On Wednesday, May 25, 2022, Congressman Jason Smith held a reception to recognize the young artists of Missouri’s Eighth District who placed in the 2022 Congressional Art Competition. Fifteen high school students from across the district made it to the final round and were honored at the reception. The winner of the competition is Macey Penner of Mountain Grove, whose piece is entitled “Blue Boy.”
“The artistic talent of the young men and women in our 30 counties is absolutely amazing,” said Congressman Smith. “I look forward to this opportunity to recognize some of the gifted students in our district every year. Congratulations to Macey Penner of Mountain Grove for her outstanding work on ‘Blue Boy’, which will hang in the U.S. Capitol Building to represent our district for the rest of the year.”
Penner is the daughter of Chris and Mendy Penner, and she plans to attend Oral Roberts University in Tulsa to continue her education after high school. As part of winning the competition, Congressman Smith provided Penner with two tickets to Washington, D.C. to view her work on display in the U.S. Capitol Building. It will be Penner’s first trip to the nation’s capital.
“It was my first time trying oil painting and I wanted to try to paint a human. I usually draw animals and objects, so I thought I would get out of my comfort zone and paint a person,” said Penner. “I am honored to have ‘Blue Boy’ chosen as one of the top 15 from our District and thankful to represent Mountain Grove in the Eighth Congressional District.”
Congressman Smith poses with Macey Penner of Mountain Grove and her winning piece, “Blue Boy,” which will hang in the United States Capitol Building to represent Missouri’s Eighth District.
Congressman Smith recognizes the Top 15 Congressional Art Competition winners from Missouri’s Eighth District at a reception in Rolla.
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