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Parkersburg Art Center hopes tiny works of art bring in big numbers

Photo by Wayne Towner The PAC 6X6 Fundraiser features over 1,000 pieces of artwork on display and for sale at the Parkersburg Art Center, featuring works ranging from students and professional artists.

PARKERSBURG — The Parkersburg Art Center kicked off its holiday season Friday and Saturday with the opening if its second annual PAC 6X6 sale featuring over a thousand miniature works of art measuring six inches by six inches.

The sale began Friday with a special opening for art center members and artists and opened to the public on Saturday.

The sale is scheduled to continue through Dec. 22 but may be extended into January if there are still pieces available, said Dorsey Northrup, PAC 6X6 chair and member of the art center’s Board of Trustees.

Northrup said the sale began last year and was so well received, the art center received multiple requests to make it an annual event. As part of the fundraiser, the art center is displaying over 1,500 original small works of art, ranging from 2D or 3D in a variety of medium, all on a six inch by six inch base, all for $20 each.

Prior to Friday’s opening, Northrup said the art center’s Framing Gallery prepared dozens of custom frames for use especially with the 6X6 pieces. The art will remain on display and for sale during regular Art Center hours through Dec, 22 of 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

Photo by Wayne Towner Dorsey Northrup, a member of the Parkersburg Art Center Board of Trustees, is the chair of the art center’s second annual 6X6 Fundraiser. The art exhibit and sale runs through Dec. 22 at the art center at Eighth and Market streets in downtown Parkersburg.

Northrup said the artwork was created by a mixture of local and regional artists as well as area high school students. While photography was a major part of the first year’s offerings, much of this year’s exhibit focuses on various painting styles.

“This is not only a colorful, unique exhibit, but it’s very inspiring for artists of all ages to see so much imagination in one place,” she said.

Brady and April Racy, of Belpre, were visiting the art center Saturday for another event but looked around the 6X6 exhibits until they found the piece Brady did for his art class at Belpre High School.

“It’s pretty cool,” he said looking at his work with all of the others. “It’s probably the first thing that’s ever been publicly displayed of mine, so it’s pretty cool to see here,” Brady said.

His favorite style is drawing, although he also works in clay. For his 6X6 piece, he included Sharpies and colored pencils, along with a little paint.

Photo by Wayne Towner Brady Racy, left, and April Racy, right, of Belpre, view the pieces on display Saturday at the Parkersburg Art Center for the 6X6 Fundraiser. Brady, a student at Belpre High School, has a piece in the exhibit, his first in a public display.

“There’s a little bit of everything on there, what worked for me and the best colors.”

Jessie Siefert, the managing director of the art center, said the two remaining programs for 2018 both center around Nov. 24 when the art center will be joining with other businesses and organizations to mark Small Business Saturday.

With the theme “Shop Small, Shop Local,” the art center will be open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. the Saturday after Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday for the Artist Market.

Siefert said admission will be free on Nov. 24, with hot drinks and sweets all day. Over a dozen local artists will be selling original, hand-crafted arts and crafts, along with the art center’s gift shop and the ongoing 6X6 artwork.

The art center is also doing a cross promotion with the Parkersburg Brewing Company on Nov. 24. If visitors purchase something at the Artist Market,, they will be given a voucher for $1 off any beverage at the Brewery through Dec. 8. Use a Brewery receipt dated Nov.17-24 at the Artist Market and receive a free art center tote bag, she said.

Photo by Wayne Towner The PAC 6X6 Fundraiser features over 1,000 pieces of artwork on display and for sale at the Parkersburg Art Center, featuring works ranging from students and professional artists.

Kicking off as part of the Nov. 24 activities and running through late December will be the art center’s annual Artists’ Tree Exhibit.

The exhibit features Christmas trees decorated by local artists and school groups in the style of famous artists the world over, from Van Gogh to Picasso.

“This is a community celebration of art and creativity,” Siefert said.

There will be a grand opening for the Artist Tree display on Nov. 24 at the art center. All of the artists, school children, teachers and PAC members will be invited to join in the celebration. The trees will be on display through the month of December and visitors to the art center are encouraged to vote for their favorite tree, which will be announced. Dec. 20.

Photo by Wayne Towner The PAC 6X6 Fundraiser features over 1,000 pieces of artwork on display and for sale at the Parkersburg Art Center, featuring works ranging from students and professional artists.

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