Congressman Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena) on Tuesday announced the beginning of the 2012 Congressional Art Competition, and urged high school students in California’s 1st Congressional District to enter their artwork.

The annual competition showcases the artistic talents and abilities of students in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories.

The 2012 competition is open to all high school students in California’s 1st District.

“At a time when tight budgets are forcing many of our schools to scale back art and music programs, it’s important to recognize and encourage our district’s young artists,” said Rep. Thompson. “The Congressional Art Competition gives our community the opportunity to support our student artists, and I encourage all eligible students to apply. I look forward to reviewing this year’s submissions.”

Since 1982, the Congressional Art Competition has given Members of Congress the opportunity to encourage the artistic talents of their young constituents.

Each member of Congress hosts a competition among high school students in his or her district. The winning artwork from each district is then displayed in the United States Capitol for one year.

In addition, the grand prize winner will be flown with a guest to Washington, D.C. to attend an awards ceremony in June.

A panel of judges will select the winning entries and their decision will be announced at a special ceremony and exhibit (details TBD).

All artwork is due by Friday, April 20, and can be submitted at any of Congressman Thompson’s district offices:

• Humboldt: 317 3rd St., Suite 1, Eureka, CA 95501.
• Mendocino: 430 North Franklin St., PO Box 2208, Fort Bragg, CA 95437.
• Napa: 1040 Main St., Suite 101, Napa, CA 94559.
• Yolo: 712 Main St., Suite 101, Woodland, CA 95695.

Guidelines for the Congressional Art Competition include the following:

• Artwork must be two-dimensional.
• Each piece can be no larger than 28” x 28” x 4” (28 inches high, 28 inches wide, and 4 inches deep), including the frame.
• Artwork cannot weigh more than 15 pounds.

Acceptable media for artwork are as follows:

• Paintings: oil, acrylics, watercolor, etc.
• Drawings: pastels, colored pencil, pencil, charcoal, ink, markers.
• Collage.
• Prints: lithographs, silkscreen, block prints.
• Mixed media: use of more than two medias such as pencil, ink, watercolor, etc.
• Computer-generated art.
• Photography.

All submissions must be accompanied by a completed student information/release form, which can be downloaded at http://www.house.gov/content/educate/art_competition/pdf/student-information-release-form.pdf .

Students and teachers interested in the Congressional Art Competition may contact Lindsay Righter in Congressman Thompson’s Humboldt office at 707-269-9595 for further guidelines and information.

Complete guidelines also are available at http://www.house.gov/content/educate/art_competition/pdf/student-information-release-form.pdf .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Chicago Tribute Authority will perform at Konocti Vista Casino Saturday, March 17, beginning at 8 p.m.

The Chicago Tribute Authority is the No. 1 spot-on-tribute to the greatest hit-making band of the last 45 years, transporting audiences of all ages on a non-stop musical journey that includes many of Chicago’s greatest hits and a few you may have missed.

Based in Northern California, Chicago Tribute Authority's attention to detail includes authentic solos and signature guitar sets them well ahead of other tribute bands.

Tickets are $25 for reserved and $15 for general admission and can be purchased in advance at Konocti Vista Casino Player’s Club or online at www.ClubKonocti.com . Discounts for Player’s Club card members are also available at the casino.

Konocti Vista Casino is located at 2755 Mission Rancheria Road, Lakeport.

PROJECT X (Rated R)

The choice of the major films of the week is between the family-friendly “Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax” and the polar opposite extreme of “Project X,” a raucous bacchanal of bad behavior.

In brief, one movie is suitable for everyone, while the other proves unsuitable to anyone with a brain. A case of bad timing and unfortunate choices caused me to attend the screening of the latter.

“Project X,” filmed documentary-style with a shaky hand-held camera, should have a rating stiffer than an “R,” maybe a new category that would warn parents and authorities everywhere of impending disaster.

Produced by Todd Phillips (“The Hangover” films), this movie works off the deceptively simple premise that teens are easily led astray when a house party gets so completely out-of-control that riot police must be summoned.

Situated in the suburban community of North Pasadena, “Project X” follows three seemingly anonymous high school seniors as they attempt to finally make a name for themselves on campus.

The normal guy-next-door one is Thomas Kub (Thomas Mann), whose approaching 17th birthday is the catalyst for a party at his house when his overly protective parents will be away for the weekend.

The ringleader for party planning is Costa (Oliver Cooper), a refugee from Queens with an attitude to match who thinks that throwing a big bash for his buddy Thomas will be what he calls a “game changer.”

Tagging along for the fun is the nerdy JB (Jonathan Daniel Brown), the overweight misfit looking to break out of his shell. Yet, he’s the unmistakable source of comic relief.

The unseen member of the group is Dax (Dax Flame), the omnipresent cameraman recording every detail and encounter from the school grounds to the climactic finale of a party veering off into the abyss.

There’s nothing terribly original about any of these characters. We’ve seen variations of them in films from “Animal House” to “Superbad.”

But what looks like unscripted mayhem is really no substitute for meaningful character development. Thomas, Costa and JB have little to say beyond the ordinary dialogue of horny teens looking to score.

As the most sensible member of the group, Thomas only wants a party limited to a small group of friends. After all, his dad warned him that his shiny silver Mercedes-Benz is off-limits.

I guess the father never saw “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” and so he has no clue what is likely to happen to his precious automobile when it is left unguarded.

Meanwhile, desperately seeking to up the “cool” factor of the pool party, Costa advertises the birthday bash through text messaging and other forms of social media.

Possessed of a manic energy that fits his outsize ego, Costa seems more interested in seducing impressionable teen girls than helping his supposed best friend celebrate in a reasonably decent manner.

The fact that the blow-out party at Thomas’ upscale suburban home will devolve into a frighteningly chaotic and recklessly out of control riot is telegraphed early on.

For one thing, in the early planning stages, the trio visits an unhinged drug dealer, only to steal his Santa gnome to be used as a party mascot. Little do they know that the ceramic figurine would make for one trippy piñata.

They also did not figure on the angry drug dealer showing up at the party as a most unwelcome guest armed with a deadly weapon.

Most of the action consists of the party unfolding in various stages of mayhem, from girls losing their tops in the swimming pool to more deviant behavior that comes all too easily with massive consumption of drugs and booze.

The party scene becomes so raucous that news helicopters hover above while S.W.A.T. teams move about in full riot gear. Destruction is so widespread that the neighborhood looks like a war zone.

“Project X” will most likely appeal to those who shouldn’t be let into an R rated movie in the first place. Admittedly, at times there’s some funny stuff, but it all quickly wears thin when the annoying characters become even more so.

DVD RELEASE UPDATE

More excellent police dramas from Britain are available on DVD for release in the United States, thanks to Acorn Media.

From the creator of “Prime Suspect” comes the detective series “Above Suspicion, Set One,” two full-length feature films starring Ciaran Hands and Kelly Reilly.

Oddly enough, the British newspaper The Telegraph described “Above Suspicion” as the “younger, sassier successor” to “Prime Suspect.”

This accolade should not be confused with the recent American version of “Prime Suspect” which first aired on NBC this past fall, and has now vanished from the network’s schedule.

In any event, you’re much better off watching the DVD of a great crime thriller cut from the same cloth of the original British inspiration.

“Above Suspicion, Set One” follows the story of a female rookie detective (Kelly Reilly) trying to prove herself in what is still mostly a man’s world, where her mentor (Ciaran Hands) is a crusty, brusque superior.

Since this is British television, there is no rating, but the series contains violence, graphic images, coarse language and nudity – all the same things found in “Project X,” but done with the appropriate style and purpose.

Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – For five days this spring, from April 22-27, aspiring or published writers interested in writing memoirs, personal essays or travel articles based on personal experience will have the opportunity to focus and luxuriate in the writing process at the beautiful Tallman Hotel in Upper Lake.

Entitled, “Life into Literature,” the retreat will be led by noted Bay Area author Laura Fraser and will feature additional workshops with San Francisco authors Peter Orner and Victoria Costello, as well as Stanford University instructor and novelist Tom Barbash.

Laura Fraser is the author, most recently, of “All Over the Map,” which Booklist called “a winning coming-of-middle-age memoir.”

Her previous book, “An Italian Affair,” was a New York Times best selling travel memoir. She has taught writing at the UC Berkeley School of Journalism, San Francisco State and her other seminar sites include writers’ workshops in San Miquel de Allende, Mexico.

As a teacher, she encourages students to free write about topics they are passionate about, and she then provides tools and expertise in clarity, research and audience.

An avid reader, Ms. Fraser has kept an ever-expanding record of the books she has read since she was 13 years old.

Lake County was chosen for this retreat due to its relaxing atmosphere conducive to writing, as well as the enthusiasm expressed by Lake County writers and the Tallman Hotel.  

Former Lake County Poet Laureate Mary McMillian will welcome retreat participants at the reception and dinner on the first night, and the final evening will feature a three course dinner prepared by Blue Wing Executive Chef Nick Heidemann and paired with Writer’s Block wines produced by Quincy Steele at the Steele Winery in Kelseyville.

Members of Lake County literary groups are invited to meet retreat participants and faculty over dinner that night and afterwards adjourn to hear short readings from retreat participants.

For further information, visit the Tallman Hotel Web site, www.tallmanhotel.com/events , or Laura Fraser’s site, www.LauraFraser.com .

Those interested in participating in the full five-day retreat, or the Thursday night dinner, can contact the Tallman Hotel at 707-275-2244, Extension 0.

For Lake County residents wishing to participate in the retreat without overnight accommodations, please contact the hotel to be placed in a waiting list at a reduced price.

Sara Ries is a poet from Buffalo, N.Y., whose parents run a diner. Here’s one of her delightful poems about family life for a short order cook.

Fish Fry Daughter

Holiday Inn kitchen, the day I am born:
My father is frying fish for a party of seventeen
when the call comes from the hospital. He stays
until the batter is crispy, cold salads scooped
on platters, rye bread buttered.
 
Dad never told me this story.
He told my boyfriend, one short order cook to another.
Mom doesn’t know why Dad was late
for her screams and sweat on the hospital bed.
 
Once, when she was angry with him, she told me:
When your father finally got there, the nurse had to tell
him to get upstairs, “Your wife is having that baby now.”
 
I hope that when Dad first held me,
it was with haddock-scented hands, apron
over his black pants still sprinkled with flour,
forehead oily from standing over the deep fryer,
telling the fish to hurry  hurry.

American Life in Poetry is made possible by The Poetry Foundation (www.poetryfoundation.org), publisher of Poetry magazine. It is also supported by the Department of English at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Poem copyright ©2010 by Sara Ries from her most recent book of poetry, Come In, We’re Open, National Federation of State Poetry Societies Press, 2010. Poem reprinted by permission of Sara Ries and the publisher. Introduction copyright © 2012 by The Poetry Foundation. The introduction's author, Ted Kooser, served as United States Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress from 2004-2006. They do not accept unsolicited manuscripts.

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – Lake Community Pride Foundation is presenting “An Evening with David Neft on piano.”

The event will take place from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, March 10.

The show is at the newly remodeled Lower Lake High School Little Theater.

Tickets are $10 and there are only 60 seats in the theater.

All proceeds go to support performing arts in Lake County.

Call 707-331-8445 for more information.