A Freeport teen is getting national recognition for her artwork in the annual Congressional Art Competition, representing Maine’s first congressional district.

Jillian Wight’s piece, “Family Room,” which depicts a top-down view of a family relaxing at home, will be on display for one year in the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, DC. 

This week, Wight said the prospect of national attention is all a little overwhelming.

“It’s going to be crazy,” she said.

Wight, 17, a Freeport native and a senior at Freeport High School, said she has always loved the arts, and works in various mediums ranging from pen and paper to needlepoint. 

Wight said she was inspired by a family gathering at her grandfather’s home on Thanksgiving Day 2022. She produced her winning work using vibrant colors from oil-based pastels. 

“I think everybody feels a lot of emotions over Thanksgiving, so I was trying to kind of go off of that,” she said.

The judges, who studied the works of five other students in the district, praised Wight’s piece.

“This work really stood out to me because of its inventiveness in color and composition,” said judge Meg Hahn. “This scene is both familiar and uniquely new. Jillian’s technical skill is also really strong in the use of subtractive details that viewers really need to take their time to see.”

Wight said she learned she had won when she was called to the main office to see Principal Jennifer Gulko and Regional School Unit 5 Superintendent Jean Skorapa waiting for her, along with her art teacher, Kimberly Medsker-Mehalic.

“It was a little scary,” she said with a laugh.

Medsker-Mehalic said she wasn’t surprised to see Wight’s talents being recognized.

“Jillian has always wanted to tell stories with art,” she said.

The annual Congressional Art Competition was established in 1982. Medsker-Mehalic said the pieces submitted to this year’s competition are also submitted to the statewide scholastic art competition.

Medsker-Mehalic said artists’ recognition reminds students and parents of the value of art as the product of ongoing effort.

“I think it shows that it’s a discipline, and it’s a skill that comes with hours and hours of work,” she said. “I think that all these students work really, really hard on their skills, and keep building them, and building them, and building them, and then they’re honored for them, which is great,” she said. 

Wight, who is planning to study art and illustration in college, said she often spends as much as 6-10 hours on a single work, which might surprise some people.

“When you see a piece, you don’t necessarily know what’s gone into it,” she said.