ACPS Celebrates Youth Art Month With Student Art Shows

By Albemarle County Public Schools

ALBEMARLE COUNTY, Va. — When Monticello High School junior Liam Crowley was assigned to a photography class as a freshman, it wasn’t even on his list of preferred electives.

“I’m glad I got placed there, though,” he said. “Photography changes the way you see the world. I used to see a shelf as just a shelf. Now I see shapes and leading lines everywhere.”

From sports to street photography to landscapes out west, Liam has spent the last few years building a diverse portfolio. Now his work is on display in the ACPS Art Show at Northside Library in celebration of Youth Art Month, with additional pieces exhibited at the University of Virginia Medical Center.

“I like street photography the best,” he said. “It forces you to slow down and wait for the right moment. I’ve waited as long as 45 minutes for a shot before, but when you finally get the shot, it feels awesome.”

Right now, Liam’s photo on display at Northside Library captures the exact moment a wrestler is pinned to the mat. The athlete’s face is twisted in effort and frustration as the circular boundary of the mat frames the scene.

“The emotion on his face was just insane,” Liam said. “I dropped to the floor to get that one, actually, but it was worth it to get the pain and the panic and the anger.”

For Liam, having art in schools is important because it gives him a break from more academically focused classes.

“Creating something new that no one else has made before is so beautiful,” Liam said. “The creative part of the brain is so important, and you do so much better in everything else when you foster that part of yourself, too.”

Liam’s experience reflects what research has long suggested about the benefits of arts education.

A 2019 study by the Brookings Institution found that students who participate in arts programs are more likely to show increased compassion for others, have fewer disciplinary infractions and have improved writing scores. The Princeton Review also notes that arts education can “increase students’ happiness by giving them a sense of joy and satisfaction” while strengthening critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Liam could be considered Exhibit A for those claims.

“When I have a camera in my hand,” he said, “I have a smile on my face.”

For Liam, arts education also opened the door to a future career. He hopes to study photography in college before pursuing a career as a professional photographer and eventually becoming a photography professor.

“Having arts education in schools opens doors for students that they might not have known about,” he said. “I wouldn’t be chasing this dream without arts in school.”

The ACPS Art Shows run through March 21 at Northside and Crozet libraries.

See more of Liam's photography on his Instagram, @camera_ltc.