2nd Saturday Open House &
Art Walk


at Workhouse Arts Center, Lorton VA
June 14, 2025 I 6-9PM

A Night of
Art & Artists

As spring fills the air with energy and color, you’re invited to follow the breeze into a night full of creativity, community, and pure inspiration. Stroll through lively galleries, chat with artists as they bring their work to life, and discover something new around every corner. Enjoy refreshing drinks, groove to live music, and soak up the magic of art in motion. Whether you're a seasoned collector or just love a good night out, come feel the spark—and let your curiosity bloom.

🌸 Free Fun Activities

6:00–9:00 PM – Outdoor Live Music at the Rizer Pavilion with Nick & The Razors
6:00–9:00 PM – Smooth sounds inside the McGuireWoods Gallery with the NOVA Jazz Combos
6:00–9:00 PM – Meet the Artists! Explore featured artist receptions and hands-on activities throughout the campus
6:00–9:00 PM – Double the inspiration! Visit two art exhibits in Building W16
6:00–9:00 PM – Treasure Hunt fun for all ages—start your search in W16
6:30–8:00 PM – Belly Dance Hafla! Celebrate World Belly Dance Day with a FREE, high-energy dance showcase – Register Here
7:00–8:00 PM – Mindfully Healing Class – Take a mindful moment for yourself – Register Here

🌸 Fee-Based Activities

5:00–6:00 PM – Step back in time! Join our Historic Campus Walking Tour starting at the Museum. Discover the stories behind the Workhouse’s past for just $10/adult or $5/kids (ages 5–12)—a perfect early evening adventure!

6:30–8:30 PM – Shake things up at Create & Sip: Margarita de Mayo! Get creative with a drink in hand and let the festive vibes (and colors) flow. Spots fill fast—Register Here

More Activities

🌸 Wander through 2 colorful exhibits in W16—featuring the Annual Congressional Art Competition and the West Springfield Pyramid Show.

🌸 Pop into studios across campus to see Workhouse artists in action—live painting, glassblowing, ceramics, and more. 

🌸 Discover our Featured Artists in buildings W5–W10—each gallery bursting with new works and fresh inspiration.

🌸 Shop the spring spirit! Find one-of-a-kind, handcrafted art, jewelry, and home décor that’s as unique as the season.

🌸 Snap the perfect photo under the cherry trees or strike a pose by the iconic LOVE sign.

🌸 Grab mouthwatering eats from the Two Smooth Dudes Food Truck—serving up crispy tots, fresh wraps, colorful salads, and refreshing smoothies or indulge in delicious drinks and treats at the Workhouse Bar and W16 Café, offering a selection of beer, wine, soda, and water.

Check out the Campus Map to find exhibits, studios,, and all the fun spots across the Workhouse!

This Month’s Featured Artists

Show Dates: May 7 - June 8,, 2025
Opening Reception: May 10, 6-9pm
Where? Bldg. W-6

Joan Hutten - “Wanderjahr'“

Sandi Martina - “May Flowers”

Show Dates: May 1 - 31, 2025
Opening Reception: May 10, 6-9pm
Where? Bldg. W-7

M. Jane Johnson - “My Favorite Things”

Show Dates: May 10 - June 12, 2025
Opening Reception: May 10, 6-9pm
Where? Bldg. W-10

Show Dates: April 12 - May 10, 2025
Opening Reception: April 12, 6-9pm
Where? Bldg. W-5

All Resident Artists in W5 - “Faces & Places”

Laura Bruce - “Tangled Up in Blues”

Show Dates: April 12 - May 10, 2025
Opening Reception: April 12, 6-9pm
Where? Bldg. W-9

Pamela Eisenmann - “Creatures and Fantasies”

Show Dates: May 4 - 31, 2025
Opening Reception: May 10, 6-8pm
Where? Bldg. W-8

UPCOMING EVENTS

UPCOMING EVENTS

Come for the art, stay for the fun, and leave with a one-of-a-kind creation to cherish!

CREATE & SIP

Saturday, April 12 I 6:30 - 8:30 PM
Bldg. W5, Room 505

Learn to Belly Dance

Saturday, May 10 I 6:30 - 8:00 PM
Bldg. W16 - McGuire Woods Gallery

Join us for a vibrant Belly Dance Hafla and experience the rhythm, beauty, and energy of belly dance in this joyful evening of movement and culture.

Healing Mindfully

Saturday, May 10 I 7:00 - 8:00 PM
Bldg. W10, Room 1001

Explore the Third Eye Chakra, in this one-hour preview class with guided breathwork, relaxation techniques, and healing music to calm the mind and restore balance.

JOIN OUR E-NEWS AND STAY CONNECTED!

Exhibits

  • Annual Congressional Art Competition

    On View: May 10-18, 2025 
    Reception: May 18, 11am-1pm 
    Admission: FREE

    Learn More

  • West Springfield Pyramid Show Exhibit

    On View: May 10 – 18, 2025 
    Open House: May 10, 6-8pm  
    Admission: FREE

    Learn More
Book Now

Get Social @workhousearts

As you celebrate spring, share your pictures with us on social media by tagging @WorkhouseArts and using #WorkhouseArtsCenter

FOLLOW @WorkhouseArts

Book Your Event at Workhouse

Turn your next event into something special! The Workhouse Arts Center offers 10 unique venues for rent. Book a gallery or outdoor space so you can party all day long.

RENT A SPACE >>>

 FAQs

  • The Open House and Art Walk is on Saturday, May 10, 2025, from 6pm - 9pm, featuring live music from 6:30pm - 9:00pm at the Rizer Pavillion on the Quad.

  • No ticket is required! The Art in Bloom Open House at Workhouse Arts Center is free and open to all. Food and drinks will be available for purchase at event bars, W16 Café, and the Kabob Mix food truck. 

  • Absolutely! Art in Bloom guests can enjoy a delicious selection of food and drinks throughout the event: 

    Workhouse Bar – Serving beer and wine. W16 Café – Will be serving hot chocolate, soda, water, beer, wine, pizza, and a delightful waffle bar. Kabob Mix Food Truck – Will savor mouthwatering Mediterranean flavors from Kabob Mix. 

    Guests must be 21+ to enjoy alcoholic beverages. 

  • The Art in Bloom has a full lineup of music, exhibits, and art experiences throughout the day: 
     
    🌸 Enjoy a live music performance by Nick and The Razors 
    🌸 Kids can embark on a fun scavenger hunt to find six stray cats hidden around the campus 
    🌸 Attend a performance of "Clyde’s" by Lynn Nottage at 8:00 PM. Set on the historic grounds of the original prison, this play brings a powerful story of redemption to life, where a truck stop sandwich shop becomes a second chance for its formerly incarcerated kitchen staff.  (Viewer discretion is advised -- explicit language and adult content.  Recommend 18+ years of age.  
    🌸 Stroll through the campus and take in the beautiful cherry blossoms, perfect for photos by the LOVE sign  
    🌸 Indulge in delicious drinks and treats at the Workhouse Bar and W16 Café, offering a selection of beer, wine, soda, water, hot chocolate. 

    🌸 Explore 3 Exhibits in W16 featuring: 
    - Required Reading 
    - Appearance 
    - Investigating Identity 

    🌸 Meet Workhouse artists in action with live painting, ceramics, and glass demos throughout the studios and explore their latest works. 

    🌸 Shop for unique, custom handcrafted art, jewelry, and decor from Workhouse artists inspired by the beauty of spring. 

  • The Art in Bloom Open House & Art Walk is a free, family-friendly event with plenty of fun for all ages! Kids can take on an exciting scavenger hunt to find six hidden stray cats scattered across the campus. Plus, enjoy outdoor games on the Quad, including cornhole, giant Jenga, and more!  

    Check out our campus map to learn more!  

  • Pets are allowed in outdoor spaces throughout the Workhouse Arts Center and the festival area. 

  • Yes! The Art in Bloom Open House will feature a live performance by Nick and The Razors, taking the stage at 6:30 PM for an evening of great music (80s, 90’s and 2000’s cover band) and lively spring vibes.

  • The best way to get to the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, VA, depends on your mode of transportation: 

    By Car: Easily accessible from I-95, take Exit 163 (Lorton Road) and follow signs to 9518 Workhouse Way, Lorton, VA 22079. Free parking is available on-site. 

    By Public Transit: Take the VRE (Virginia Railway Express) to Lorton Station, then use a taxi or rideshare service for a short 10-minute drive to the center. 

    By Bus: Fairfax Connector Route 371 & 373 provide service near the area. Check Fairfax Connector schedules for details. 

    For more visitor information, including directions, parking, and accessibility, visit  Workhouse Arts Center Visitor Information  📍 Map to Workhouse Arts Center: View on Google Maps 

  • A few sprinkles can’t keep us down. Unless the weather poses a hazard, the event will happen rain or shine.

  • Public restrooms are located throughout The Workhouse Arts Center. 

  • Yes, lawn chairs are welcome, and attendees are encouraged to bring their own chairs as seating under the tent is limited. 

What’s Happening on Campus

W5

Building W-5 at the Workhouse Arts Center is home to a dynamic group of 15 artists, each bringing a unique voice and vision to their craft. Visitors to W-5 will find a rich and diverse blend of artistic disciplines, from traditional painting to contemporary mixed media. The studios feature work in encaustic and mixed media, acrylic combined with colored pencil, and expressive watercolor and collage compositions.

W6

Building W-6 is housing 14 artists who work across an diverse range of mediums. This building offers visitors a unique opportunity to explore the intersection of traditional techniques and contemporary approaches. Inside, you’ll find artists working in mixed media, acrylic painting, and oil painting, as well as watercolor and figure drawing, capturing the human form with expressive detail. Fiber arts are also prominently featured, specializing in batik, weaving, and quilting—each bringing texture, color, and storytelling to their work through fabric and thread.

W7

Building W-7, affectionately known as the Glasshouse, is home to 11 exceptional glass artists who bring extraordinary craftsmanship and creativity to this specialized medium. Visitors entering the Glasshouse will find themselves immersed in the luminous world of glass art, where fire, heat, and imagination transform raw materials into breathtaking works. Artists in W-7 work primarily in torchworked and fused glass, each with their own distinctive style and technique.

W8

Building W-8, the Ceramics building at Workhouse Arts Center, is home to four talented potters who work in a variety of ceramic techniques. Visitors will find a space rich in tradition and creativity, where clay is transformed into functional and sculptural art. Artists specialize in wheel-thrown pottery, hand-built ceramics, and firing methods like Raku, known for its crackled glazes. The studio also features work with crystal glazes, creating stunning crystalline patterns during firing. Each piece reflects the skill and experimentation that define ceramic artistry. Visitors are invited to explore the studio, meet the artists, and learn about the fascinating processes behind each creation.

W9

Building W-9, known as The Arches, offers a unique experience at the Workhouse Arts Center. Unlike other buildings that feature full-time resident artists, The Arches houses a rotating group of 15 artists—a collective of accomplished creatives who are selected to exhibit and work in the space for shorter-term residencies. This ever-changing dynamic makes The Arches a vibrant and evolving destination for art lovers. Visitors will find expressive paintings, inventive mixed media works, and compelling photography—including nature and infrared photography that explore light, texture, and storytelling in fresh ways.

W10

Building W-10 is a vibrant and energetic creative space, home to 14 artists as well as the leader of the Workhouse Military in the Arts Initiative (WMAI) program. This building features a diverse mix of styles and mediums, with a strong focus on painting, as well as artists working in mixed media, illustration, and resin-based art. Many of the artists in W-10 are painters, exploring a wide range of techniques—from expressive abstracts to refined, representational work. Mixed media is also prominent, with several artists incorporating unexpected materials into their canvases to create depth and texture.