By Marisa Dawson, Courtesy Photos

A Bennington student represented Nebraska on the national stage this summer after her original artwork was selected as the state’s winning entry in the American Heroes Student Art Contest, earning her a trip to Washington, D.C., and a place in the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration.

Jewel Denker’s piece, Finite Peace, honors Red Cloud, the Oglala Lakota leader who successfully defended his people’s territory during Red Cloud’s War and remains one of Nebraska’s most influential historical figures. Her artwork was displayed alongside more than 130 state and territory winners during the Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C., as part of the United States’ semiquincentennial, or 250th anniversary, celebration.

The nationwide contest, organized by Freedom 250 and the National Endowment for the Humanities, invited students to create original artwork depicting one of the 250 American heroes who will be featured in the National Garden of American Heroes. More than 1,000 submissions were reviewed before judges selected winners from each state and territory, along with regional and national award recipients.

Denker said she entered the contest almost on a whim after her mother spotted it online.

“Honestly, this was a contest my mom found on a flyer post on Facebook,” she said. “Neither of us knew if it was real but it was offering a free trip to Washington DC if you won, so I figured why not? I could do a fun sketch of a person I looked up to and related to American history and if I won, Great!, but if I didn’t, no harm done.”

For her submission, Denker chose to portray Red Cloud because of his deep ties to Nebraska and the lasting impact he had on American history.

In her artist statement, she explained that the land Red Cloud fought to protect is the same Nebraska landscape she has enjoyed throughout her life, making the subject especially meaningful to her. She noted that Red Cloud’s military victory led the United States to change its military strategy and permanently altered its approach to westward expansion.

Denker also incorporated symbolic elements into the piece. Five broken arrows appear in the lower right corner, three of them repaired to represent what she describes as “finite peace,” peace that never fully lasts. The five arrows also symbolize the original Native American tribes and unity, while their forward-facing direction represents protection and defense. Red Cloud’s gaze to the left symbolizes wisdom, reflecting what Denker described as his military skill and steadfast advocacy for his people.

Her artwork also features a quote from Red Cloud: “Hold on to what is good, even if it’s a handful of earth. Hold on to what you believe, even if it’s a tree that stands by itself.”

Although she was named Nebraska’s winner, Denker admitted the accomplishment didn’t fully sink in at first.

“I was shocked because we were still skeptical about the authenticity of the contest so it didn’t hit me until I was on the plane to DC,” she said. “But by the time we landed I was grateful that my art could lead me places I never knew it could.”

The awards ceremony was held July 9 at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Whitten Patio Atrium. The event featured remarks from U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, keynote speaker Second Lady Usha Vance, Acting National Endowment for the Humanities Chairman Dr. William English, and award-winning artist Julio Reyes. Broadway performer Carrie Manolakos opened the ceremony with an a cappella performance of the National Anthem.

While many artists would be overwhelmed by the historic significance of having their work included in the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration, Denker said her focus remained simple.

“I’ve never really thought of it that way,” she said. “I was just excited to have my art displayed for people other than my family and friends. I hope people enjoyed seeing it or at least that it caused emotion because that is what art is for.”

The trip also gave Denker another opportunity to visit one of her favorite cities. Having been to Washington D.C. previously, she said she’s especially fond of Georgetown and hopes to explore Georgetown University in the future.

Her success is especially meaningful because she considers her artistic journey to be relatively new.

“Art currently plays a growing role in my life,” Denker said. “It is a very recently discovered talent. I have been crafty all my life but I would never consider myself advanced at art. After being placed in an art class because a class I wanted to take was full, I decided to try my best. And my best turned out better than I could have imagined.”

She said that experience inspired her to continue taking art classes, test out of others, and keep developing her skills.

Looking back on the experience, Denker hopes other young artists won’t hesitate to submit their work when opportunities arise.

“You never know unless you try,” she said. “There’s no harm in failing so just try, you never know what can happen. You might just win a free trip or discover a new talent!”