The 26th annual Crafts at the Cathedral returns to the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, the world’s largest Gothic cathedral, for the holiday shopping season. For three days, December 6-8, explore the wonders of human creativity in the finest of handmade items.
This premier show of contemporary craft and design features unique and dynamic, one-of-a-kind works by 85 of the country’s most esteemed crafts artists, some of whom have shared their talents with the Cathedral community since the beginning of the show, and some for whom this is their first appearance.
Long a favorite December event for shoppers with an eye for handmade and unique items, Crafts at the Cathedral features one-of-a-kind wearable art, wood, glass, fiber, clay, metal, mixed media, jewelry, and much more. For the second year, Richard and Joanna Rothbard, the producers, have reached out to gifted artists who have appeared in the Brooklyn Museum Fine Craft Show, Berkshires Arts Festival, and An American Craftsman Galleries. “At this show, visitors will enjoy cutting-edge work—whether classic or contemporary—executed by hand by the country’s best talent,” said Richard Rothbard.
This year’s show features artists from across the country, including Carrie Fertig, a multi-disciplinary artist who has been an exhibitor since Crafts at the Cathedral was first founded, and who was one of the stone carvers who worked on the iconic West Front of the Cathedral. Among the new artists exhibiting this year is Lisa Jane Grant, who creates jewelry using the Japanese practice of mokume-gane using a natural wood grain pattern on metal. And another first-time vendor is David Ernster, a ceramic artist who considers himself a sculptor who makes functional work and sculptural vessel forms.
The Very Reverend Patrick Malloy, the Dean of the Cathedral said, “For 26 years, the Cathedral of St. John the Divine has hosted incredible craft artisans during the Christmas season. We are excited once again to share their talents with our neighbors and with visitors from around the world.”
Malloy continues, “We hope that you find joy at the Cathedral – in finding that perfect gift for a loved one and in exploring the wonder of our beloved Cathedral. And we hope that as the Christmas season unfolds, you might return to the Cathedral to celebrate with us through our services and other programs we offer. We hope, too, that those who celebrate other mid-winter festivals—Hanukkah, Bodhi Day, Kwanzaa, Diwali, Solstice—will experience with certainty what Christmas celebrates: that there will always be light no matter how long and dark the night might seem.”
Proceeds from Crafts at the Cathedral support Cathedral outreach programs, including Cathedral Community Cares, the mission of which is to combat and alleviate poverty through preventive poverty services, education and advocacy, specifically targeting the issues of health and hunger. Proceeds also benefit Advancing the Community of Tomorrow (ACT) by providing scholarships to its summer day camp on the Cathedral grounds.
For an entire exhibitor listing and to preview the artists’ work, visit stjohndivine.org.
Crafts at the Cathedral returns this holiday season on Friday, December 6 through Sunday, December 8 at The Cathedral of St. John the Divine, located at 1047 Amsterdam Avenue (at 112th Street), Manhattan. Admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors, $10 for students, and $18 for a weekend pass. Light refreshments will be available via an onsite café.
For more information, please visit stjohndivine.org
