Art is the sap in Emily Knaphus' family tree.
Her grandfather Torleif S. Knaphus created "Handcart Pioneer," a 7-foot bronze handcart monument among the most photographed on Temple Square.Her mother, Janice Knaphus, is an accomplished seamstress and private sewing instructor.
Now Emily, a 14-year-old West High freshman, is making her mark as Utah's delegate to the premiere Kids Congress on Art in Los Angeles this month.
"I'm glad they're doing this to expose more children to the arts," Emily said. "I think it's a neat thing that's happening."
The Kids Congress joins middle school students from each state with community leaders, artists and educators to champion the importance of art. Emily was chosen last spring while attending Clayton Middle School.
The event tops a two-year project, "Wave Your Banner! Exploring Community Through Art," in which the nation's schoolchildren created colorful banners illustrating community history. One banner from each state was selected via random drawing.
Clayton's banner depicted the shape of the state of Utah with the mountains and the moon shining on the Great Salt Lake, complete with California gulls, the state bird. The banner's border depicts wood grain, symbolizing the state tree, Colorado blue spruce.
The advanced art class collaborated for the idea. But Emily,who has used a sewing machine since her foot could reach the pedal, used her fabrics forte to head the project and piece together the banner - just like when she makes quilts.
"I thought she would be a real good representative of our school and of our state," said Clayton art teacher Patti Owen, who chose Emily as a delegate and will accompany Emily and her mother on the trip. "She has creative ideas, and she is able to express herself."
Student delegates will discuss how "Wave Your Banner" helped them understand their communities. An interactive Internet presentation will demonstrate the expanding role of technology in improving access to the arts. Delegates also will work with local arts educators to create a mural-sized photomontage of their impressions of Los Angeles.
"The Kids Congress provides students with a special opportunity to speak out about the importance of the arts," said Leilani Lattin Duke, director of the Getty Education Institute, which hosts the event with the support of artists and educational associations.
"They will be able to discuss with each other, and with national leaders, the significant role the arts play in their communities, in their education and in their appreciation of different cultures."
Emily has plenty to discuss. The honor student sews her own clothes, takes drama, tap, belly dancing and African dance classes, and dreams of someday becoming a painter or math professor.
"I'm just real proud of her," Janice Knaphus said. "She's real creative in a lot of different areas."