Fortuna Senior Wins Regional Art Contest

Arcata artist also receives Honorable Mention

Humboldt Sentinel
Scene 6/3/08
By Sentinel Staff

A local high school senior's artistic talent has earned her praise from the United States Congress.

Sarah Swanlund, who is graduating this month from Fortuna High School, was chosen by Congressman Mike Thompson (D - St. Helena) from contestants across the First District for the 2008 Artistic Discovery Award.

"Sarah is a tremendously talented artist," Thompson said in a release. "Her winning entry, Jazz, is emotional and fluid. She has a mastery of technique far beyond her years."

Sarah's art, along with winners from 434 other districts, will be on display at the U.S. Capitol for the next year. Swanlund and two guests will be flown to Washington, D.C. for an exhibit ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 25.

According to the release, Swanlund is attending Humboldt State University this fall and plans to pursue art and graphic design.

The Artistic Discovery contest has been sponsored annually by Congress since 1982 for high school students to showcase their talent, and hundreds of thousands of high school students have participated throughout the country. In addition to the local winner, an Honorable Mention was awarded to Vajra Snow from the Arcata Art Institute for a pop art self portrait.