Photo by Wanda Jackson. Rep. Donna Edwards presents a certificate naming Omokuyani “Yani” Udiani as winner of the annual Fourth Congressional District art competition, “An Artistic Discovery.” In the background is his work, “What has the World Come To?”

Published on: Thursday, June 09, 2011

By Wanda Jackson

On the one hand, his art presents to viewers what the diversity of the world is like. On the other hand, his art invites you to glimpse into the lives of children from diverse nations and cultures. You will want to explore language, age, education. You will think about your own childhood. You will want to hug, and hopefully help a child.

It’s “good art,” and perhaps that is why Omokuyani “Yani” Udiani, a junior at Suitland High School, has been named the winner of the annual Fourth Congressional District art competition, “An Artistic Discovery.”

Udiani received the award for his photographic work: “What has the World Come To?,” which portrays experiences of children throughout the world. His work style, known as a photomontage, is a composite of several photographs which have been cut and joined, then re-photographed to create a seamless photographic print.

U.S. Rep. Donna F. Edwards, Md.-4, presented the award to Udiani at Harmony Hall Regional Center in Fort Washington on Monday afternoon.

“I love to see young people doing creative things. Contrary to the negative news we hear every day,” Edwards said. “And, I love all types of art.

“Art plays such an important role in our schools and our lives. It stimulates and enriches learning. Art encourages our children’s imagination and creativity, and it can teach lessons of math, history and other subjects in a memorable and profound way. It develops critical thinking … (and) prepares confident young men and women.”

In Edwards’ view, the arts provide a means to explore new worlds and to view life from another perspective, which is a critically important skill in today’s global economy.

“For that reason,” the congresswoman said, “I would like to see us invest even more in the arts.”

Udiani said he chose to do a “social piece to illustrate the issues in today’s society.”

To develop his idea, Udiani looked to photographer Dorothea Lange, an influential American documentary photographer, best known for her Depression-era work for the Farm Security Administration. Lange’s photographs humanized the tragic consequences of the Great Depression and profoundly influenced the development of documentary photography.

Udiani learned about Lange through one of his teachers, Donald Fear, who is also a photographer. Very much old school in methodology, Fear pushes his students to “develop steps in their head to complete the photographic process rather than just push buttons using digital technology.” 

“For the photomontage,” Fear said, “we literally cut and paste photographs, then re-photograph that work and make a silver print. There is absolutely no digital manipulation. Our students discover that art is one of the hardest jobs.”

Phyllis Wilson, co-chair of the Suitland High School art department, agrees with Fear.

“We have an intensive program that includes college-level work,” she said.

When asked about Udiani, Wilson said he is every school’s dream.

“Talented, dedicated … just a nice young man, who gets along well with people,” she said, “and just a very good thinker, which is a great asset in art.”

The Congressional Art Competition began in 1982 to provide an opportunity for members of Congress to encourage and recognize the artistic talents of their young constituents. It is an opportunity to recognize and encourage the artistic talent in the nation, as well as in each congressional district.

Udiani’s winning artwork will be on display with others from congressional districts across the country for one year in the U.S. Capitol complex in the tunnel leading from the Cannon House Office Building to the Capitol.

The art contest was free and open to all high school students’ grades 9 through 12 who reside in the Fourth Congressional District of Maryland. All works were judged on originality, design and execution.

The competition was judged by professional artist Greg Mort, of Ashton; Lionell Thomas, executive director of the Prince George’s County Arts Council; Suzan Jenkins, chief executive officer, Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County; and, Jose Dominguez, executive director, Pyramid Atlantic Art Center in Silver Spring.

Other “Honorable Mention” winners were announced as well and are being displayed at Harmony Hall Regional Center: sophomore Marjorie Adebayo; juniors  Brenda Nnadi, Miles Giles, Carlos Lemus and Nancy Chavarria; and seniors April Jordan, Sean Henson and Gilberto Torralba.

If you are interested in participating in the 2012 congressional arts competition or viewing this year’s winners’ artwork on display in the U.S. Capitol, contact Edwards’ offices in Prince George’s County, Montgomery County or Washington, D.C., or visit www.donnaedwards.house.gov.