(GoggleWorks Center for the Arts, Reading, PA) Join the GoggleWorks' Second Sunday Open House on August 10, from 11 am to 4 pm. The GoggleWorks welcomes thousands of guests each month for an all-day event full of gallery presentations, artist demonstrations, musical and theatrical performances.
First Floor:
Located outside the GoggleWorks main entrance, Heart to Art is partnering with the city of Reading in the production of a collaborative intergenerational community mural. This huge 4' x 8' mural will be created under the skilled direction of a team of Heart to Art artist mentors and hundreds of community members of all ages. The mural will depict the Reading Pagoda high on Mt Penn as well as the Reading skyline and the Schuylkill River.
In the GoggleWorks Film Theatre, Lance Simmens, Special Assistant to the Governor Rendell and trained presenter for the Al Gore program based on "An Inconvenient Truth" will be speaking on the effects of global warming at 1 pm. Flight of the Red Balloon will be playing at 3 pm and 7 pm. The new ticket prices are adult $8.00, senior $6.00, students $5.00, matinees $6.00.
This month in the Cohen Gallery on the first floor is the Berks Art Alliance Juried Exhibit. This exhibit runs through August 18. Over 190 artists entered their works to the jurying process, and the jurors selected 125 pieces of artwork out of a total of 315. The jurors evaluated each artist's work according to creativity, subject matter, and the diversity of representation using various media.
GoggleWorks Store is hosting book signings! Berks Bards' poet Craig Czury will be selling his poetry books American Know-How: Patent Pending; In My Silence To Justify; and God's Shiny Glass Eye. Heather Thomas will be selling her books of poetry as well, entitled Blue Ruby and Resurrection Papers. Maria McDonnell will be selling her book First I Learn My Name.
GoggleWorks artist Tara Espinoza and her mother, Vicki Espinoza, will also be selling and signing their new children's book, Donnie Dollar.
From 11 am to 4 pm, Bravo Café will be hosting an Ice Cream Sundae and Root Beer Float Bar.
Also in the Bravo Café from 12 pm to 3 pm, the musical group Heartstrings will be performing.
Second Floor:
In the Rolf and Renate Schmidt Gallery, artist James Enders will be featuring his work in his show entitled "The Proclamation" New Works By James Enders.
GoggleWorks August artists of the month are Richard Summons and Dan Gorman whose artwork will be featured in the lounge and elevator areas on the second floor; and Barbara Thun and Georgette L. Veeder, featured in the third floor lounge and elevator areas. These exhibits will be displayed from August 1 to August 27.
The A.C.O.R. Gallery features "Prelude to Fall" by A.C.O.R. member artists and is hosting guest artist Juan Ruize in "The Last World of Generals", along with "Early American Art" by the St. Peter's School.
In studio 215, W. Eugene Burkhart, Jr. will be signing his pressed floral art for his new book, "Pressed Flower Art."
In room 238 from 12 pm to 2 pm, there will be a swing dance workshop with Alicia and Chip Hunter.
Third Floor:
In room 304 there will be demonstrations of Caricatures and Quick Sketches by Mary Lou Creyts from 12 pm to 4 pm.
In room 305 a silent auction will take place for original watercolor paintings by Steve White.
Fourth Floor:
In room 411, Berks PRIDE dance rehearsals will be taking place. Berks PRIDE is a member of the Council on Chemical Abuse.
Fifth Floor:
In room 504, The Outsider Folk Art Gallery is featuring a new exhibit entitled "Internal Guidance Systems".
The Community School of Music and the Arts has an ongoing exhibit of artwork by Jasper Kemp Elmer.
The Polish American Cultural Center is exhibiting art work from Poland featuring straw art, paper cutouts, and works in copper and silver.
Through August 31, the Berks County Commission for Women in room 502 features exhibits from Berks Women in Crisis.
Ceramics Studio:
There will be Wheel Throwing and Hand Building Demonstrations from 11 am to 4 pm.
Visitors can take a walk in Try Wheel Thrown Pottery class from 11am to 4 pm. No experience is required; the class cost is $25.00 and those who are interested can register at the Information Desk.
Also in the Ceramics studio, get hands-on with clay: visitors can Play With Clay either by making a piece to be fired or just playing around with shapes and ideas. No experience required; cost is $5.00.
Hot Glass Studio:
From 12 pm to 4 pm, there will be demonstrations by visiting artist Eric Snee. From 1 pm to 4 pm, visit Scott McKenna as he demonstrates how to make small animals from glass using the lampworking technique. Also from 1 pm to 4 pm, visitors can take a walk in Try Hot Glass class. There is no experience required; the class cost is $35.00 and those who are interested can register at the Information Desk. Closed-toed shoes are required.
From 12 pm to 4 pm, the Berks Genealogical Society will be giving a free tour of their library in room 413.
Visitors can sign up for a 1 pm free guided tour of the GoggleWorks at the Information Desk.
All day, the GoggleWorks Artists will be in their studios to talk with visitors about their artwork, classes and more.
The GoggleWorks Center for the Arts is a community art and cultural resource center for Berks County and Central and Southeastern Pennsylvania, and is the largest, most comprehensive interactive arts center of its kind in the country. The mission of the GoggleWorks is "to nurture the arts, foster creativity, promote education and enrich the community." The GoggleWorks is open Monday through Saturday from 9 am to 9 pm, and Sunday from 11 am to 7 pm. Free parking is available in the GoggleWorks parking lot, accessible from Second, Third or Walnut Streets. For more information, call the GoggleWorks at 610-374-4600, or visit the website at www.goggleworks.org
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