日韩中文字幕福利片

Capitol Hill is where you can find an oil painting by 日韩中文字幕福利片 freshman Lydia Higgins on display to the delight of lawmakers and other passersby in Washington D.C.

Her winning artwork titled 鈥淲ar Paints鈥� is hanging in a pedestrian walkway connecting the U.S. Capitol with the oldest House office building.

Artwork of winners from congressional districts throughout the United States lines the  connecting the Capitol with the Cannon House Office Building.

Every year, the Congressional Institute sponsors for students a nationwide visual art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent in the United States and each congressional district.

Higgins won first place in the 2020 for the Illinois 15th Congressional District represented by U.S. Congressman John Shimkus. 

When Higgins received the phone call notifying her that she won, her excitement bubbled over.

鈥淪o many people can enter this contest, and it鈥檚 a huge district,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 was blown away when I got the call.鈥�

鈥淲ar Paints鈥� depicts a girl covered in paint with a butterfly over her mouth. The paint is symbolic of the heartache and pain people are experiencing. The butterfly represents beauty in the midst of the many challenges her generation is facing including the Covid-19 coronavirus and mental illness.

"Lydia's technique certainly stood out in her piece,鈥� Shimkus said in a press release. 

Higgins, an elementary education major from Lawrenceville, Illinois, spent around a month painting the winning piece.

鈥淭here鈥檚 so much going on in the world,鈥� she said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 Covid. Lots of people are dealing with mental illness, especially in my generation. So many people are having to deal with tough issues at such a younger age. The butterfly represents hope, freedom, and what we are working towards especially now during Covid."

Art is essential. We need it now more than ever. It enriches our lives, relieves stress, helps shape ideas, and transports us to different spaces.

As a future elementary teacher, Higgins plans to incorporate art into her classroom. She is learning how to integrate art into daily classroom instruction in an Art for the Elementary Teacher course she is currently taking. 

Higgins admits it breaks her heart that art education is being eliminated or decreased in many K-12 schools. 

鈥淎rt is such an important part of the learning process and being creative,鈥� she said.

She helps fulfill her passion and creativity by encouraging art among younger students. Before Covid-19, she taught art to 4H students. 

Covid-19 also kept Higgins from traveling to Washington D.C. to attend a special ceremony celebrating the winners of the congressional art competition. Winners of the art contest receive airline tickets to attend a reception and unveiling of the exhibit. Unfortunately, the event is not being held this year due to Covid-19. 

Higgins hopes to make a trip next year to see her painting on display in a famous place.

鈥淚 would enjoy getting to see it,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not the end of the world if I don鈥檛 get to see it. It鈥檚 still up there, but I would love to get to see it.鈥�

In 2018, her 鈥淧ortrait鈥� entry was an honorable mention selection in the annual congressional competition. It was on display in one of the congressman鈥檚 Illinois district offices. 

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