Skip to content

Hill Talk: Student Artwork Brightens Cannon Tunnel

Fresh art now hangs in the Cannon Tunnel thanks to high school students from across the country, all winners in this year’s Congressional Art Competition.

The competition, which is sponsored by the Congressional Institute, has had more than 650,000 participants since it began in 1982.

Students send entries to their Congressional district offices, and the winning artwork is then picked by a panel of local artists.

Reps. Leonard Lance (R-N.J.) and Donna Edwards (D-Md.) hosted a reception last week for the teenagers. Edwards said in an email that she looks forward to seeing the winning piece from her own district — “What has the world come to?” by Omokuyani Udiani — as well as the other works when she walks through the tunnel every day.

“It is critical that we continue to encourage young people to embrace the arts, as they play such an important role in our lives,” she said.

AOC Finishes Maintenance on Fountains by CVC Skylights

The Architect of the Capitol completed maintenance work on the fountains surrounding the Capitol Visitor Center skylights earlier this month.

For several months, the fountains and skylights have been surrounded by barricades as repairs have been done on the area.

Because the fountains are turned off during the winter, they require general maintenance each year, said Eva Malecki, the AOC’s spokeswoman.

In addition, the AOC also added some waterproofing material to the area around the fountains to prevent leaks.

Tom Fontana, CVC communications director, said he’s excited that the area will be accessible to the general public again because it’s a popular tourist destination.

Emancipation Proclamation On Display at the GPO

In honor of the Government Printing Office’s 150th anniversary, the agency has opened an exhibit about its history. The exhibit includes an original copy of the preliminary version of the Emancipation Proclamation, just in time for the Civil War sesquicentennial events.

The GPO printed the preliminary version of the document, which declared freedom for some of the United States’ slaves, in 1862, after an order came down from President Abraham Lincoln. The GPO printed 15,000 copies, which were later  distributed by the War Department to military commanders, troops and diplomats in foreign countries.

The copy on display at the GPO is on loan from the Library of Congress. It contains the printer’s proofing marks, which were corrected on the final version of the proclamation that was issued in 1863.

Ted’s Bulletin Takes Home RAMMY Award

Capitol Hill diner Ted’s Bulletin took home the Neighborhood Gathering Place of the Year Award at the 2011 RAMMY Awards.

Sponsored by the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington, the awards honor restaurants in the Washington, D.C., area. Neighborhood Gathering Place is one of four categories voted on by the public.

When Ted’s won the RAMMY, the staff crowded onto the stage as Ty Neal, one of the owners, gave the acceptance speech.

“We’ve really embraced the Capitol Hill neighborhood,” he said. Ted’s Bulletin has the same owners as DC-3 and Matchbox, all located on Barracks Row.

Recent Stories

Capitol Ink | Lame donkey

The consequences of climate and environmental policy unleashed

‘Motion to vacate’ threshold will rise under House GOP accord

New Congress brings churn in health policy leadership

House will remain Republican in 2025, narrowly

House GOP nominates Johnson for speaker, taps McClain for conference chair