When 23 area artists were asked to commemorate the Lorton Arts Foundation, they gladly complied. The result is a collection of beautifully crafted art palettes. They are now on display at the Mount Vernon District Governmental Center as part of “The Artist’s Palette Exhibition.” They will be there through Nov. 11, at which point they will be raffled off to 23 lucky winners.
Participating artists were Helen Dilley Barsalou, Mara Burk, Linda Carlson, Pat Dixon, Jane Ernst, David Ernst, Jackie Fitzpatrick, Joan Forrester, Lynn Goldstein, Lynne Grossman, Michele Grossman, Tami Grossman, Wayne Guenther, Nancy Hannans, Deborah Hoeper, Paula Lantz, Marni Maree Sharon Mason, Kathy Matthews, Chris Munyan, Denise Tarbell, Jane Wallentiny and Jennifer Webb
All of these regional artists have donated their work to be raffled for this cause. Each piece has been created on or in the shape of a 12 inch by 16 inch oval palette. This grassroots effort has been designed to introduce the community to the Workhouse Art Center project on the Occoquan Workhouse site in Lorton, and to raise money for the project.
The Artist’s Palette was first exhibited at Fall for Fairfax on Oct. 2. Visitors to the exhibit were asked vote for their favorite piece of artwork and Mara Burk’s stained glass received the “People’s Choice Award.”
Raffle tickets are available for sale from members of the Lorton Arts Foundation Board and the artists themselves. They can also be ordered by sending to address below; they are $10 per ticket. Each raffle winner will receive one of these original pieces of artwork, created by the first artists to exhibit under the Workhouse Art Center banner. Proceeds from the raffle will contribute to this premier art center in southern Fairfax County. The raffle will be held Nov. 11 at 5 p.m. during a reception for the artists at Supervisor Gerald "Gerry" Hyland’s office. Winners need not be present to win.
The Lorton Arts Foundation, Inc. (LAF), a Fairfax-based, 501(c)(3) corporation is anticipating delivery of a 99-year lease with renewal rights from Fairfax County to develop this unique community asset into an important arts destination. Plans for the campus include artist studios and galleries, event center, a heritage museum, indoor and outdoor performances spaces, and garden habitats, as well as recreation, restaurant and entertainment facilities.
Sharon Mason, who is coordinating the raffle, said they have sold over a hundred tickets, and are hoping to sell a few hundred more in the next two weeks.
“The artists have worked hard to get the word out about the workhouse. That was our primary goal and I think we’ve achieved it. Since they are in various communities around the region they have been talking to lots of people who didn’t know anything about us,” Mason said.