Marshall University’s School of Art and Design students and the public are invited to paint storefronts in two locations beginning at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 2 for downtown Huntington’s 12 Days of Christmas.
As part of Associate Professor Ian Hagarty’s 12-person foundations class, each pane from the Visual Art Center’s eight and the adjacent Broh Building’s four will make up the first 12 Days exhibit, while the same 12 designs will be repeated on the windows of the corner building at 8th Street and 3rd Avenue.
Sandra Reed, School of Art and Design director, said the first exhibit should be completed in one day, while she said she expects work to begin on the second location over the weekend.
“The hard part is the design and drawing,” Reed said. “Luckily Ian Hagarty’s foundations class has taken care of that part and will be transferring the designs, which can then be painted by anyone.”
The paintings, sponsored by Latta’s, are part of 13 days of activities directed by Downtown Huntington Partners, Etromay and the Downtown Live committee of the Huntington Regional Chamber of Commerce.
From Dec. 1 through Dec. 12, upwards of 20 shops and businesses downtown will feature innovative ways to express the 12 Days of Christmas, said Amy Ward, a Downtown Huntington Partners board member.
“Each location is encouraged to decorate or participate in any way to play on the day’s theme,” Ward said.
Dec. 1 marked the first day of shop participation, with a handful of stores committing to put up an interpretation of a partridge in a pear tree, through Dec. 7, when each will find a way to incorporate the seven swans a swimming, Ward said.
Ward said several businesses have committed to stay open until 8 p.m. on Dec. 8, while a few will be offering promotions to ladies and then gentlemen on Dec. 9 and 10, respectively.
Dec. 11 will feature 11 Marshall Marching Thunder drummers drumming from Whisk at 901 4th Ave. to the Visual Arts Center at 927 3rd Ave.
Dec. 12 marks 12 pipers piping, at which businesses are encouraged to celebrate the sounds of Christmas, Ward said.
The activities will lead up to the city’s Christmas Parade of Lights at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, on 4th Avenue. Huntington’s Kitchen will host hot chocolate and photos with Santa following the parade.
For more information about the 12 Days of Christmas paintings, contact Beth Caruthers at 304-696-3296 or beth.caruthers@marshall.edu.
