If you’re looking for a creative and fun activity to do this summer, look no further than Masterpiece Mini Golf at Workhouse Arts Center! Featuring 18 holes created by Workhouse artists, Masterpiece Mini Golf will take you on a journey through art history while enjoying friendly competition.
A “Course” in Art History
Tim Grant, a Resident Artist at the Workhouse, led the creation of this imaginative mini golf course. Grant, who is known locally for painting murals at RECenters across Fairfax County, has a background in art history and wanted to find a way to intersect this passion with Workhouse Arts Center President & CEO Keith Gordon’s background in sports. Grant envisioned Masterpiece Mini Golf as an art-themed course to connect with Workhouse’s mission.
“The goal was to be interactive, accessible, and entertaining for a broad range of people with varying levels of exposure to the Visual Arts,” says Grant. He adds, “Most of all, I wanted it to be fun!”
A Study of the Masters
Each of the 18 holes in Masterpiece Mini Golf were hand painted by artists at the Workhouse Arts Center and feature tributes to legendary artists such as Claude Monet, Michelangelo, Keith Haring, and more. Workhouse Artist in Residence Tim Grant put out a campus-wide call for artists to create tributes to art masters who inspired and influenced them.
Some artists selected a master that was a natural extension of the artists’ style. Mia Klavon painted in the style of Wyland, Jon Cane painted Surrealism, Nadine Thola painted a page from a Medieval manuscript, Mary Kane and Bill Firestone painted Abstract Expressionism, Kebao Li painted Matisse, Grant Baudoin drew in the style of Kathe Kollwitz, and Phil Charlwood built a metal sculpture in the style of Alexander Calder.
But in other cases, the artists used the opportunity to explore a new practice or investigate a master who intrigued them but required more study. Gary Spellman had all kinds of fun dumpster diving to find recycled shapes to build an assemblage in the style of Louise Nevelson, Lura Bovee researched Frida Kahlo, Wendy Anderson studied Paul Klee, Jane Johnson explored the mixed media works of Picasso, and Fernando Osorio investigated Caravaggio’s “chiaroscuro” technique of dramatic lighting.
Art History and Mini Golf: The First of Its Kind
According to the Workhouse, this part-gallery, part-game experience is believed to be the only golf course in the country to feature art history, making it a highly anticipated and unique experience for golf and art lovers alike.
The creative team spent months conceptualizing and crafting the experience, and to Keith Gordon, President & CEO of the Workhouse Arts Center, the hard work was worth it.
“Masterpiece Mini Golf is a perfect embodiment of the Workhouse Arts Center’s vision to be a dynamic, inclusive hub for artistic expression and cultural engagement,” says Gordon. “I hope the community leaves Masterpiece Mini Golf feeling inspired, surprised, and more connected to the power of creativity. Experiencing art can be something that’s alive, interactive, and woven into the fabric of everyday life.”
Be sure to check out Masterpiece Mini Golf from Thursdays through Sundays, and don’t miss the opportunity to swing into the fun this summer!
To learn more, visit Workhouse Arts Center’s website, and be sure to check out our ArtsFairfax Events Calendar, your go-to resource for finding arts events across the DMV.
