Student art display honors police
By MICHAEL ERB, merb@newsandsentinel.com
POSTED: May 16, 2008
PARKERSBURG — Hundreds of pieces of artwork by local students are on display at the Parkersburg Art Center as tribute to the men and women of law enforcement.
As part of National Police Memorial Week, which began Monday and runs through today, and National Police Memorial Day, which was held Thursday, the art center unveiled a display of more than 200 pieces of student artwork from three area schools — Edison Junior High, Hamilton Junior High and Parkersburg Catholic High.
Nearly 100 pieces of artwork also were put on display at the Parkersburg Police Department this week. Both displays are expected to remain up for the next several weeks.
Officer Jason Barton, who is in charge of Parkersburg’s G.R.E.A.T program, arranged for the displays and spoke with area students about the importance of recognizing and honoring those in law enforcement.
“This was mostly done in schools where I have a relationship with the students and the staff,” he said. “I went into the classrooms and gave the students the opportunity to learn about police work and to do away with some of the myths.
“Most of them only know what they see on television, and that is police breaking down doors and arresting people,” Barton said. “This gave students the chance to learn about everything we do in law enforcement. We want to preserve life and we want to keep people safe.”
The art center display is in the Art Factory, a large open room downstairs that is connected to several classrooms and activity areas. Abby Hayhurst, director of the art center, said many of the student works concentrated on those who had given their lives in the line of duty.
“So many of these pieces are cognizant of what police do everyday and how it can result in one of them falling,” she said.
Art work centered around a variety of symbols and themes, including police badges, crosses, balloons, police dogs and St. Michael, the patron saint of law enforcement.
Hayhurst said the display likely will remain until the middle of June when summer art classes will begin hanging their work, but added she was thrilled to be able to support local law enforcement while showcasing the hard work of area students.
“We’d like to keep it as long as we can,” she said. “We are thrilled to have it.”
You can see the students’ artwork by visiting the art center on Market Street in Parkersburg and also see some examples online at http://cu.newsandsentinel.com/.
