The Academy Center of the Arts recently kicked off Youth Art Month, a month dedicated to encouraging support for quality school art programs and promoting art material safety, with a new ACOA Network segment, Art Talks with Ted. The season aired Monday, March 1st, featuring a new episode each day highlighting two local area art students from Lynchburg City schools and their work created throughout quarantine.
“It was nice connecting with art students, even through Zoom,” said Ted Batt. “We were able to talk to art students of various ages and schools which really made it fun.”
The Lynchburg City School art students featured in this series varied in age, ranging from grades 1-12, and representing Dunbar Middle, Sandusky Middle, Sheffield Elementary, T.C. Miller Elementary, Bass Elementary, Bedford Hills Elementary, EC Glass High, and Heritage High.
“The students at T. C. Miller Elementary School for Innovation love to display their work and are always excited when their artwork is chosen for display in the Academy Center of Fine Arts “Youth Art Month” exhibition,” said T.C. Miller Art Teacher, Shawn Lipscomb. “I was very proud to have one of our third-grade students, Sarah, featured in Art Talks with Ted. Sarah is and has been a 100% remote student since the beginning of the school year. She creates beautiful artwork and has completed every art assignment on time, if not early.”
EC Glass Senior Natalie Uhl was featured in Episode 3, where she explained the benefits of being an artist in quarantine.
“The process was definitely different for me, but I wouldn’t say it was negative,” said Natalie. “It was actually a lot better because I didn’t have to worry about leaving pieces of work or supplies behind at school. I can do my work right here at my desk. I have everything I need right here. Also, I don’t have to worry about that 1 hour time period I have all the time in the world here at home.”
For Sheffield Elementary 1st Grader, Piper Thompson, she found that creating in quarantine had its challenges.
“Yes, it is kind of difficult… It’s like a challenge for me,” said Piper. “I am a smart girl, but having to draw everything can make my arm tired, but I always finish!”
An aspiring artist herself, Piper asked Ted about what it is like being an artist when you grow up.
“I love it, it’s just great,” said Ted. “I’m a potter so I make things out of clay. I consider myself very lucky to have a job where I love going to work every day and I think if you talk to artists they will tell you they love what they do.”
To continue the celebration of Youth Art Month, the Academy’s Arts & Education Gallery (located in the Joy & Lynch Christian Warehouse Theatre) will also feature the Annual LCS Student Art Show (K-12 Artwork) from Lynchburg City School Students throughout the month.
The Annual LCS Student Art Show will premiere at First Fridays on March 5th from 5:00 – 8:00 PM. Following First Fridays, the exhibit will be available for viewing by appointment through March 27th.
T0 make an appointment, please email Ted Batt at [email protected]
