Collectors Showcase 2013

Music, dining and laughter in the midst of beautiful pieces of art marked Workhouse Arts Center’s annual Collectors Showcase on Saturday, February 23. Supportive patrons and friends filled the McGuireWoods Gallery to celebrate the talent and creativity of artists who call the Workhouse home.

The showcase featured 92 pieces of art donated by Workhouse studio and associate artists, 64 of which went home with patrons who participated in an art lottery that evening. These spectacular works included photography, paintings, blown and fused glass, ceramics and more, giving art lovers of all types something to admire.

All of the Collectors Showcase works were displayed in an exhibition from January 26 to February 23 in the Workhouse McGuireWoods Gallery. Best in Show and honorable mention awards were juried by Joann Moser, deputy chief curator of the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, DC. Best in Show honors went to Kerin McBride’s Orange and Black Abstract, a 30x30 acrylic painting.

“It’s bold, monumental for its size and suggests figures,” Moser said of McBride’s work. “A gutsy choice of colors.”

With the hard work out of the way, the exhibition closed in entertaining fashion with the Collectors Showcase reception and fundraiser.

The evening got off to a rousing start with music provided by Workhouse instructor Merissa Driscoll, who also performs in our Cabaret series. Hors d’oeuvres satisfied the showcase’s guests as they perused the works of art in the McGuireWoods Gallery, each making mental notes of their preferred pieces and envisioning what might fit in their personal collections.

Richard W. Hausler, the Lorton Arts Foundation Board Chairman, briefly addressed the audience with appreciative remarks before opening the lottery to guests. “I want to thank each of [our artists] for their gift to this month’s exhibition and this evening’s lottery. The art [guests] will select tonight has been valued at more than $40,000!”

Each guest who purchased a ticket for the art lottery was entered into a drawing, guaranteeing them a personal art selection based on their lottery number.

Patron Kenneth Samples landed the prized first lottery pick of the night, giving him an entire exhibition’s worth of works to make his selection. He walked away with Workhouse artist Allen Levy’s Endless Horizon II, a gloss-finished acrylic painting.

Thanks to the patrons’ generosity, the evening raised $17,000. All proceeds from the fundraiser directly benefit the Workhouse and its ongoing dedication to maintaining a unique arts center for the local community’s enjoyment.

 

THIS WEEK AT THE WORKHOUSE

• Ephemeral: Interpretations of the Cherry Blossom, March 2 – April 7 in the McGuireWoods Gallery.
• Josh DeWeese, February 6-March 10 in the McGuireWoods Gallery.
• Dinner & a Movie Night: Saawariya, March 1 in the W-3 Theatre at 8pm.
• Sleeping Beauty—The Broken Spell, Children’s Theater in the W-3 Theatre, March 2 at 1pm & 3pm.
• Cabaret Series: Heroines—A Songbook Written in the Key of She!, in the W-3 Theatre March 2 at 8pm & March 3 at 1pm.
• March exhibitions in all seven studio buildings, Vulcan Gallery.
• Workhouse Prison Museum in Building W-9.

Stop by and visit us! 

The Workhouse is open Wednesday – Saturday from 11am – 7pm and Sundays from 12 – 5pm.  TheWorkhouse Prison Museum is open Wednesday – Friday from 12 – 3pm and Saturday – Sunday from 12 – 4pm.  Visit www.WorkhouseArts.org for more information, to purchase tickets or to register for classes.