STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A controversial photo by a Susan Wagner High School student of her bare-backed teen classmate, that was meant to be an art project to stir discussion about sexual assault and feminism, will be on display for a year in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.

Rep. Dan Donovan named the artwork by Susan Wagner junior Meghan Callahan-Scarcella as the winning entry in his district's 2017 Congressional Art Competition

The annual contest gives young artists an opportunity to showcase their talents, with one winning submission from each congressional district being placed on display in the U.S. Capitol for a year.

The piece was chosen by a panel of four judges during a student art exhibit hosted by Donovan this week at the College of Staten Island, Willowbrook.

Callahan-Scarcella, along with her friend, Andrea Gonzalez, the model for the photograph, were on hand, and were congratulated by the Republican congressman, who represents Staten Island and a portion of Brooklyn.

When it first appeared last year, the photo was banned and removed from an art exhibit at Susan Wagner due to its subject matter and its depiction of a bare-backed teen. But angry students and parents protested the censorship in an on-line petition that displayed the photo.

As a compromise, a second version of the photograph, with the subject covered by a T-shirt, was created especially for the original school display.

Judges for the congressional competition were: Beryl Brenner, a creative arts therapist; Diane Matyas of the Staten Island Museum; photographer Georgine Benvenuto, and Meg Ventrudo, executive director for the Staten Island Tibetan Museum on Lighthouse Hill.

Participating students who submitted artwork were: Diego Martinez, Great Kills High School; Ethan Aponte, Elizabeth Bobyr, Samantha Lopez, Tiffany Chen, New Dorp High School; Nicole Balzarini, St Joseph by-the-Sea High School, Huguenot; Olivia lacerra, Frank Matteo, Joanna Smerina, Tottenville High School; Peter Carnival, Gaynor McCown High School, New Springville; Tiffany Cendagorta, College of Staten Island High School for International Studies, New Springville; Toni Ann Giumenta, Alia Kalil, Leila Pollio, Notre Dame Academy High School, Grymes Hill; and Joshua Edward Cesario, and Si Ting Jess Liu, Staten Island Technical High School, New Dorp.

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