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Arts

The arts in West Virginia reflect the state’s rich Appalachian heritage, creative spirit, and thriving talent. From vibrant galleries and community theaters to renowned music festivals and artisan craft shops, West Virginia offers an endless array of ways to experience authentic Appalachian art and culture. Visitors can explore local studios, enjoy live performances of bluegrass, folk, and contemporary music, and discover handmade pottery, quilts, and woodwork that celebrate traditional craftsmanship.

Chillers, the 1988 cult horror film by West Virginia filmmaker Danny Boyd, is returning to theaters as a series of screenings celebrates Boyd’s filmmaking legacy.
Arts

Nearly 40 years later, a cult horror film made in West Virginia is returning to theaters

by David Sibray

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Nearly 40 years ago, a college professor gathered actors and filmmakers in West Virginia and made a strange little horror movie about five people waiting for an overdue bus. Chillers, released in 1988, went far beyond West Virginia. The independently produced anthology horror film found international distribution and became the first feature … Read more

Black bears are featured in the 2027 West Virginia Wildlife Calendar in a painting by West Virginia wildlife artist Misty Murray-Walkup. The annual calendar features original artwork depicting wildlife native to the Mountain State. (WVDNR image)
Arts

Bears, bats and a comeback species star in West Virginia’s 2027 wildlife calendar

by Will Reedy

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Black bears, brown bats, flying squirrels and a forest predator once eradicated from West Virginia are among the animals featured in the state’s 2027 wildlife calendar. The W.Va. Division of Natural Resources has released its annual West Virginia Wildlife Calendar, pairing original paintings by wildlife artists with hunting and fishing dates, moon … Read more

Dolly Parton appears in a 1977 RCA Records publicity portrait, during the decade in which she performed at Wheeling's WWVA Jamboree in West Virginia. (Public domain)
Arts

Dolly Parton’s remarkable West Virginia story spanned nearly 60 years

by David Sibray

WHEELING, W.Va. — Long before Dolly Parton‘s name began arriving on packages of children’s books in West Virginia homes, the young country singer was coming to the Mountain State to perform. Parton’s documented associations with West Virginia span 57 years, beginning with appearances alongside Porter Wagoner at Wheeling‘s WWVA Jamboree in 1969 and continuing through … Read more

An illustration depicts traditional lye-soap making, in which water was passed through wood ashes to produce lye that was boiled with animal fat. The process was once practiced in West Virginia households. Illustration: West Virginia Explorer
Arts

West Virginians once made soap from ashes and meat scraps—and it could take your skin off

by Clyde Craig

PARKERSBURG, W.Va. — Long before bottles of detergent and wrapped bars of soap became fixtures in West Virginia homes, some families made a cleaning agent from two things they already had—wood ashes and leftover animal fat. According to an account by late Parkersburg journalist Cordelia Moellendick, preserved in volume 11 of the W.Va. Heritage Encyclopedia, … Read more

Cast members from Oglebay Institute's Parcel Players perform in Guys and Dolls at Towngate Theatre in downtown Wheeling. The summer youth theater production runs Aug. 6-9 and features performers ages 13-21.
Arts

Classic Broadway musical gives travelers one more reason to discover historic Wheeling

by David Sibray

WHEELING, W.Va. — For travelers looking for an easy weekend getaway from Pittsburgh, Columbus or Cleveland, downtown Wheeling offers more than historic streets and riverfront views. This week, one of Broadway’s most beloved musicals is adding another reason to make the trip. Oglebay Institute‘s Parcel Players will present Guys and Dolls Aug. 6-9 at Towngate … Read more