Perpich Students Place in Congressional District Art Competitions

May 1, 2025

Shelby Whaley (Visual Arts 2025) is pictured with Rep. Ilhan Omar at the April 24th 5th Congressional Art Show exhibition.

Congratulations to Jamie Davis (Visual Arts 2026) and Shelby Whaley (Visual Arts 2025) for earning second place in their respective Congressional District Art Competitions! Jamie entered the competition in the 3rd Congressional District (his home district) and Shelby entered in the 5th Congressional District (where Perpich is located). The second place artworks will be displayed for the next year in the Washington D.C. offices of Rep. Kelly Morrison (MN-3) and Rep. Ilhan Omar (MN-5). Jamie’s piece is titled “Home By Now”. Shelby’s piece is a photograph of his hand-carved wooden fish wind chime sculpture titled “A Glimpse Beneath”.

“The other entries were incredible,” said Jamie Davis, “and it was a huge honor to be both recognized and in the show!”

Shelby Whaley said, “It was an honor to be a part of the congressional art show and I’m so excited that my piece gets to be displayed for someone else to enjoy.”

Four other Perpich students had their artwork displayed alongside Shelby’s at the 5th Congressional District exhibition. Abigail Gallardo (Visual Arts 2026), Leon Cabot (Media Arts 2026), Evelyn McGuire (Media Arts 2025), and Aster Hawley (Media Arts 2026) were recognized.

“This year’s theme was about the Dakota meaning of the word Minnesota, ‘Where the water reflects the sky’,” said Kathryn D’Elia, Studio Arts Chair and Visual Arts Instructor. “We selected five artworks that related to or were created specifically for this theme. I am very proud of all the Perpich works featured. They all related so well to the theme and represented a strong showing on behalf of our school.”

“Shelby’s artwork was created for his Capstone exhibition earlier this year,” said D’Elia. “The other teachers and I were all struck by its quality, originality, and connection to the natural appeal of our state. The Congressional show typically features 2D work only. We reached out to see if we could include Shelby’s incredible sculpture via a high quality image of the artwork. They allowed us to do so, and Khalid Ali, Media Arts Instructor, assisted with the photography and framing.”

Kate Vinson, Visual Arts Instructor, added, “It is wonderful to see Shelby’s artistic growth, skill development, and artistic expression in sculpture advance in leaps and bounds over the two years here at Perpich. This artwork is a fabulous example for the Congressional theme as well as a representative of connection for all of Minnesota.”

Jamie Davis’s piece, “Home By Now”, received 2nd place in the 3rd Congressional District competition

Brett Bowman, Staff Assistant for Rep. Morrison, said of Davis’s work, “‘Home By Now’ is an incredible piece and we’d love to have it here. Jamie is such a talented student and the artwork is incredible.”

Kathryn D’Elia added to the praise for Jamie Davis. “Jamie has incredible initiative,” she said. “In addition to creating his artwork, he also reached out to his local congresswoman, Kelly Morrison, to participate in the art competition in the district he lives in. Together, we were able to make sure Jamie’s piece could be included. It’s a wonderful piece and I’m so glad Jamie was recognized.”

Jamie Davis is from Minnetonka, MN and is the child of Erika and Matt Davis. He previously attended PiM Arts High School in Eden Prairie, MN.

Shelby Whaley is from Foley, MN and is the child of Tracey and Joshua Whaley. He previously attended Becker High School in Becker, MN.

The Congressional District Art Competition is open to all high schoolers who live or attend school in a district of a participating U.S. Representative. Each piece must meet the requirements outlined by the national organizers: no larger than 26 inches by 26 inches by 4 inches deep, and no heavier than 15 pounds. Accepted mediums include paintings, drawings, prints, mixed media, collages, computer-generated art, and photographs. Entries must be original in concept, design, and execution and may not violate any U.S. copyright laws.

Each spring, the Congressional Institute sponsors the nationwide high school visual art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent in the nation and in each congressional district. Since the Artistic Discovery competition began in 1982, more than 650,000 high school students have participated.

Students submit entries to their representative’s office, and panels of district artists select the winning entries. First place winners are recognized both in their district and at an annual awards ceremony in Washington, DC. The winning works are displayed for one year at the U.S. Capitol.