Brian Strumwasser, a 16-year-old sophomore at Plainview-Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School, was chosen by his art teacher Wendy Ritholtz to participate in the Congressional Art Competition for High School Students led by Congressman Gary Ackerman.

Brian created a piece entitled "With a Cherry on Top," which was created using fine quality color pencils, and based on a project given by Ritholtz. It consists of an old-fashioned napkin holder and a sundae with a black and white background.

Brian's artwork was on display at the Nassau County Museum for a month. "Brian is very hardworking and always pushing toward a standard of excellence. He strives to develop a technique and once he perfects it, he adopts it as a means of expression for his creativity," according to teachers in the art department at the high school.

Attendees at the museum admired Brian's artwork. People inquired with the district and complimented Brian's work and wanted to add it to their personal collection.

"The amount of talent exhibited by our young artists in this year's contest was outstanding," said Ackerman said. "I am proud of each and every student who participated."

Talent runs in the Strumwasser family as Brian's mother Wendy Strumwasser recently received third place in the 32nd National Quilting Association Show, which was held in June in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Wendy took third place at the show for her decorative wall quilt in the category "Other/Crazy Quilts, Decorative Throws or Wall Quilts." It is a 50"X70" beaded quilt entitled Cathedral Window #3 and was featured in The Quilting Quarterly's Winter 2001 edition. Wendy worked on the quilt from home for three years.

Wendy was asked to submit two pieces into the book Petal Play by Joan Shay, which she did and she was published twice in that publication. Featured were Wendy's pieces entitled The Cathedral Window and Lilacs in the Window. These pieces were three-dimensional and used beads to create a different effect than usually seen in the book.

The same piece that won Wendy third place is featured in the Quilt Art Engagement Calendar 2003 the week of May 19-25. Cathedral Window 3, as quoted in the calendar, has toured the United States winning many different awards. The engagement calendar will be available in book stores at the end of the year and it features a collection of prize-winning quilts.