Art of Play in Brooklyn, New York

A tiny mechanical bird named Molly has become an unlikely celebrity in Brooklyn. She sings, she dances, and she recently found herself at the center of a very public feud. Molly lives at Art of Play, a unique curiosity shop on Atlantic Avenue filled with puzzles, games, playing cards, mechanical toys, and objects designed to make grown-ups feel like curious children again. The shop also hosts a 26-seat theater where magicians perform close-up magic. And the little bird is often part of the show. Created by the Seattle artist Bliss Kolb, Molly is a handcrafted automaton — a mechanical figurine designed to mimic the behavior of a living creature — modeled after an American goldfinch. Turn a crank, and she comes to life, singing and dancing for her audience. But in October 2026, Molly’s quiet existence took a spectacularly strange turn. After visiting Art of Play, the singer Kelly Clarkson complained to her 8 million followers on X that a store employee had treated her condescendingly when she expressed interest in purchasing the bird. The shop responded on its Instagram feed that Molly was a permanent fixture and wasn't for sale, although a similar piece could be purchased from the artist. A photograph then circulated on social media showing a $15,000 price tag for Molly, making things more complicated, and the whole disagreement exploded. The shop's owners reported receiving threats and harassment as things escalated. In a particularly theatrical response, Art of Play replaced the bird's price tag with one reading $15 million. Co-owner Adam Rubin told reporters that he would consider selling her for that amount. Molly had no comment.

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