Mud to Music: Sculptural Ceramic Rattles w/ Artist Melissa Hyatt Foss

About this event

Rhythm lives everywhere; in the shake of a seed pod, the chorus of insects, the textured percussion of wind through dry grasses. Across cultures and time, rattles have carried this elemental pulse, as essential instruments of music, ritual, and storytelling. In this hands-on workshop, participants will experience different ceramic instruments of the ancient Americas and explore sculptural rattle-making inspired by the more-than-human beings around us. Drawing inspiration from seed pods, insects, and other more-than-human beings, we’ll use clay, tools, and simple hand-building techniques to sculpt the structure and design the sound of our own unique instruments. Each participant will leave with a ceramic rattle that is both a musical instrument and a visual work of art; an object that invites listening, play, and a deeper connection to the subtle rhythms that surround and move through us. No prior experience with clay, instruments or music is needed. All materials, tools and instrument firing included.