Portage senior wins art competition hosted by U.S. Rep. Fred Upton

Portage Central High School

Portage Central High School. (Joel Bissell | MLive.com)Joel Bissell | MLive.com

PORTAGE, MI -- A high school senior from Portage is the winner of this year’s Congressional Art Competition for Michigan’s 6th District.

Hayden Siebers, a senior at Portage Central High School, was announced as the winner of the annual competition hosted by Rep. Fred Upton, according to a press release from the congressman’s office.

Siebers’ art, composed of ink pen, is titled “Sunset in Playa del Carmen,” and will hang in the U.S. Capitol for one year, the release said. To see a copy of the artwork, visit upton.house.gov.

“Hayden’s art demonstrates his exceptional talent, and despite receiving a number of exceptional submissions, “Sunset in Playa del Carmen” stood out,” Upton said. “This art piece will hang in the U.S. Capitol with hundreds of other winners, all representing their unique communities. I want to wish Hayden a sincere congratulations, and thank everyone who participated in the 2021 Congressional Art Competition.”

Upton’s office partnered with the Kalamazoo Institute of Art for the competition. The competition in the 6th District was held in conjunction with the KIA’s High School Area Show, the release said.

“It’s such an honor that my art – “Sunset in Playa del Carmen” – was chosen to represent southwest Michigan in the Capitol in this year’s Congressional Art Competition,” Siebers said. “I am grateful for so many who have helped get to this point, and I really appreciate the KIA for providing this incredible opportunity for artists across our area.”

The nationwide annual art competition was initiated by members of the U.S. House of Representatives in 1982, the release said.

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