News Release

Park Displays Award-Winning Art to Public

Date: January 3, 2013

Contact: David Smith
Phone number: [phone]

Topeka, KS - Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site will host the winning finalists in the seventh annual student art competition, Kansans. . . As Talented as You Think! beginning January 4. The opening will coincide with Topeka's First Friday Artwalk.

Lawrence Free State High School student Kristina Rasmussen took first prize and will be formally honored at the Native Sons and Daughters banquet slated for January 25 in Topeka. Her winning work, "Universal Klimt Woman," was intended to represent the women in the paintings of the famous artist from Vienna, Gustav Klimt. What emerged, however, was that of her mother who died of breast cancer. Rasmussen's mixed media drawing was chosen as best of show from more than 400 entries. The 30 finalists' works from across Kansas will be exhibited January 4 through 24 at the historic site. Light refreshments will be provided to viewers at the park during the First Friday Artwalk, which will run from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m.

The park will be opened for extended hours to accommodate visitors this Friday. All other exhibits and the park bookstore will remain open to accommodate visitors as well.

Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site tells the story of the U.S. Supreme Court decision that ended legal segregation in public schools. The site is located at 1515 SE Monroe Street in Topeka, Kansas, and is open free of charge from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, with the exceptions of Thanksgiving, December 25, and January 1. For more information call 785-354-4273 or visit www.nps.gov/brvb and www.facebook.com/brownvboardnps -NPS-