Correspondent photo / Maurita Hoffman

Bob and Priscilla Barko pose with Bob’s artwork depicting iconic markers of Youngstown State University. Bob graduated from the school in 1993 with an arts degree and, for the last 30 years, has painted the fire hydrants around campus to resemble Pete the Penguin, the university’s beloved mascot. When in downtown Youngstown, the artwork of Bob Barko Jr. is never far away. For him, the city and art have become synonymous. From a 32-foot mural to penguin fire hydrants and even “YO” auto decals, Barko has been making Youngstown out of art and art out of Youngstown since his days as a student on the city’s namesake college campus and, then, from his own downtown studio, Steel Town Studios. Even the C-130 aircraft stationed at Youngstown Air Reserve Statio

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