Amherst Regional Middle School has been transformed into a powerful gallery of student voice and vision. This is in unison with the sixth annual Youth Art Activism Show, which opened its doors to the school community. Working with Dr. LaRoche’s Civics class to find topics that mattered to these young artists, students created mixed-media artwork to highlight issues that were important to them.
Curated entirely by students and facilitated by ARMS paraprofessional and artist Mr. Madison and Dr. LaRoche, the show gave ARMS students a space to express their thoughts, emotions, and experiences on current world and national issues. The show featured bold, moving pieces that tackled themes of racism, mental health, gender equity, abuse, and personal struggle. Each artwork was a reflection of the artist’s lived experience, family stories, or observations of injustice in the world around them.
“I am moved to see that these young artists have taken issues that matter to them and put the work in to express themselves on these topics. Every day, I am humbled by the work our students are doing to pour themselves into their work,” said Superintendent Dr. Xi.
The exhibition is the result of a years-long collaboration between Mr. Madison, Dr. LaRoche, and the students who participate. Prior to the art show, students in Dr. LaRoche’s Civics class would use art as a tool to learn more about the topics that interested them. It was around 2017 when local artist, former art teacher, and current Paraprofessional approached Dr. LaRoche about taking it further and formalizing the project into an art show.
Mr. Madison emphasized that the heart of the event lies entirely in student leadership. “Everything is absolutely student-led,” he said. “The students have deep and profound feelings about what’s happening in the world, and they need no suggestions from me. What they create comes straight from their own minds, hearts, and passions. And when passion drives the work, you can see it in every piece.”
“I think I was inspired by just a lot of stories I’ve heard and things I’ve experienced,” said Luna P. ‘29, whose striking charcoal piece depicted a girl surrounded by imagery of pain and isolation. “As a teenage girl, there are so many hard things: mental illness, abuse, reproductive rights, it’s hard. [But] being in the show again this year was really positive. It’s a way to work with others and be heard.”
Another featured artist, Coumba P.-N. ’29, created a piece titled Pressure, which explored the weight of racism in everyday public spaces and workplaces. “My dad inspired me. He’s always coming home feeling sad because of how his boss treats him,” she said. “I liked being in the show and seeing how everyone chose different messages that were unique to them.”
Lena H. ‘29 said that the art show offered her a platform to bring community issues into focus. “We talked about things that are important to us,” she said. “It was cool being in the show.”
With this year’s show wrapped up and now on display in the ARMS lobby, it’s clear that students aren’t only learning about social issues, they’re shaping the conversations through creativity, courage, and community. The work on display is a testament to the power of youth voice and a reminder that when given space, young people will rise to say something that matters.