The following events and exhibits are open at the Workhouse Arts Center, which is located at 9601 Ox Road, Lorton. For more information, call 703-495-0001 or visit www.workhousearts.org.
Chris Monette Appleton is the featured artist in Studio 4 at Lorton’s Workhouse Arts Center. Her show "Recent Drawings" is comprised of figure drawings from life and will be unveiled at the Second Saturday Art Walk on Feb. 13, from 6-9 p.m. and exhibited through March 10. The art walks promise an interesting evening for art lovers and families and anyone wanting a few hours of fun. Snacks, hors d’oeuvre, warm beverages, music, new work and artists guarantee a great evening.
The Artists of Building 10 at the Workhouse Art Center at Lorton will be steaming up February with the theme of love and salsa on Feb. 13, from 6-9 p.m. Influenced by a recent trip to Cuba by artist, Susan Tilt who returned with the new salsa music. Tilt was part of a group from the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in D.C. that visits Cuba yearly as a friendship and reconciliation between Americans and Cubans. She also had an opportunity to see artwork from Cuban artists being gathered for an art auction to benefit Cuban children with cancer.
ArtNotes presents The U.S. Army Band Chorus on Saturday, Feb. 6, at 6:30 p.m., in Gallery W-16, second floor. Join in this free evening of music including pop, Broadway, folk, traditional patriotic music and classical music.
Valentine’s Day Date Night. Come share creative side with a partner and join the Workhouse ceramics, glass and dance instructors for a fun evening on Friday, Feb. 12 or Saturday, Feb. 13 from 6-11 p.m. Choose from a Glass Workshop in Building W-7 or a Ceramics Workshop in Building W-8 from 7-9:30 p.m. Learn to create Hand-built or Wheel-thrown objects with a friend or partner. Before, during and after the workshops, a reception featuring ballroom dancing, complimentary hors d’ouvres and cash bar will take place in Gallery W-16 from 6-11pm. Ballroom dancing will be hosted by a professional ballroom instructor. $75 couple or singles with friend, includes workshop and dancing. $20 couple or singles with friend, dancing only.
"The Working Artist - Principles and Practice for Success." Glass artist Milon Townsend [http://www.milontownsend.com/] returns to the Workhouse to address many of the issues facing you as a working artist today on Saturday, Feb. 13 and Sunday, Feb. 14, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Lecturing throughout the country on art business topics, Milon's presentations are drawn from his nearly 40 years experience as a successful full time artist. Handouts and worksheets provide detailed information to take home, and his interactive style is designed to draw out specific issues and problems. $100 for both days, Workhouse artists and members $80. For more information and to register, visit www.WorkhouseArts.org. Milon will be giving a free flameworking demonstration Feb. 13 at 7 p.m., showing his sculptural techniques in the torch.
Gallery After Hours presents Word Beat. Saturday, Feb. 20, 7 p.m., Gallery W-16, second floor. Enjoy an evening of percussion and spoken word poetry from Word Beat [http://www.word-beat.com]. Global jazz percussionist Tom Teasley and acclaimed singer/actor Charles Williams pair inspirational words with inventive percussive sounds. Their performances feature mystic poetry, African proverbs, Harlem Renaissance poetry and the words of Martin Luther King Jr. and Gandhi in musical layers of voice, hand drums, shakers and electronics. Tickets $15-$25. Cash bar and light fare available.
The Workhouse Film Institute presents "A Man Named Pearl." Friday, Feb. 26 and Sat. Feb. 27, Gallery W-16, second floor. Join the Workhouse for film weekend, including an artist workshop/lecture with Pearl Fryar and a screening of the film "A Man Named Pearl." This film is about a self-taught topiary artist Fryar. Cash bar and light fare available. Tickets: $5-10 for tickets to film and workshop. Film screening on Friday, Feb. 26, 7 p.m. On Saturday, Feb. 27, artist workshop/lecture with Fryar, 3 p.m.; youth workshop/lecture with Fryar, 5:30 p.m.; film screening, 7 p.m.
Paul Reisler Duo performs Saturday, March 6, 6:30 p.m., Gallery W-16, second floor. This group is rooted in folk music combined with world music eclecticism and performed with classical precision. Cash bar and light fare available. Tickets: $15-25.
Black History Month Exhibition. The Workhouse will honor Black History Month with an exhibit of works by several well-known African American artists including: Margo Humphrey, Michael B. Platt, Preston Sampson, Stanley Squirewell, Thermon Statom and others. The exhibit runs Feb. 3-27, in Gallery W-16, second floor, with an opening reception to meet the artists Sunday, Feb. 7 from 2-4 p.m.
As part of the Workhouse Art Center’s Art for a Change! program, advanced art students will have the opportunity to be considered for a juried exhibition in a professional gallery. Advanced art students from West Springfield and Woodbridge Senior high schools will be featured in this exhibit from Feb. 9-28. An opening reception to meet the artists will be Sunday, Feb. 14, from 2-4 p.m. in Gallery W-16.
Building W-5 Studio Building Show, "RED," runs Feb. 3-28. See the primary color "red" through the eyes of the artists in Building 5. Their new works explore and express their vision of this powerful hue. Opening reception is Feb. 13 from 6-9 p.m. in collaboration with the Workhouse Second Saturday Art Walk.
Building W-8 Studio Building Show, the Ceramics Building has a regular recurring group exhibit of Ceramic Resident Artists work.
Join artist Irene Tsai in celebrating the Chinese New Year in Building W-6. Growing up in Taiwan, Tsai has always admired the beauty and the mystery of the mountains and landscapes. She applies techniques from both eastern and western watercolor on her paintings and creates her own poetic and tranquil world on rice papers.