Yarbrough Adds A Splash Of Art To Wellness Weekend
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As competitors prepared Saturday morning for the Ogden Newspapers Half Marathon Classic, part of the Ogden Newspapers Wellness Weekend presented by WVU Medicine, local artist Mindi Yarbrough was getting ready herself. Yet, rather than with racing bibs and running shoes, Yarbrough was gearing up with paints and brushes.
Yarbrough, whose murals can be seen throughout Wheeling, was stationed at the start/finish line at the corner of Main and 14th streets for a live art exhibition. Her work was a painting made especially for the Ogden Newspapers Wellness Weekend presented by WVU Medicine, complete with a map of the Ogden Newspapers Half Marathon Classic course. As competitors and spectators walked past, they could see her bring the artwork to life.
What makes exhibitions like this fun for Yarbrough is the opportunity for others to see her process and gain some interest.
“A lot of times, artists are very solitary,” she said. “I paint in my room. No one gets to see that process. So bringing it out for people to watch, they’re very interested.
“Lots of kids are interested,” she added. “I encourage kids to be creative and stay creative and have fun doing it, no matter what it looks like.”
Yarbrough said her appearance at the Ogden Newspapers Wellness Weekend came after Joe Lovell, race director for the Ogden Newspapers Half Marathon Classic, saw her painting for charity at the Festival of Trees at Oglebay Park Resort. He wanted to add her talent to the race weekend.
The painting will be auctioned off, Yarbrough said, and the proceeds will benefit the charity connected to the new WVU Cancer Institute St. Joseph Regional Cancer Complex, which is being built on the former campus of Ohio Valley Medical Center and is expected to open in fall 2028.