LOVEwork at The Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen

This LOVEwork is accessible during all hours. It is positioned outside at the Center’s entrance to the Lobby. The Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen offers residents and visitors an unparalleled opportunity to experience the performing and visual arts- and this LOVEwork sign represents what we do! The concepts for each letter were developed by Ryan Imirie, the Center’s Guest Services Associate, with input and assembly assistance by Center staff and volunteers. L – From a distance, all that is seen is a large red eighth note. Upon a closer look, it is saturated with smaller notes, and at its base is a theatrical stage light, pointing upward dramatically, highlighting the letter O. The large note is capped with a top hat and a bouquet of flowers with ribbons that meld into a music staff with medium-sized music notes, wrapping the rest of the sculpture. The L represents the many different types of performances and events held at the Center, many of which involve music: concerts, music lessons, dance lessons and performances, musical theatre, in addition to the music at parties, weddings, and celebrations. Red is the Center’s primary color for its brand. The small music notes are made from popsicle sticks and fender washers, the medium music notes are recycled paint stir sticks and paint bucket lids wired together, the flowers are recycled jar lids and caps, and the ribbons are cutoffs from gutter leaf filters! These reused materials are reflective of the creative uses of recycled crafting materials used in children’s classes and camps, and through our ArtReach program. O – This letter represents a piece of a wooden stage floor, tilted upright, and carved into a large paint palette. The stage floor not only represents our three main performance spaces, but also the performers who come here to be “on stage.” The Center’s logo design is a squirt of red paint- this was the starting point for the idea of the palette as the O. Aspects of the Center’s programs and activities are noted here, each in their own colorful squirt of paint on the palette. The colors are combined on one palette, waiting to be mixed and used together, similar to the way the programs at the Center overlap and work together. Patrons are able to sign up for classes, purchase tickets to performances, view the current exhibits, and shop in the gift shop all in the same visit. V – The left side of the V consists of three large paint brushes standing in a cup of water, bristles up to dry. From a distance, they are only brushes. Upon a closer look, the brushes are covered with new and used smaller paint brushes. The largest paint brush is dipped into the red squirt of paint on the palette, furthering the idea that programs touch each other. The right side of the V shows a small example of the many types and styles of pottery that are created by our wheel-throwing and handbuilding pottery classes. The pottery in the V was sculpted by staff using an elastomeric compound, and was covered with exterior paints. E – The E illustrates more of the Center’s programs. Drawing is represented by the large hand holding a drawing pencil. On closer look, the hand is sculpted using varying sizes of shirt button glued in patterns. The pencil is composed of actual pencils and the hand with the pencil is shown drawing the music staff that began at the letter L! There is a toe shoe representing the many dance companies that use the Center for rehearsals and performances. The shoe is covered with shirt buttons of uniform size making the leotard on the dancer, while the shoe is made with plastic “cracked ice” ceiling light panels which make it reflective. The middle of the E has the Center’s ArtReach program logo- hands holding hands and holding a heart. This indicates the sharing of our love of the visual and performing arts with people of all ages, cultures, and abilities. The heart is made of a glass jewelry box representing not only the heart of our organization, but also the jewelry classes the Center offers. The last part of the E is the end of the music staff- a large blast of sound coming from a bright yellow horn. The horn is covered with over 7000 plastic beads used in our ArtReach program, and curly metal pieces of recycled tin roof complete the visual of the sound. The Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen thanks the County of Henrico and the Virginia Tourism Corporation for making the LOVEwork possible, and encourages guests to share on Facebook at Facebook.com/VirginiaisforLovers and on Instagram and Twitter using #artsglenallen and #LOVEVA.