A unique art walk celebrating the work of Tom Griffith will take place Thursday, Sept. 6, in downtown Wheeling. The fundraising event is being sponsored by the Friends of Wheeling Inc and Wheeling Heritage.
Participants will enjoy a progressive hors d’oeuvre event while visiting historic buildings including the Stone Center, Vagabond Kitchen, West Virginia Independence Hall, West Virginia Northern Community College and Wheeling Artisan Center. Guides will provide information about the buildings and will lead participants as they walk from stop to stop. Each stop will feature the artwork of Griffith of that building. Light beverages will be provided at each stop, ending with desserts, wine and beverages at the Artisan Center where a full gallery of Griffith’s work will be on display, and the artist himself will be in attendance.
Griffith is the definition of local artist. Born and raised in Wheeling, Griffith has never owned a car or even obtained a driver’s license to operate one. In his 78 years of residency, he has never lived outside of the city limits.
His love of movies, the theaters he worked in as a teenager and especially the city that he grew up in are very apparent in the paintings that he has created over all of these years. Griffith’s Wheeling is one of vibrancy, both in the paint colors he chooses, as well as the era of which he recalls within them.
It is suggested that participants park at the Intermodal Parking Garage. The Wheeling trolley will transport participants to the first stop. Participants also can provide their own transportation.
The walk is $35 per person and a very limited number of tickets are available. For information and reservations, contact Judi Hendrickson at 304-232-5903 or jujan@comcast.net. Payment will confirm reservation.
