Everywhere you look in Lynchburg, there is evidence of the city’s love for the arts: Murals adorn the sides of buildings downtown, posters advertise upcoming concerts and performances, and galleries proudly display work by local creators. Though it’s a relatively small city, the arts scene packs a powerful punch.
Visit any Lynchburg City Schools (LCS) building, and you’ll find the same. Music drifts through the hallways as orchestra students practice their arrangements, fresh paintings dry on racks in classrooms, and theatre students rehearse for their next musical.
It’s no coincidence that the city’s creative scene is so vibrant. Lynchburg residents’ love for the arts starts in the classroom and spills out past the schoolyard as they engage with the world around them. In turn, the community pours into students, with local artists, organizations, and businesses providing inspiration and mentorship that shape students’ paths to graduation and beyond.
“For decades, LCS has been producing incredible artists and people who love art. Our schools are an integral part of the creative environment in Lynchburg,” said LCS Deputy Superintendent of Operations and Strategic Planning Reid Wodicka.
At LCS, we believe the arts are essential to a well-rounded education. They prepare learners for academic and career success, promote holistic student development, and provide an avenue for young artists to participate in the city’s rich cultural landscape. Whether exploring visual arts, music, or theatre, students form meaningful community connections that can have lifelong impacts.
Follow along for the first of a three-part series that will explore LCS visual arts, music, and theatre programs.
Student Artwork Brings Lynchburg to Life
On the evening of March 12, students, family members, and LCS staff members meandered through the Academy Center of the Arts BWXT Youth Gallery, taking in the colorful pieces on the walls and shelves. It was the opening night of the LCS Youth Art Show, a public exhibit containing works from schools across the division.
The annual student showcase has empowered young artists for 14 years. From collages by kindergarteners to sculptures by seniors, it shows off a diverse range of works, inspiring students of all ages to create from the heart.
“It feels amazing to have my art here. I worked very hard on it. It’s the first time my art has been in a show,” said Heritage High School ninth grader Isabella Navarro. “Art is so expressive. When you put your heart and soul into your art, it really shows. It’s a great creative outlet for me.”
Heritage High ninth grader Isabella Navarro with her piece “The Stars of Sun (After Van Gogh)” at the LCS Youth Art Show.
For students like Navarro, the opportunity to display work for a wider audience beyond their school community is a source of pride. Located in a heavily trafficked part of a building that hosts community events and art classes, their work would be seen by hundreds of eyes before April.
“Opportunities like this encourage kids to be creative and express themselves through art. They make students feel special and know their work is valued,” said LCS parent Tammy Porter. “Lots of kids have never had the opportunity to have their work displayed in a gallery before. It means a lot to them.”
Sandusky Middle eighth grader Jaliah Porter and her family with her piece “Underwater Beauty” at the LCS Youth Art Show.
The BWXT Youth Gallery isn’t the only place to admire LCS students' artwork. Award-winning pieces from the Lynchburg Water Resources (LWR) 2024 Imagine a Day Without Water K-12 Art Contest have already been displayed at various public venues throughout the city this year.
Students from Bedford Hills Elementary School, Linkhorne Elementary School, Dunbar Middle School for Innovation, and Sandusky Middle School won awards for their unique creations, which raise awareness about the need for responsible stewardship of the city’s water resources. Previously displayed at the Lynchburg Public Library, their pieces are currently at the College Hill Water Treatment Plant Water History Museum. On Saturday, April 26, they were also presented at the beloved annual “Art in the Park” festival.
Imagine a Day Without Water K-12 Art Contest award winners from Bedford Hills Elementary.
“We wanted to provide an opportunity for the K-12 population to explore environmental science in a local context and express themselves through a creative avenue,” said LWR Education and Outreach Coordinator Kendall Juell. “Their artwork could inspire someone from the community to take action to protect Lynchburg’s water resources. The contest also introduces students to career possibilities that are out there in science and art.”
T. C. Miller Elementary students and parents at the Art at the Airport exhibit in May 2024.
The “Imagine a Day Without Water” exhibit is one of many that have featured LCS students. T. C. Miller Elementary School for Innovation students’ art has livened up the Lynchburg Regional Airport twice in recent years. This fall, the University of Lynchburg displayed E. C. Glass and Heritage high school students’ artwork, and the YWCA of Central Virginia featured LCS students’ creations in an exhibit raising awareness about domestic and dating violence for the second year in a row.
Sandusky Middle students lend their face painting skills at community events.
It’s not just exhibits, either. Sandusky Middle School students have painted faces at festivals at Camp Kum-By-Yah and Perrymont Elementary School, created a positive-affirmation rock garden at Sandusky Elementary School, and contributed art pieces for veteran ceremonies. E. C. Glass High School students painted a piano for Hill City Keys last spring. Heritage High student Reese Korby’s drawing of Lynchburg Hillcats mascot Southpaw was printed on 500 t-shirts for fans when she won the baseball team’s youth art contest in May. Opportunities for young artists to showcase their work are boundless, thanks to partnerships between local organizations and schools.
“It’s important for students to be aware of the world around them. These experiences don’t just allow students to showcase their talent–they also help them understand their role as active participants in the local community and culture. They learn to give back to their community,” said Sandusky Middle art teacher Kayla Jones.
Left: E. C. Glass student artists painted a piano for Hill City Keys. Right: Heritage High student Reese Korby (second to the left) and her siblings show off her award-winning Lynchburg Hillcats t-shirt design.
Off-The-Wall Creativity
Often, students don’t even have to leave their classrooms to engage with the community through art. Local muralist, E. C. Glass High School alumna, and artist-in-residence at the Academy Center of the Arts, Christina Davis, spent four weeks as a guest instructor at W. M. Bass Elementary School this January and February.
She taught fourth graders fundamental artistic concepts aligned with the Virginia Fine Arts Standards of Learning (SOL). Students worked together to design an original mural capturing the essence of the school and bring their vision to life on canvas using the techniques they’d learned. Along the way, Davis shared insights about her career as an artist, giving students a unique opportunity to learn directly from a professional.
Local artist Christina Davis taught a four-week mural unit at Bass Elementary.
Davis frequently partners with local organizations like the Academy to share her artistic knowledge with students. She’s passionate about empowering the next generation of creatives in the city that raised her.
“I want students to look at my artwork and think, ‘That could be me one day.’ Whatever career field they decide to pursue, I want them to feel empowered to be creative, follow their dreams, and try new things,” Davis said.
Local artist Christina Davis and Bass Elementary students display their finished artwork.
Students no doubt know Davis’ work; her murals adorn the walls of local businesses and schools all over the city. She’s been painting murals around town for the past decade with a mission to uplift the community and brighten up public spaces.
This past December, Davis painted two murals at Heritage Elementary School, thanks to funding from J.Crew in partnership with AdoptAClassroom.org. Davis hopes the pieces will inspire students to embrace creativity and explore their artistic sides.
“The way a space looks when students walk in the door matters. Having artwork on the walls, especially art custom-made for their school, can make them feel at home. It can also inspire them to pursue art themselves, especially if they know the art was created by a local artist or their friend’s mom,” Davis said.
Left: Artist Christina Davis adds finishing touches to a mural at Heritage Elementary. Right: Heritage Elementary students pose with a new mural in their cafeteria, painted by Davis.
Several LCS buildings have gained fresh coats of paint in recent years, many with the help of student artists. In the spring of 2023, local artist Kimberly Redding guided Linkhorne Middle School students in painting three murals through a school mentorship program. The Academy partnered with R. S. Payne Elementary School to paint a leafy tree in the courtyard in the winter of that same year, with students adding their handprints in shades of green and yellow. At E. C. Glass High School, art club students have been working on a collaborative mural in an English classroom.
Linkhorne Middle students show off a mural they painted with the help of community mentors and local artist Kimberly Redding.
The impacts of murals painted by students are multifold. In addition to beautifying learning spaces, they provide the opportunity for students to make a lasting impact on their school communities. These art pieces continue to leave an impression long after their painters graduate, lending the buildings they inhabit a deeper sense of culture and history.
The E. C. Glass art club has spent the school year working on a collaborative mural.
Join us next week as we explore the impacts of LCS music programs.