Lake Middle School student’s artwork takes flight at aviation art competition

• 'Silent Flight'

Lake Middle School student Felix Oh took second place in the 2012 Minnesota Aviation Art Contest sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

Talk about it

Lake Middle School seventh grader Felix Oh said he has been doing art for as long as he can remember.

“Art is kind of a way I can express myself and how I feel,” he said. “I can let my creativity and imagination go as far as I want it to.”

That passion has gained the attention of the state through the 2012 Minnesota Aviation Art Contest sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Transportation where Oh took second place.

The Minnesota Aviation Art Contest tasks students ages 6-9, 10-13 and 14-17 with illustrating an aviation-related piece based on the year’s theme.

This year’s theme was “Silent Flight,” which involves all the ways people travel through the sky with the power of the wind alone.

Oh’s painting depicts multiple kites, adorned with international flags, flying through the sky as a collective unit.

“At first I thought I might do something with a hot air balloon, but then I went to the idea of kites,” he said. “I wanted to represent unifying the world by having the kites all uniting together in the sky.”

Oh said it took him about two months to complete his painting.

“The hard part is getting all of that imagination on the piece of paper,” he said.

This marks Oh’s third year entering the art competition.

Oh received a gift certificate for a 30-minute flight at a local airport, and art supplies since he placed second.

Oh’s painting, as well as all other winning artworks, were on public display at the MnDOT building in St. Paul March 2-16.

Additionally, the first- through third-place winners in each category are automatically entered into the national level of the contest. Judging at the national level is completed in Washington, D.C., and winners are then entered into the international competition.

In addition to being recognized by MnDOT and the competition judges, Oh also received recognition from Congresswoman Michele Bachmann.

“Proficiency in the arts is invaluable to one’s development and is indicative of success in other fields,” Bachmann said in a letter to Oh. “This honor is proof that you are bound for great things in the future. I am honored to be your representative in Congress.”

Oh also received a letter of congratulations from state Rep. Andrea Kieffer.

“This is truly an outstanding accomplishment,” she said. “Your hard work has earned you this much deserved recognition – you and your family can be very proud of your efforts.”

Tags: news, education, transportation