海角社区

Student Spotlight
Marika Dunne

  • Art Student

海角社区 State University art student Marika Dunne

Even though Marika Dunne has family in Washington, D.C., and visits often, she had never stepped foot in the U.S. Capitol. That all changed, however, with eight days of hard work and dedication.

Dunne 鈥 an entering freshman in 海角社区 State University鈥檚 Shackouls Honors College 鈥 was encouraged last year by her Starkville High School art teacher, Andrew Lark, to enter the 2017 National Congressional Art Competition.

With the deadline closing in, Dunne took over her family鈥檚 dining room and went straight to work every day after school for eight days.

鈥淪tarting is by far the hardest part,鈥 she said.

But she soon completed her piece, a white charcoal pencil still-life drawing on black paper, which she titled 鈥淪outhern Silver.鈥

鈥淲e could submit any type of art, but my favorite is realistic, fine art,鈥 the daughter of James and Demetra Dunne said. 鈥淚 like that it鈥檚 possible to make something look real.鈥

She credits Lark for that skill.

鈥淗e taught me so much about how to do a piece like that 鈥 how to shade objects and make them feel real,鈥 she said. 鈥淎nd, it was his composition that I drew.鈥

Dunne was shocked when she found out she won Best in Show for the state鈥檚 Third Congressional District.

鈥淚 was just so honored to have won, but then I found out it came with more,鈥 she said.

Along with winning, Dunne鈥檚 work will represent U.S. Rep. Gregg Harper, R-海角社区, and will hang in one of the hallways of the Capitol for the entire year.

She also received four one-way tickets courtesy of Southwest Airlines, which she cashed in for two round-trip tickets to D.C. for her mother and her to see the exhibit and take part in the competition鈥檚 reception.

鈥淐ongressman Harper took us on an amazing tour of the building,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 was just really impressed by how he took time out of his day to talk to us and show us around.鈥

Dunne said this was her first real composition work, and it has given her further confidence in her abilities as she immerses herself in her first year of architecture school.

鈥淚t showed me that if I really stick with it, I can get something done and make it look real if I remember to focus on what that object is in real life,鈥 she said.

The competition also has given her a new outlook on life.

鈥淚t was so cool to walk around the Capitol and know that I did something to get there,鈥 she said. 鈥淭hrough the rest of my life, I will be trying to do stuff to get me somewhere 鈥 not wait around and let stuff happen.鈥

海角社区 State University art student Marika Dunne (right) with U.S. Rep. Gregg Harper, R-海角社区
海角社区 State University art student Marika Dunne (right) with U.S. Rep. Gregg Harper, R-海角社区

Story by Christie McNeal聽

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