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Parkersburg residents welcome to help with downtown mural

PARKERSBURG — Area residents are invited to lend a hand in beautifying downtown Parkersburg by participating in the creation of its latest mural.

Based on discussions with community members this summer, Greta McClain, owner and artistic director of GoodSpace Murals, has completed a design for the work, entitled “The Parkersburg Connector.”

It will adorn the exterior wall of the Parkersburg Art Center facing Eighth Street, said Jessie Siefert, managing director/education director for the art center.

McClain and company will be in town for three weeks working on the project, and there will be multiple opportunities for residents to join in at painting party events.

“It’s just incredible,” said Senta Goudy, dean of West Virginia University at Parkersburg’s Center for Civic Engagement and coordinator of the project for the Arts Collaborative of the Mid-Ohio Valley. “The community was the inspiration for her design. And now we want them to come in and be a part of actually creating it.”

The first session is slated for 4-7:30 p.m. Saturday in the art center parking lot. There will be pizza provided and music by DJ Casey Powell. Folks will be given a 5-by-5 square and instructions on how to paint it. The materials will gradually be applied to the wall.

“You’re going to start to see the design develop on the wall as she does it,” Goudy said.

No artistic experience is required to participate.

“And even if they’re hesitant to paint, they might just want to come and see this process,” Siefert said. “It’s just going to be a party in our parking lot.”

Although the event is outdoors, Siefert said it’s recommended that people wear masks due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are going to try to spread the groups out over a large area so we aren’t too close to one another,” she said.

Other painting parties are scheduled for 4-6 p.m. Tuesday at the Actors Guild Annex, 720 Market St., and 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Sept. 24 at Bicentennial Park.

Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.

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