New banners up in downtown Parkersburg

PARKERSBURG -- New banners designed by the artists from Artbeat Studio were installed Thursday on Market Street in downtown Parkersburg.

The Downtown PKB project is a collaboration with the Wood County Society's Artbeat Studio with the assistance of the Electrical Department of the city of Parkersburg, which physically hangs the banners.

The new, beautiful and vibrant banners will be placed on Market Street, according to Jessica Strickler, events and marketing manager for Downtown PKB.

"It has been a couple of years since our light post banners displayed artwork from the artists at the Artbeat Studio," Strickler said. "The artists are very talented, and we knew they would create something amazing for downtown."

Thirty-two banners were installed.

Work on the project started several months ago, Strickler said. Several steps are involved to produce the banners and the Wood County Society was an instrumental part in making the project happen, she said.

Artbeat Studio is a group of talented artists with developmental differences, creating masterpieces from up-cycled materials.

"We were so honored to be asked to feature our artists' work on the banners in Downtown Parkersburg," Niki Ryan, Artbeat Studio coordinator, said. "The artwork created in the Artbeat Studio is innovative, whimsical, and full of color that will welcome our community and visitors to Downtown Parkersburg."

For more information on Artbeat Studio, go to www.artfromtheheartshop.com or to its downtown studio at 317 Eighth St.