On Friday, August 10, the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts will be hosting Unconstrained Craft: A Symposium on Artist Residencies from 5:30pm to 7:00pm featuring artists and industry  leaders who have designed, developed, and participated in, or shaped prominent residency programs around the world. The discussion will center on dialogue about the role and efficacy of residencies in shaping various art fields and will include Albert LeCoff, emeritus executive director of The Center for Art in Wood, Jennifer Navva Milliken, artistic director of The Center for Art in Wood, Jennifer Martin, executive director of The Clay Studio, Bill May, executive director of Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Levi Landis, executive director of GoggleWorks, and artists Amy Forsyth, Charles Brolly, and Roberta Massuch. Landis explains, “This symposium is a way to help artists understand what a residency can give them.”

Unconstrained Craft is the culmination of Permanent Residency, an exhibition on view at GoggleWorks through August 26. With support from the John and Robyn Horn Foundation, GoggleWorks selected The Center for Art in Wood, The Clay Studio, and Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts because they have developed residency programs of widespread acclaim. Each organization curated work of exceptional quality that demonstrates the unique and collective values of their programs. The exhibition includes works from artists such as Dustin Farnsworth, Lauren Mabry, Michael Brolly, Richard James, and Ken Wood, amongst others.

Permanent Residency also contextualizes the launch of GoggleWorks’ own summer residency program. The 10-week residency, from June 4 through August 10, was created to infuse new, creative energy to the GoggleWorks community, with an emphasis on facilitating cross-disciplinary experimentation.

At the conclusion of Unconstrained Craft, guests are invited to join GoggleWorks’ three artist-in-residents: Karina Mago (ceramics), Joseph Cavalieri (stained glass), and Bartosz Beda (painting) upstairs in the Schmidt Gallery to view an exhibition of the work completed during their residency, hear about their experience, and mingle with the artists from 7:15-8:00pm.

The evening is free and open to the public, with complimentary light refreshments provided by Belly Kitchen & Drinkery, and a cash bar. Located on 201 Washington Street, Reading, PA 19601, GoggleWorks has free, onsite parking and is open 9am-9pm daily. More information can be found at goggleworks.org or by calling 610.374.4600.