Fine arts festival and education open house at The Workhouse in Lorton Sept. 10-11

More than 150 outstanding artists will gather at the Workhouse Arts Center, 9518 Workhouse Way, Lorton, VA 22079 for the second annual Workhouse Fine Arts Festival Sept. 10-11 The “festival” will be Sept. 10 from 11 a.m.-7:30 p.m. and Sept. 11, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Education Open House will be Sept. 10, noon to 3 p.m. Admission and parking are free.

Visitors are invited to meet artists across a multitude of mediums. and discover works of fine art while enjoying live music, impressive vendors, and specialty food trucks. Some artworks will be for sale.

See artworks in a variety of forms, including: painting; ceramics; glass; fiber/clothing; mixed media; wood; precious metal/jewelry; printmaking; photography; furniture; and sculpture.  For a complete list of festival artists, go to http://www.workhousearts.org/fall-arts-festival.

Of the 150 artists, about 80 from around the country were selected specifically for the festival Some 75 are resident and associate artists at the Workhouse Arts Center who create and/or exhibit their works on campus year-round.

There will be outdoor exhibits and visitors may explore the Workhouse’s 12 art galleries and more than 60 artist studios across the historic campus.

Featured artists at the 2016 Festivalwill include Syl Mathis, a cutting-edge glass artist and sculptor best known for his cast-glass sculptures; Kim Ensch, a Michigan-local who combines papers and fibers to exhibit the natural world; and Brian Bortz, a furniture-maker who revolutionizes contemporary design while preserving the wood’s natural beauty and diversity.

Jurors included Catriona Fraser, Director of the Bethesda Fine Arts Festival, Director of the Fraser Gallery, and Chair of the Trawick Prize; and Brett John Johnson, Workhouse Director of Visual Arts.

EDUCATION OPEN HOUSE
The Workhouse Arts Center offers 800+ culinary, visual arts, performing arts, glass/ceramics, and youth arts camps and classes each year. Learn about education programs through intriguing demos, chats with instructors, and hands-on art making from noon to 3 p.m. on Sept.10.

OPENING NIGHT CELEBRATION
To celebrate the festival’s opening night on Saturday, Sept. 10, guests are invited to join Festival artists for a cocktail party. The night will feature hors d’oeuvres, drinks, and entertainment.

For updates on the Workhouse Fine Arts Festival, follow the Workhouse on Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/WorkhouseArts For v.olunteer opportunities, visit the volunteer page, http://www.workhousearts.org/get-involved/volunteer.

The 2016 Workhouse Fine Arts Festival sponsors include PNC Bank, The M Group, and Northern Virginia Community College – Woodbridge.

For questions about the Workhouse Fine Arts Festival, contact Brett Johnson, Director of Visual Arts, at 703-584-2911. For questions about the Education Open House, contact Debra Balestreri, Director of Education, at 703-584-2909.

ABOUT THE WORKHOUSE
Located in Lorton, Virginia, on 55 acres once occupied by the historic Lorton Prison, the Workhouse Arts Center is a vibrant community of visual artists, performing artists, and arts educators working together to serve over 100,000 visitors annually. Nearly 100 regional artists create or exhibit their art year-round at the Workhouse, which annually hosts more than 100 arts exhibitions, 300 performances, and 800 arts education classes, in addition to events such as Workhouse Fireworks and Workhouse Brewfest. More information is available online at http://workhousearts.org or follow the Workhouse on Facebook (@WorkhouseArts).