Where Gumbo Was #508
IX (pronounced icks) Art Park is a 24-hour free mural and sculpture art park which is Virginia’s first permanent immersive art experience and is run by a non-profit art foundation. It also hosts several community-driven series including weekly markets supporting women and minority entrepreneurs, arts education programs for underserved youth, salsa dancing, art classes and creative empowerment programs for the whole community.
The site was once a burgeoning textile mill and factory of Frank Ix & Sons, Charlotteville's largest employer. After the mill suffered a decline and closed in 1999, the property was repurposed into a city park for the arts and concerts.
Congratulations to PortMoresby, the only one who recognized the site!
During my frequent visits here, there are many families with children enjoying the art and dining at the many picnic areas.Pets are welcomed and there is also freeWiFi.
LoveWork and Hands
The park grounds are strewn with sculptures and artwork, plus some permanent establishments. The LOVEwork mural is a product of a partnership between two of the early artistic-supporters of IX Art Park. Javier "Chicho" Lorenzo designed and painted the sculpture, and Builderbeast assembled it with durable lumber and craftsmanship. Unveiled in June 2017 in conjunction with the art park's tribute to the Summer of Love–Lovefest. The mural depicted in the image is a collaboration with Discover Black Charlottesville.
An iconic sculpture, justt above, of the Catholic philosopherSaint Thomas Aquinas near the University of Virginia was moved to the park.
A children’s absolute favorite is the Looking Glass immersive experience, above. Inside, children as well as adults can explore an enchanted forest and kaleidoscopic cavern full of light, sound, color and hands-on interactive installations that will captivate their imagination.
I also believe the kids can be given paint brushes and create some of their own artwork inside. The advertised average time inside is 50 minutes. While the park itself is free, the Looking Glass requires timed tickets. Cost is $15 for adults, $12 for children ages 4 to 13, and free for children 3 and under.
Comedian Kurt Braunohler drove a 1,600-pound foam-and-metal sculpture from Los Angeles to New Jersey, intending to insert absurdity into strangers’ lives. That butt—the Love Butt—now permanently resides in Ix Art Park. Murals include “Before I Die,” what looks like a moth in one of the picnic areas, and a gaggle of hands.
Other sculptures include an operational red mallet Xylophone, pottery, Couple Silhouette, Book Stack, Black Octopus, Summersault Man, and the Mask. Many of these are creations of local amateur artists.
Within the confines of the park are many dining establishments including the North American Sake Brewery & Restaurant which is Virginia’s first sake brewery and there is also my favorite brick oven pizza place called Lampo’s. Or you can bring enjoy your own picnic lunch.
Ix hosts the weekly Saturday Farmers Market where over 60 vendors come to sell fresh produce, prepared meals and more. The hours are 9 to 1, with ponies, mermaids, fairies and other amusements for the children. During the summer months there is also a Thursday Sunset Market that runs from 4:30to 7:30 pm.
There are also free Sunset Movies. This family-friendly event runs outdoors from 6 to 10 pm every Friday evening into fall. Attendees can indulge in the family fun with popcorn, beverages, cotton candy, and free art-making. All film screenings begin at sunset.
Ix Art Park is located at 522 2nd St SE, Charlottesville, VA 22902. The park is open 24 hours a day. Ample parking is free in the park, however, when I arrived on Saturday during the Farmers Market, parking spaces were difficult to find.
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