BRHS Junior Wins Congressional Art Contest

Bridgewater, NJ -- Mix together a bit of charcoal, newspaper and coffee and you have got yourself a winning painting.

Bridgewater-Raritan High School junior Sanjana Rao was voted the winner of the 2016 Congressional Art Contest for her oil painting, “Thoughts of Coffee on You.” She will head to Washington in June to see her artwork displayed in the United States Capitol Building.

“It was really great to win something that I worked so hard for and am passionate about, all at the same time,” Rao told Patch.

The contest, held at the Merck Campus in Kenilworth, displayed 93 original pieces of art, all created by high school students from New Jersey’s Seventh Congressional District.

“Congratulations on these incredible works of art. The talent on display here is amazing and I am very pleased this showcase gave all of you the opportunity to show your abilities and hard work and meet other young artists,” Congressman Leonard Lance said at the event in a release.

Rao’s self portrait came from a task she had to complete in her Art 2 Honors class. The parameters were to create self portrait and use charcoal. Rao took it a step further.

“I’m insanely addicted to coffee so I thought if I am doing a self portrait about me then I have to use coffee,” Rao said.

She used newspaper to dip in coffee and then used maps of the southeast and Disney World for the background which represent where she has been.

Rao, who is now taking Art 3 Honors at BRHS, is looking at colleges and would like to continue moving forward in her artistic career.

“I definitely want to do something involving art,” Rao said. “I am looking at other fields that could tie in with art like biology or engineering. I am undecided but I really love to do art.”

Jabili Kandula, a student at Governor Livingston High School, was awarded 2nd place for her piece titled Liberty Park.

Breanne DeBarros, a student at New Providence High School, was awarded 3rd place for @Play.

(Photo provided: Jabili Kandula, Sanjana Rao, Congressman Lance and Breanna DeBarros).