Parkersburg Art Center’s Art-O-Rama enjoys record turnout
PARKERSBURG — For 10 years area children and their families have been taking part in Art-O-Rama, a morning full of free hands-on art activities at the Parkersburg Art Center and this year the number in attendance set a record.
“We had 425 this year,” said Abby Hayhurst, director of the center. “Our previous record with 415. Fortunately we had good weather that didn’t keep people home.”
Hayhurst said the event is made possible though support from the Virginia L. Neptune Foundation and the PARS Spine and Brain Institute.
One way to describe Art-O-Rama is as a smorgasbord of activities. More than 20 hand-on stations were set up in the basement and first floor of the center letting curious children, with their parents, try painting, cartooning, puppetry, pottery, and sculpture, as well as dancing and drumming, Lego-building and face-painting.
Jessie Siefert, education director for the art center located on Market Street, said the free day is to show the community the arts and culture that are available locally.
“We’ve teamed up with different groups to make this happen,” she said. “There’s something for everyone, from 2 years old to teens.”
Siefert said a highlight of the day was a raffle of a free week at the center’s Camp Creativity during the summer.
To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Art-O-Rama, Siefert said they added performances from the Smoot Theatre, Actors Guild of Parkersburg Guild Builders, the Schrader Youth Ballet and the Williamstown Strings.
When the Art-O-Rama was proposed, Hayhurst said she had reservations about it becoming such a popular event.
“It works really well,” she said. “I never thought this would work in a million years.”
Archer Wiblin was at the event Saturday as a member of the Williamstown Strings.
“He decided he was interest in some of the other activities,” said his grandmother Lauren. “He liked the watercolors the best.”
Leslie Myers said her son Cory seemed to enjoy everything he tried on their first trip to the Art-O-Rama.
“He has really enjoyed it so far,” she said. “He’s enjoyed everything.”
Niya DeBord has been to the Art-O-Rama before and this year her favorite thing was working with the pottery.
“I didn’t do it last year,” she said. “My brother did it. I like the watercolor paints.”
Mia Guinn, of Parkersburg, had one word for the Art-O-Rama,
“Awesome,” she said, especially for the station where prints were made using pieces of fruit and vegetables. “I didn’t know what it would be like, but I knew it was awesome but I didn’t know in which way.”