(Columbia, SC) – Congressman James E. Clyburn is pleased to announce the winner of the Sixth District Congressional Art Competition. This year’s winner is Kaison Smoak, a junior at Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School. He is the thirteenth winner from Orangeburg-Wilkinson in the competition’s 15-year history.
“I congratulate Kaison for keeping up the wonderful tradition of excellence at Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School,” Congressman Clyburn said. “A lot of credit must go to Alvin and Bretta Staley, who have provided their artistic talent and tutelage to students at the high school for years.”
His colored pencil drawing entitled Self Portrait with Classmates will be displayed on Capitol Hill for the next year in the corridor that connects the Capitol building with the U.S. House of Representatives offices.
“Kaison has demonstrated a keen eye and innate talent with his drawing,” Congressman Clyburn continued. “The realistic detail of his artwork made it stand out among the competition. I know his artwork will be a great addition to the Capitol Hill display.”
Kaison will travel to Washington, DC for a June 24th recognition ceremony. As the winner of the art competition, he is also eligible for a $1,500 scholarship per year to the Savannah College of Art and Design.
NaStaija Partee’, also a junior at Orangeburg-Wilkinson, had two of pieces of her artwork chosen as Honorable Mentions this year. Those pieces are a charcoal pencil drawing entitled Still life with fruits and a colored pencil drawing called Double self-portrait at door.
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