NEW YORK'S CRAFTS and CULTURE GIFT IDEAS

The weather outside is frightful but I am so delightful to know that even if it may snow there’s crafts and culture, and tony books in New York to warm up the days with sure fire events. Only in New York, my friends. Only in New York. Here’s the Scoop!!!

CLAY FESTIVAL 5

It’s the holiday season and Clay Festival celebrates its fifth year by showcasing the works of twenty of New York’s talented ceramic artists on Saturday, December 18th from 12 to 7pm at St. Anthony’s Church, Houston & Sullivan Streets in Soho. Peter Davis, the ceramic artist who created Clay Festival, invites you to stop by to browse for gifts and discover a beautiful and rare selection of handmade bowls, mugs, plates, platters, jewelry, sculpture, tiles, teapots ‘n cups, covered jars, cat and dog bowls and many other unique stocking stuffers. Get into the holiday spirit, mingle and meet the artists and find some unique last minute shopping ideas. A tasty selection of baked goods is also available. No entrance fee. Wheelchair accessible, elevator on Houston St. www.clayfestivalnyc.blogspot.com.

PERFORMANCE 9:

Allora & Calzadilla Talking about upside down art there’s a unique experience at MOMA. The Museum of Modern Art’s Performance Exhibition series continues with artist duo Jennifer Allora and Guillermo Calzadilla, who bring Stop, Repair, Prepare: variations on Ode to Joy for a Prepared Piano (2008) to the Museum’s Donald B. and Catherine C. Marron Atrium for performances throughout the day. For each 30-minute performance, the pianist standing in a hole carved in the center of an early 20th century Bechstein piano, will lean over the piano’s keyboard, playing upside down and backward while moving the instrument around the Atrium. These performances will take place hourly beginning at 11:30 a.m. each day through January 10, 2011. MOMA, 11W. 53rd St. www.moma.org.

JOSEPH URBAN:

The World as Theater Books are among my favorite things but who was Joseph Urban? This Vienna-born architect and set designer, renowned in the 1930s gets his due recognition in John Loring’s magnificent book, “Joseph Urban,” just published in full color by Abrams Books. The book coincides with the exhibition of Urban’s astonishing career, at the RBML, the Rare Book & Manuscript Library at Columbia University. The exhibition, continuing through Dec. 23, contains 152 pieces that cover Urban’s drawings. He prolifically created sets for Ziegfeld Follies, the New York and Boston operas and William R. Hearst’s Cosmopolitan Pictures. His architectural works include the New School of Social Research. At the Butler Library, 6th floor east, 535 W. 114 St. Free, open to the public. Check hours of operation: 212.854.5590. Email: rbml@libraries.cul.columbia.edu.

CECIL BEATON, The Art of the Scrapbook

Now, here’s a blockbuster book idea. Assouline, a French publisher that produces books for luxury gift-giving is over the top with this $250 Cecil Beaton book that reproduces for the first time the iconic photographer’s visual diaries. Only in New York, my friends, only in New York!!! You can visit Assouline’s tony store in the mezzanine of The Plaza Hotel or better yet check out their original offerings at www.assouline.com. For a mere $50 you can buy “Fifty Years of Fantasy Gifts from the Neiman Marcus Christmas Catalogue.”
Ta Ta darlings!!! I’m heading way up town to take in Joseph Urban’s incredible works, and then I’ll return midtown to visit the Bryant Park skating ring. Fan mail always welcome at pollytalk@verizon.net. Go to www.pollytalk.com and scroll over to the left hand column list of Polly’s Blogs; just click the one of your choice and Voila!!! The link takes you there. Enjoy!