This past Sunday, the Hull Education Center’s auditorium filled with children, their parents and educators excitedly chattering as a slideshow featuring those children’s artwork flashed across the projector screen at the front of the room.
The artwork of these 39 children was selected from 1500 entries submitted from 10 counties in the Central Virginia area, including Prince Edward County as well as nearby Amelia County and Cumberland County, to the Youth Art Exhibition cosponsored by the Longwood Center for the Visual Arts (LCVA) and the Longwood College of Education and Human Services.
Represented are artists from the public and private sectors, as well as home-schooled entries from early elementary to high school. One piece was picked from each school in each of the 10 counties.
As attendants enjoyed cookies and juice, Dean of Education and Human Services Dr. Paul E. Chapman spoke eloquently about the value of fostering the love and skill of artistry in children.
“You keep honing this great skill that you have as an artist; it becomes your gift,” Chapman said, emphasizing the importance of the “artist’s lens,” citing a young Nigerian artist “Sam” whose work is “international and crosses all barriers.” It was an empowering speech for the young audience.
The children’s work ranged from colored pencil depictions of popular storybooks (“Wild Thing,” Cadence Campbell, Buckingham County Elementary School) to intricate ink illustrations depicting loved family members (“My Grandparents,” Jenni Green, Central High School).
Their art now hangs in the halls of Hull Education Center “where they serve as an inspiration to tomorrow’s teachers,” as noted by the LCVA website.
As each piece of art was shown on the screen, the artist eagerly approached Chapman, who then presented them with a certificate of participation as well as a blue water bottle adorned with the LCVA logo.
The event concluded with a group picture and reception for the children and families. However, their art remains as a reminder of the importance of encouraging the arts in our schools.
