Ji
Second-place winner “Venice,” by Yonina Levisohn, of the Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy, in Rockville, Maryland.
(Courtesy Yonina Levisohn)
Courtesy Yonina Levisohn
Second-place winner “Borders,” by Sofia Montes Garzon, of Albert Einstein High School, in Kensington, Maryland.
(Courtesy Sofia Montes Garzon)
Courtesy Sofia Montes Garzon
Second-place winner “Grace,” by Regina Orradottir, of Albert Einstein High School, in Kensington, Maryland.
(Courtesy Regina Orradottir)
Courtesy Regina Orradottir
Second-place winner “Never Mail an Elephant,” by Kelsea Petersen, of Albert Einstein High School, in Kensington, Maryland.
(Courtesy Kelsea Petersen)
Courtesy Kelsea Petersen
Second-place winner “The Green Dog,” by Grady Williams, of Albert Einstein High School, in Kensington, Maryland.
(Courtesy Grady Williams)
Courtesy Grady Williams
Second-place winner “Immortalized Mask,” by Nadine Vos, of Stone Ridge of the Sacred Heart, in Bethesda, Maryland.
(Courtesy Nadine Vos)
Courtesy Nadine Vos
Second-place winner “Braiding,” by Joyce Wang, of Thomas S. Wootton High School, in Rockville, Maryland.
(Courtesy Joyce Wang)
Teenagers don’t always tell you what they’re feeling; often, they show you. And Rep. Jamie Raskin, of Maryland, said the challenges of the past year are evident in the artwork submitted in the 8th Congressional District’s art competition.
The 125 entries, he said, provide a window into the lives of teenagers, and the artwork “is a reflection of how so many of them have channeled these feelings of despair in some cases, or loneliness in others, and hope, into beautiful artwork.”
The first-place winner is Yun Ji Choi, 16, of Rockville, who attends Walter Johnson High School and is enrolled in the visual arts magnet program at Einstein High School.
Choi said that between worrying whether someone she loved could be directly affected by the coronavirus pandemic, and spending her junior year of high school taking classes from home, “There have been some difficult times.”
Her submission for the competition was a digital self-portrait that includes her cat, Oliver.
Raskin said, “It’s a beautiful rendering of the relationship between a person and an animal. It’s just a gorgeous piece of art.”
But something else resonated with Raskin: “Her piece of art is strikingly comforting.” And that’s what Choi intended.
Over the course of the year, being separated from friends and typical high school social activities, Oliver was always there. “Whenever I just look at him, it makes me calm down significantly. And it makes my mood so much better,” she said.
The title of the piece is “Promise to Keep You Safe.” Choi said she wanted to create a comforting scene, and she also said, “It’s, like, my duty, of course, as an owner to take care of him and make him feel safe — like he has done for me.”
Choi said she was grateful, and shocked, to learn her piece had won first place. And she credited her teachers at Einstein, Mygenet Harris and Jane Walsh, with helping her work remotely and prepare her piece for the competition.
Raskin said the contest showcased a diverse array of stunning work: “Some are working in graphite pencil; some are working in acrylic paint. Some are working in oil paint.” He joked that he made sure that professional artists had the tough job of selecting a winner. Five local artists were involved, and Raskin said their trained eyes were as dazzled as he was. “This batch of entries just completely took their breath away.”
Choi’s work will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol along with entries from congressional districts across the country. Seventeen second-place winners will have their works exhibited in Raskin’s congressional offices.
As soon as it’s safe to do so, Raskin said, he hopes to invite Choi and all the young artists to the Capitol to celebrate their work.
As a member of the award-winning WTOP News, Kate is focused on state and local government. Her focus has always been on how decisions made in a council chamber or state house affect your house. She's also covered breaking news, education and more.
