Musical instruments have shaped human communication and self-expression since the dawn of culture. By learning about instruments from the ancient Americas and building and playing our own, we reconnect with nature, cultivate embodied presence through working with clay, and awaken joy through sound and music-making.
In this hands-on workshop, participants will experience ceramic musical instruments made across Central and South America for thousands of years, and create their own clay vessel flutes, or ocarinas. Through simple hand-building techniques and intuitive tuning, each participant will craft a unique instrument that functions as both a musical tool and a visual work of art.
No prior experience with clay, instruments or music is needed. All materials, tools and instrument firing included.
Where: Creativity Center, 3137 Eastern Ave. Baltimore MD 21224
When: FRI APR 3 | 6-9PM
Age Range: 15+
Cost: $30 standard, $25 members
About the instructor:
Melissa Hyatt Foss is an interdisciplinary artist who co-creates with an ever-growing collection of instruments that she hand-crafts with clay. She received her training in Argentina where she developed her career as an instrument-maker, performer, teaching artist, and researcher for nearly a decade in connection with the National University of Argentina.
Since returning to the US in 2021, Melissa has created and delivered innovative, bilingual educational programming with the Baltimore Museum of Art, Walters Art Museum, National Gallery of Art, UMBC, Shepherd University, Enoch Pratt Libraries, Creative Alliance, and Baltimore Clayworks, and numerous early childhood through 8th-grade classrooms across Maryland.
Learn more: www.melissahyattfoss.com
Questions? Write to: hello@melissahyattfoss.com
Special Thanks!
This program is made possible by a grant from the Maryland State Arts Council.
Location: The Creativity Center
Location: Creativity Center
Location: The Creativity Center
Location: The Creativity Center
