Mrvan Announces Winner of 2024 Congressional Art Competition from Munster High School

Washington, DC – Today, Rep. Frank J. Mrvan announced that Madalyn Martin of Munster High School is the winner of the 2024 Congressional Art Competition.  Madalyn used gouache paint to create her winning artwork, “Stan’s Bait & Tackle,” which depicts Stan’s Bait and Tackle store located in Hammond at night time. 

Congressman Mrvan stated, “Thank you to all of the students from Indiana’s First Congressional District who showcased their creativity in the Congressional Art Competition.  Congratulations to Madalyn from Munster High School on your outstanding achievement and exceptional display of artistic talent.” 

Madalyn Martin stated, “I was working on adding a few pieces to my architecture portfolio for college and took a picture of this shop because I love the influence of Mexican architecture style on the building.  I had been working on this painting in my free time for months and decided to use it as my submission for the Congressional Art Competition because I felt that the building style highlights the way that the culture of local people can impact the community as a whole.”

Elena Lopez, Art Teacher at Munster High School, stated, “Madalyn Martin has a strong sense of line, color, surface and texture, of balancing and composing her personal works.  She applied these as Costume Designer for the Munster HS Theatre, and in presentation of group works for Regional Art shows.  She often uses mixed media that challenges the surfaces of her works, brings a fluidity, merging the 2D and 3D Design spaces into cohesive presentations and performances.  This translation of design and constructed space will serve her well, as she plans on majoring in architecture at Ball State’s College of Architecture and Planning.”

Morgan Nolan, Principal of Munster High School, stated, “We are proud of Madalyn’s hard work and dedication to the arts, and this award is well deserved.  This award continues a long legacy of visual arts at Munster High School.”

Bret Heller, Superintendent of the School Town of Munster, stated, “It is with immense pride that we congratulate Madalyn Martin on her distinguished achievement as the winner of the 2024 Congressional Art Competition.  Madalyn's dedication, creativity, and passion for art are truly exemplary.  Her remarkable achievement not only showcases her exceptional talent and hard work but also highlights the commitment to the arts fostered within the School Town of Munster.  We are proud of her accomplishments and look forward with excitement to her promising future.  Madalyn has undoubtedly brought great honor to Munster High School.”

Julia Gibbs, Executive Director of the Miller Beach Arts & Creative District and Judge of the Congressional Art Competition, stated, “Among a field of very strong contenders, Ms. Martin impressed me with her technical skill in painting a night scene and with the subject – a quintessentially Midwestern streetscape.”

To learn more about the Congressional Art Competition, click here.

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