GoggleWorks Center for the Arts, Reading, PA

GoggleWorks Anniversary ushers in a
weekend of the arts in Reading, PA

The GoggleWorks is celebrating its fourth anniversary and is inviting the community to share in the festivities. The theme for the celebration is Cirque des Arts (Circus of the Arts).

The weekend ofSeptember 11-13 will be packed with art events, festive and casual, and open to the public, beginning with the Studio Crawl on September 11, from 6 to 9p.m. The Studio Crawl will take place at the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts, and will provide an opportunity to enjoy great hors d'oevres, imbibe some fine wine and beer, all while taking in fabulous artwork and chatting with artists and fellow art lovers. There will also be a live auction of GoggleWorks artists' artwork and a good reason to bring out your creative cocktail wardrobe.

The Cirque des Arts Gala celebration follows, on September 12, from 6-10 p.m. The Gala is a circus themed cocktail affair. Cirque de Verre, a group of artists who fuse their passion for glass with performance, to defy and expand the conventions of how glass might be manipulated in art, will perform in the hot shop. The performance will include a glass obsessed clown named Torso, a synchronized glass blowing performance, a scientist who tries to bottle emotions, and more that the group is keeping under their hats for now! The evening will also include a silent auction, with a number of great items, many from local businesses, available to be bid on. Guests will also enjoy entertainment by the Reading Jugglers Club and bellydancing by Troupe Sahara. Live music will be provided by the Dave Wilson Duo. Dinner will be included with the purchase of tickets, and a cash bar will be available on site. The Gala will take place in the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts.
Tickets to both the Studio Crawl and the Gala may be purchased separately or together by calling the GoggleWorks offices at 610-374-4600.

The weekend concludes with an open house on Sunday, September 13, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., which includes not only the GoggleWorks, but also Culture Soup at the Reading Public Museum, and an Arts and Antiques Fair at the Centre Park Arts Historic District.

The GoggleWorks Second Sunday will provide a day full of free art and music to the community. There will be free music throughout the day, workshops, demonstrations, and so much more. As always, Second Sunday is a great opportunity to meet the GoggleWorks artists and arts partners. It's also a great day to bring the family to the GoggleWorks to enjoy A Whole City Block Where Art Happens.

The Arts and Antiques Fair will be held at the Centre Park Historic District, between 10a.m. and 5 p.m. It has a rain date of September 20. This free event will include the work of over 70 artisans, crafts-persons, and antique dealers. An array of merchandise will be available, including paintings, pottery, jewelry, hand-blown and stained glass, vintage clothing, furniture and collectibles. Live music will form the backdrop for this fun, outdoor event, and visitors will be able to witness Pipper the Clown in action! The Centre Park Historic District is a Victorian neighborhood in Reading, comprised of 840 largely residential properties of Victorian and early 20th century architecture. They have consistently been active in promoting architectural preservation.

A trolley will be available between the GoggleWorks and the Centre Park Historic District during the hours of the GoggleWorks open house on Sunday, September 13.

Culture Soup is a collaborative effort between the Reading Public Museum, the Reading Symphony Orchestra, the Berks Art Council, the GoggleWorks, Leadership Berks and Greater Reading Young Professionals, aimed at developing arts programs for young professionals in the greater Reading community. They will be hosting Arts in the Arboretum from 4 to 6 p.m., in the arboretum of the Reading Public Museum. There, guests are invited to bring picnics enjoy the music of the Jazz Katz, while redeeming their admission included two drink vouchers for wine and beer. Tickets may be purchased upon arrival. For further information, contact Lauren McCarroll at 610-371-5850 extension 230.

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 GoggleWorks is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Free parking is available in the GoggleWorks parking lot.


Contact:
Carson Kober-Mazurkiewicz
GoggleWorks, Director of Marketing and Communications
ckober@goggleworks.org
610-374-4600 x 113