2nd Saturday Open House &
Art Walk
at Workhouse Arts Center, Lorton VA
June 14, 2025 I 6-9PM
A Night of
Art, Artists & Adventure
As summer fills the air with music and creativity, the Workhouse campus comes alive for Second Saturday! Meet artists in their studios, explore vibrant galleries, shop local art, and enjoy music, food, drinks, and unforgettable experiences. Whether you're a seasoned art lover or just out for a night of fun—there’s something here for everyone.
🌸 Free Fun Activities
Mount Vernon Nights Live Music
6:00–9:00 PM | 📍Rizer Pavilion
Relax under the stars with live outdoor music from the U.S. Naval Band – The Commodores. Bring a chair and enjoy this free summer concert series.
Learn More
Meet 70+ Artists Across Campus!
6:00–9:00 PM | 📍W-5 - W-10
Connect with artists in their studios and explore new gallery exhibitions. Featured artists receptions, hands-on art-making, and live demonstrations happening across buildings W5–W10.
Exhibit Spotlight
6:00–9:00 PM | 📍W-16
MaNiiTo II'NiNiiWak (Creative Power People) – A showcase of Indigenous creative sovereignty featuring artwork by the Virginia Native Arts Association. Reception from 6–8 PM.
Learn More
Prison Cat Round-up Scavenger Hunt!
6:00–9:00 PM I📍W-16
Find hidden stuffed cats in each Artist Building (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) and collect a prize for every cat you discover at W16. Fun for all ages.
SOUQ Social Market
6:00–11:00 PM I 📍Baseball Field
Shop, savor halal eats, and celebrate culture at the DMV’s premier Muslim market — featuring local artists and diverse vendors. Learn More
🌸 Fee-Based Activities
Historic Campus Walking Tour
5:00–6:00 PM | 📍Start at the Museum W-2
Step back in time and explore the legacy of the Workhouse as you discover powerful stories from the past. Just $10/adult or $5/kids (ages 5–12) — a perfect early evening adventure.
Learn More
EqualiTEA & Equality in the Suffrage Movement
6:00–8:00 PM | 📍Museums & History Wing W-2
Sip with purpose! Craft your own tea blend and uncover the inspiring stories of bold changemakers in the fight for women's rights. Only $5 — don’t miss this flavorful, educational experience.
Register Here
Create & Sip: Memory Charms
6:00–8:00 PM | 📍Building W6 - Room 602
Pour a glass and get crafty! Design your own keepsake charm while you sip and relax in this guided creative session. Space is limited — secure your spot now.
Register Here
Raku on the Quad
6:00–9:00 PM | 📍Workhouse Quad
Get fired up with Raku pottery! Choose a piece, glaze it, and fire it with expert David Newquist — then take it home the same night. Pay to play, no registration needed. First come, first served!
Workhouse Masterpiece Mini Golf
11:00 AM–9:00 PM | 📍Workhouse Quad
Play your way through 18 art-inspired holes in our colorful outdoor mini golf course! Just $15 for a full day of fun. Enjoy ice cream, snacks, and drinks while you play — fun for all ages!
Learn More
More Activities
Artists in Action
6:00–9:00 PM | 📍W-5 to W-10 Studios
See Workhouse artists in action! Explore fresh art in our galleries, chat with the makers, and even take home an original piece — it’s art you can watch, love, and buy!
Artisan Shopping
6:00–9:00 PM | 📍W-5 to W-10 & W-16 Gallery Shop
Discover one-of-a-kind, handcrafted art, jewelry, and home décor — perfect gifts or seasonal refreshes for your space. Shop directly from local artists and support the creative community!
Scenic Photo Ops
All Evening | 📍Across Campus
Snap a pic by the iconic LOVE sign and uncover other picturesque backdrops throughout the Workhouse grounds. It’s the perfect night for a frame-worthy photo!
Food Trucks & Craft Beverages
6:00–11:00 PM | 📍SOUQ Market, River Pavilion & McGuire Woods Gallery
Savor global flavors and local favorites at the SOUQ Market’s food trucks. Grab a beer, wine, or cocktail from one of our bars and toast to a night of art and culture!
📍**[View the Campus Map]** to find exhibits, studios, and all the must-see spots across the Workhouse!
This Month’s Featured Artists
Show Dates: June 11 - August 6, 2025
Opening Reception: June 14, 6-9pm
Where? Bldg. W-5
Marni Maree - “Drawn to Travel“
Claire R. Lynch - “Mixed State”
Show Dates: June 4 - 27, 2025
Opening Reception: June 14, 6-9pm
Where? Bldg. W-6
David Barnes - “Light Transfixed”
Show Dates: June 1 - 30, 2025
Opening Reception: June 14, 6-9pm
Where? Bldg. W-7
Show Dates: June 13 - August 8, 2025
Opening Reception: June 14 + July 12, 6-9pm
Where? Bldg. W-9 (Arches Gallery)
Kate Brogdon - “Myth to Reality”
Fernando Osorio - “Routes”
Show Dates: June 11 -July 6, 2025
Opening Reception: June 14, 6-9pm
Where? Bldg. W-10
Pamela Eisenmann - “Creatures and Fantasies”
Show Dates: May 4 - August 6, 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: Memory Charms
Saturday, June 14 I 6:00 - 8:00 PM
Bldg. W5, Room 505
JOIN OUR E-NEWS AND STAY CONNECTED!
Exhibits
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MaNiiTo II'NiNiiWak- (Creative Power People) Creative Sovereignty: The Power of Indigenous Artists Exhibit
On View: May 24 - July 20, 2025
Reception: June 14, 6-8pm
Admission: FREE
Get Social @workhousearts
As you celebrate spring, share your pictures with us on social media by tagging @WorkhouseArts and using #WorkhouseArtsCenter
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.
FAQs
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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!
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Pets are allowed in outdoor spaces throughout the Workhouse Arts Center and the festival area.
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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.
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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
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A few sprinkles can’t keep us down. Unless the weather poses a hazard, the event will happen rain or shine.
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Public restrooms are located throughout The Workhouse Arts Center.
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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.
