Local art enthusiasts gathered on Wednesday night to celebrate student creativity at the reception for the Chester County High School Art Exhibition and PA 6th District Congressional Art Competition at the Chester County Art Association in West Chester, PA. The exhibition featured nearly 500 works of art ranging from sculptures to oil paintings to colored pencil pieces and photography created by students from across Chester County. 

Participating students in the Chester County High School Art Exhibition who live in the 6th Congressional District of Pennsylvania also had the opportunity to submit their artwork to Representative Chrissy Houlahan's Congressional Art Competition. Each spring, across the nation, members of the U.S. House of Representatives sponsor a high school art competition, with the grand prize winner having their artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year.

The reception and awards ceremony, which was free and open to the public, was the pinnacle of this year’s exhibition, celebrating the many student artists whose work was displayed. During the event, awards were distributed for the Chester County High School Art Exhibition, determined by the Chester County Art Association, and Representative Chrissy Houlahan's Congressional Art Competition.

Emily Otto, a junior at B. Reed Henderson High School, achieved first place in the PA 6th District Congressional Art Competition. Her charcoal drawing, titled Mourning Dew, will be proudly displayed in the Capitol building for one year. 

“It’s amazing to see one of my pieces win first place, especially this one,” said Otto, who was surprised to win an award. “It took me so long to do; I put so much detail into it and I am glad that it won first place. It’s exhilarating!”

When asked what advice she might give to aspiring young artists, Otto answered, “It’s going to be a lot of work. Everyone says to trust the process and it’s true. Always trust the process. The more you practice, the better you will get.”

In addition to Otto, Mar Clark of Phoenixville Area High School placed second, Mason Warwick of Delaware Valley Friends School placed third, and Monica Stratton of Exeter Township Senior High School received an Honorable Mention in the competition. Clark and Warwick’s artwork will be displayed in Representative Houlahan’s offices in Reading, PA, and West Chester, PA.

The Chester County High School Art Exhibition and PA 6th District Congressional Art Competition is coordinated by the Chester County Intermediate Unit and is funded in part by a grant from CCRES Educational and Behavioral Health Services. To see a full list of the art show winners, visit www.cciu.org/Art-Show.