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Art Center to open classroom

Vance Hewitt, director of the Parkersburg Art Center’s Clay Studies Programs, stands in the new mult-purpose classroom, which will open Thursday at the center at Eighth and Market streets in downtown Parkersburg. (Photo Provided)

PARKERSBURG — The Parkersburg Art Center will open a new multi-purpose classroom on Thursday to meet a growing need at the center at Eighth and Market streets in downtown Parkersburg.

Art Center Director Abby Hayhurst said the new classroom is on the center’s lower, classroom level, and was created to respond to increased demand for more “maker” space.

“At 850 square feet, this room will be our largest workspace. It will be used primarily by those who seek a space to create in wood, glass and especially the cleaner aspects of clay work,” she said.

Vance Hewitt, director of the art center’s clay study programs, headed the team that built the space, using donated materials and almost all-volunteer labor.

“We put out a call for help and were delighted with the response,” Hewitt said. “My clay gang did most of it, framing it all in, refinishing the floor, cleaning and painting. We did a lot of recycling. The lockers were donated by Coldwater Creek. We re-purposed old cabinets and re-covered old tables. We had some donors who came in to see the progress, and wanted to help. We thank everyone involved, those who gave us money, or time, or both, and it’s a long list,” he said.

The new multi-purpose classroom is an expansion of the art center’s “maker” facilities, supported by the Ross Foundation, Hayhurst said. The foundation has sponsored the purchase of specialized equipment, including a printing press, vinyl cutter, 3D printer and an air purification system, among others.

“What’s wonderful about the multi-purpose classroom is that it’s truly a grass-roots effort,” said Jessie Siefert, the art center’s education director. “The ‘makers’ at the art center have ‘made’ themselves a space in which to create.”

The art center’s existing Clay Studio, located beside the new classroom, is being re-dedicated in memory of the late Dr. Rutherford “Gene” Sims, who was an active member of the clay program.

“Gene was such an important part of this. We’re all so glad we got the new room about done before he had to leave us,” said Hewitt.

In addition to Hewitt and Sims, the volunteer “makers” who created the new classroom include Henry Aglio, Chris Carmicle, Casey Cutlip, Serita Deem, Mary Lou Freed, Marv Kerr, Karen McGlothlin, Joan Palmer, Joyce Tharp, Nicki Young and Jan Wittman.

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