Bayard Building façade, 65 Bleecker”Last of the Handmade Buildings: Terra Cotta In and Around New York”
Lecture: October 21st, 7-9pm
This presentation will start by focusing on the manufacture of terra cotta and the changes in building technology which helped lead to the great popularity of terra cotta during the early part of the 20th century. Remarkable examples abound in all five on New York¹s boroughs and include nearly all building types — theaters, schools, skyscrapers, apartment houses, and commercial structures. The village has some superb examples of architectural ceramics ranging from Louis Sullivan¹s only NYC building at 65 Bleecker Street (1898) to polychrome apartment houses such as 37 Washington Square W (1928, Groenberg & Leuchtag) to a more modern use of terra cotta at The Church House of the First Presbyterian Church, 12 West 12th Street (1960, Edgar Tafel). We will look at how these and many other terra cotta and tile buildings have contributed to the richness and beauty of the city’s architecture.
RSVP to Lisa Chicoyne, admission is free.
Lecture will take place at theGreenwich House Music School, 46 Barrow Street.
Walking Tour: October 24th, 2-4pm
As we visit some of the stellar examples of architectural ceramics in the Greenwich Village area, we will discuss how to identify terra cotta a material renowned for its ability to mimic other materials, particularly stone. We will also try to note buildings that date from around 1909, when Greenwich House Pottery was first established. This will give us an opportunity to think about what the city looked like and what architectural use was being made of ceramics (for tile and terra cotta) during this era. Highlights of the tour will include Sullivan¹s Bayard-Condict Building, Judson Memorial Church, and the Devinne Press Building.
Limited to 20 participants, two hour walk, meet at GHP.
RSVP to Lisa Chicoyne. Walk is $50 per person, mail payment to Greenwich House Pottery, 16 Jones Street, NY, NY 10014, Attn: Susan Tunick Walking Tour.
