(Office of the CNMI Congressional Delegate) — U.S. Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan announced Yurong Ruth Zhang of Agape Christian School as the winner of the 2021 Northern Marianas Congressional Art Competition. A group of artist-judges chose Zhang’s work from among 38 entries submitted by high school students from Saipan, Tinian, and Rota for the annual competition.
“Congratulations to Ms. Zhang for winning this year’s Northern Marianas Congressional Art Competition,” said Sablan. “This year’s pool of submissions highlights the vast artistic talent of our young people here in the Northern Marianas. I commend every single student who participated in this year’s competition, and I look forward to seeing Ms. Zhang’s work on the walls of the Capitol.”
Yurong Zhang is a sophomore at Agape Christian School. Her entry in the Congressional Art Competition was one of 13 submitted by ACS art teacher and principal, Mrs. Jimean Pang.
Zhang’s work, titled “Dancing with Moon and Waves,” depicts a woman among the ocean waves with dolphins and a full moon in the background. Zhang describes her piece as “The ocean surrounding Saipan marks the birth of lives. The ‘daughter’ of the ocean is born to capture her dreams like the moon. Peacefully, people and nature live together as a wonderful community.” Her acrylic piece will be displayed for one year at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., alongside the winning art from congressional districts across the country.
This year marks the 13th year that students from the Northern Mariana Islands have been able to participate in the Congressional Art Competition. The congressional office received 38 entries for the 2021 competition from Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. This year’s Marianas gallery will be showcased on Congressman Sablan’s Facebook page.
“Despite the challenges of this year’s pandemic, we received one of the highest volume of entries since our district’s first competition in 2010. I thank our young artists for sharing their outstanding work and making this year another great year for the Art Competition.
“I am also grateful to our artist-judges for volunteering their time to judge this year’s entries. With 38 outstanding pieces to choose from, our judges truly had their work cut out for them,” Sablan said.
Congressman Sablan hosts the Congressional Art Competition annually for high school students in the spring. Students can submit artwork using a variety of media, such as oil, charcoal, watercolors, pencils, photographs, collages, prints, or computer-generated art.
Zhang joins a legacy of Northern Marianas artists who have had their work exhibited in the walkway that connects the Cannon House Office Building to the U.S. Capitol, where Members of Congress, staff, and thousands of visitors pass by annually. Previous winners from the Northern Mariana Islands include YuJeong Son, Julia Malate, Cheyanne Manuel, Cerijean Mangubat, Christian Montiveros, and Kathy He.
Yurong Zhang’s winning artwork, “Dancing With Moon and Waves.”
Office of the CNMI Congressional Delegate photo
