The Marshall University visual arts program is teaming up with the community to paint the 12 Days of Christmas downtown.

The foundations class at Marshall, taught by Ian Hagarty, came up with the designs for the paintings and began painting this week.

The class came up with the outlines, themed after the “12 Days of Christmas” song, and it is allowing Marshall students to participate in the painting.

The paintings are going on the windows of the Visual Arts building and the windows on the building adjacent to the Visual Arts building.

“Any students that are interested in helping paint the windows can contact me or Sandra Reed,” Ian Hagarty said. “We did some work on the paintings this morning but we are looking for a second group of students to finish.”

Students wishing to participate have the opportunity their own touch to the designs that the art students have outlined.

“We are allowing students to embellish the designs a little bit,” Hagarty said. “We are controlling what colors they use so that we have a unified design but students are able to make small changes to the paintings.”

The project aims to continue the efforts of Marshall being involved with the community and to add holiday spirit to Pullman Plaza.

“We want to continue to find ways to participate in the life downtown,” Hagarty said.

The paintings are also a part of 13 days of activities directed by Downtown Huntington Partners, Etromay and the Downtown Live Committee of the Huntington Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Several shops downtown are participating by putting up decorations, staying open later and offering promotions. The activities will lead up to the city’s Christmas Parade of Lights at 6p.m. Dec 13 on Fourth Avenue.

Bryan Bozeman can be contacted at [email protected]