Kimberly VanDyke participates in 2003 Congressional Arts Competition event

      Kimberly, 15, was the winner of the competition for Michigan's Third Congressional District, sponsored by Congressman Vernon J. Ehlers. The junior-to-be at Forest Hills Northern High School was selected as winner of the Third District competition May 3 for her raku-style ceramic mask titled "Mask of My Mind."

      "It's a great opportunity to have kids come to Washington to see all this," Kimberly said. "I am very honored to be selected to participate."

      VanDyke was joined in Washington by her parents Dan and Kay, other family members and her art teacher, Laura Madison. The awardees were feted at a reception featuring recording artist Nivea and hosted by members of the Congressional Arts Caucus, of which Congressman Ehlers is a member.

      "It is a pleasure to have Kimberly and her family and her teacher here in Washington to participate in this opening," Ehlers said. "It is always very exciting to see the wide variety of art that is part of this annual exhibition."

      For this year's Third Congressional District competition, 40 students from 17 different high schools submitted entries, which were adjudicated by a committee representing the sponsors of the competition - the Grand Rapids Art Museum, Kendall College of Art and Design, the Kent Intermediate School District, Art Works and the Arts Council of Greater Grand Rapids.

      "The mask was made through an ancient firing technique called raku," she explained in her entry. "By blowing on the mask, between the time it was taken from the kiln and put into a hay-filled bin, I created crackles in the glass. By allowing in a certain amount of air into the bin, I created the unique colors used in my mask."

      Kimberly and one of her companions were flown to Washington courtesy of Travel by Gagnon travel agency of Grand Rapids and Midwest Airlines. Her artwork will be displayed in a corridor linking the U.S. Capitol and the Cannon House Office Building for the next year.