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Falls Church will unveil a life-sized, interactive LOVE sculpture at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025, at 300 Park Ave. The public ceremony will take place between City Hall and the Cherry Hill Farmhouse.
Titled “Reflection: Diversity and Inclusivity,” the installation uses artwork and mirrored steel to celebrate the city’s history, democratic values and welcoming community. Its reflective surfaces allow visitors to see themselves as part of the sculpture.
City employee Ripal Patel developed the concept after Falls Church invited government staff to submit designs. The City Council approved Patel’s proposal in May 2025.
The sculpture’s “O” features illustrations of people and places representing diversity. Falls Church watercolor artist Bill Abel helped Patel bring those images to life. The “L,” “V” and “E” are made from polished, reflective steel to symbolize inclusion.
City Manager Wyatt Shields called the interactive mirror a fitting symbol for a community known for its “big heart.”
The installation stands near a gathering place for seasonal events and the weekly Falls Church Farmers Market. It is intended to promote the Little City as a distinctive destination for travelers while creating a new attraction for residents and businesses.
The sculpture joins LOVEworks installations across Virginia as an extension of the “Virginia is for Lovers” tourism campaign. Virginia Tourism Corporation President and CEO Rita McClenny said the artwork offers visitors an authentic sense of place while helping locals and travelers share what they love about Falls Church.
Project partners included Composition Systems Inc., which produced the vinyl wrap for the “O”; Colours Imaging Inc., which digitized its original artwork; the Department of Public Works Operations, which built the base; DS Metal Works Inc., which fabricated the letters; and Falls Church Art & Frame, which preserved the original concept artwork.
Visitors are encouraged to post photos of the installation on social media using the hashtags #LoveCFC and #LoveVA.