New LOVEworks Sign To Be Revealed At Workhouse Arts Center

LORTON, VA — The Workhouse Arts Center plans to unveil a new Virginia Tourism LOVEworks sign on its campus at 10 a.m. on Feb. 14. The event is open to the public.

The LOVE letters, representing the "Virginia is for Lovers" slogan, is Fairfax County's first permanent Virginia LOVEworks sign. Last summer, as part of the state's celebration of the slogan's 50th anniversary, Visit Fairfax, the county's tourism organization, held a ribbon-cutting for the sign before sending it off on an 11-stop tour of Fairfax County.

"Visit Fairfax is thrilled that Fairfax County's first official LOVEworks sign now has a permanent home at the stunning Workhouse Arts Center, a place that brings together the county's past and present in a beautifully rich way and truly showcases the power of art," Barry Biggar, Visit Fairfax President and CEO, said in a statement.

Virginia Artist Marly McFly was selected by a jury from an open call for artists to have their work featured on the LOVEworks sign. McFly found inspiration in the word "love" and created a collage of facial expressions communicating this term of affection.

The Feb. 14 ribbon-cutting will take place after remarks from several local officials, including Biggar, Fairfax County Supervisor Dan Storck, and Workhouse Arts Center President and CEO Ava Spece. A coffee bar hosted by Dunkin' Donuts will be available.

The event will be part of a week-long celebration at the Workhouse Arts Center that includes The Chocolatier, a culinary workshop (Feb. 7, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.); Couples Yoga and Cacao Chocolate Tasting (Feb. 8, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.); the Second Saturday Art Walk (Feb. 8, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.); and Couples Therapy: A Comedy Show by Rahmein Presents (Feb. 14 at 8 p.m.)

The abandoned former Occoquan Workhouse, founded in 1910 as part of the District of Columbia's Correctional Facility in Lorton, was transformed into a cultural arts center that opened its doors to the public in 2008. The center is located at the corner of Ox Road (Route 123) and Workhouse Road.