AWESOME SNEAKERS: Littlebrook fourth-grader Jeffrey Kim’s watercolor is among the art work by Princeton public elementary school students currently on view at the Princeton Public Libraries. The exhibit celebrates March, which is “Youth Art Month.” (Photo by Ellen Gilbert)

March is national “Youth Art Month,” and the Princeton Public Library is happy to acknowledge it. A third floor wall there has been devoted to the drawings, paintings, collages, and works on copper plate created by students in Princeton’s four elementary public schools.

“It’s nice for them to see their artwork here,” said Youth Services Librarian and ESL Coordinator Lucia Acosta. “They feel they have a stake in the library.” Other area schools — both public and private, and including nurseries — are also allotted one-month long periods when they may use the space for their own students’ creations.

“One of the reasons why we do this annually is to reach a part of the community that may not have school age children and may not be aware of the great work our students do,” explained Riverside School art teacher Kevin Wilkie. “The elementary art teachers of the Princeton Public Schools are proud to share the excellent work our children do with the community at the library and anywhere else we can exhibit.” Other elementary art teachers in the district include Johnson Park’s Linda Gates, Lara Darpino, at Community Park, and Littlebrook School’s Beverly Mills.

“It is my contention that we need the arts in our schools more than ever,” Ms. Darpino commented recently.

Among the exuberant, muted, and everything in-between examples of student art currently on view at the library is Littlebrook first grader Jason Wu’s urban landscape, complete with what looks like a Van Gogh inspired starry sky. Another homage (intentional or not) may be Johnson Park third grader Susannah’s (no last name given) very Keith Haring-like images, including what appear to be TV heads.

Leila Rose’s house interior reflects a terrific sense of perspective, and includes a spider web in one ceiling corner. The decorative chain on the lamp is also a nice touch. Erin Carney’s rainbow is appropriately colorful, and Leah Schmit’s underwater scene comes complete with an open-mouthed, very sharp-toothed shark.

“A greater part of the four-to eleven-year old’s life involves sitting in front of a screen pointing and clicking,” observed Mr Wilkie. “Doing things that engage hands and minds more completely are richer in cognitive and other benefits.” He also cites art as enabling children “to engage socially with their peers,” suggesting that this is something on the decline that has become a problem as we see more and more children in school with social issues.”

Ms. Darpino concurred. “As we are rapidly enveloped in the digital age the role of the arts in schools is ever important, allowing for students to home in on a kinesthetic style of learning that promotes creative and critical thinking skills,” she noted. “Youth Art Month is a national celebration of the incredible art work produced by our talented youth. Through this celebration we proclaim and endorse the importance of the arts by raising the awareness of its affect on cognitive development.”