“Virginia is for Lovers” This is the tourism and travel slogan of the state of Virginia. Due to being so well-recognized, a LOVEWORK logo was designed as its representation. You can see it at the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, Virginia. The History of "Virginia is for Lovers" You see this sign greeting you as you enter the state. But how did these become the phrase for Virginia? It's origins date back to 1969 when a copywriter from Richmond coined the phrase. Originally, it was supposed to have multiple uses like "Virginia is for History Lovers'' and "Virginia is for Mountain Lovers." But the firm, which is now known as Martin Agency, trimmed it all down to the now world-famous slogan. After that, the phrase somehow stuck and now, appears all over the state of Virginia, from signs, art installations, t-shirts, and so on. The LOVEwork at Workhouse Art Center The best part of the slogan is that it's open to interpretation. Today, a new generation is discovering that love for Virginia's mountains, beaches, history, theme parks, vibrant cities, outdoor activities, sports, and hospitality. One of these is the Virginia Tourism's LOVEworks sign which is the first permanent sign of the county. The unveiling happened earlier this year and was part of the state's celebration of the slogan's 50th anniversary. The Artist Behind the Sign Artist Marlon Diggs, “Marly McFly,” transformed the Virginia Tourism LOVEwork sign at the end of 2019. He was selected by a jury from an open call for artists to have their work featured on the LOVEwork sign. Using acrylic and spray paint, he created a collage of facial expressions that communicated the term “love.” By the way, it just took the Virginia-native 4 days to create this wonderful piece of art. But did you know that Workhouse Art Center where the signage stands used to be a former prison complex? It was then called the Occoquan Workhouse who housed non-violent offenders. In later years, it transformed into the Lorton Reformatory. By 2002, the property was sold to Fairfax County, which then transformed it into a cultural arts center. It’s not just in this art center that the LOVEwork signage gained attention. There are also numerous places in the Chesapeake Bay area where various artists have given their own rendition. But the goal here remains the same. To have this slogan signify the amount of LOVE the people have for the state of Virginia for its history and scenery. So, what are your thoughts on the way Virginia is taking its tourism theme? It certainly is on a different level, right?
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