A vibrant new mural now surrounds the entrance to Point Park in Parkersburg, featuring imagery that reflects local flora and fauna. The mural was commissioned by the Arts Collaborative of the MOV in partnership with the Parkersburg Arts Center, WVUP, and the City of Parkersburg and completed by West Virginia muralist Nichole Westfall.

Born and raised in a small town in West Virginia, Nichole is best known for her large-scale mural work that can be seen throughout the United States. Her murals are often joyful, whimsical scenes created with large blocks of color.

The Point Park mural was designed to be a collaborative process. Nichole outlined the mural on 76 pieces of parachute cloth that were then painted by members of the community. Over 60 individuals contributed to painting the first layer in February at the Parkersburg Art Center. The pieces were assembled on the floodwall in a grid and painted again by Nichole to blend seamlessly with the wall. After painting, the wall was sealed with an anti-graffiti coat to protect the mural.

An experienced muralist, Nichole said she enjoys both this method – using polytab or mural cloth – and direct painting. “They both have their pros and cons. This method is more expensive when it comes to material,” she said. “However, this is more accessible to those who are interested in mural making, but don’t have the opportunity to be in my shoes (no matter the cause). Public art belongs to the community – it’s cool to give people that ownership before it even goes up.”

The 1,400-square-foot mural features a trellis styled like the arched entrances of the Julia Ann Historic Square District. Inspired by the early 1900’s decorative paintings, the mural creates a frame or gateway into what lies within the park.

“Multiple native pollinator plants are referenced (Field Thistle, Joe-Pye weed, Aster, and Echinacea), as well as the ironwork seen throughout the historic district,” said Nichole. Even the typeface chosen for the entrance has significance. “The typeface used for the entrance of the park was first shown by Darius Wells in 1828,” she said, “one of the oldest of the large display letters used in the United States.”

Still referencing the 1800s, Nichole said the language of flowers also came into play. “Other flowers and plants in the mural were chosen based on symbolism. For example, Wood Sorrel and Buttercups represent joy and happiness to come.”

Nichole completed the mural over the course of two weeks. The finished installation is a bright and beautiful addition to the park, welcoming residents and visitors to the confluence of the Ohio and Little Kanawha Rivers!

Many thanks to photographer Michelle Waters for the incredible photos, and to Nichole Westwall for sharing her process with us! You can find a selection of Nichole’s smaller works in our shop!