A senior from Saint Joseph Notre Dame High School (SJND) will have his photograph grace the halls of Congress. Each spring, the Alexandria, Va.-based non-profit Congressional Institute sponsors “Congressional Arts Competition, An Artistic Discovery,” a nationwide high-school visual-art competition. The institute works with Congress to recognize and encourage artistic talent in each congressional district. 

Students compete across the county for the honor of having their artwork hang for a year in the heavily traveled corridor that connects the Canon House Office Building with the U. S. Capitol. 

Submissions range from drawings in colored pencil, pencil, ink, marker, pastels and charcoal; two-dimensional collages; prints that include lithographs, silkscreen and block prints; mixed media that use more than two media such as pencil and ink or watercolor and pastels; computer-generated art and photographs.

This year more than 80 East Bay students competed for the honor of representing the 13th Congressional District.

Last week, Congresswoman Barbara Lee visited St. Joseph Notre Dame High School to make the surprise announcement that a panel of artists selected senior Taylor Griffith’s artwork, a photograph entitled “Oakland in My Dreams” as the 13th District’s winner.

“This competition is extremely important because it highlights the talents of so many young artists throughout the East Bay,” said Lee. “I congratulate Taylor Griffith on being this year’s winner and I send my warmest regards to all the students who participated.”

“We’re excited that Taylor is being recognized for his talents as a photographer and artist. SJND has always participated in the Congressional art contest each year, and we’re happy to welcome Congresswoman Lee to our campus in Alameda,” said Principal Simon Chiu. “Taylor’s work is a product of his God-given talents, the support of his art teachers here at SJND and the wonderful support of his family.”

Griffith also works as an intern at the Alameda Sun.