Introduction to Sound Ceramics

Service Description

A two-day immersive workshop with Nómada Cerâmica, devoted to the world of sound ceramics inspired by the ancestral cultures of the Americas. Over two days, each participant builds their own aerophone instruments, comes to understand how they work, and follows the whole process of turning clay into ceramic through fire. More than learning techniques, the workshop is an invitation to experience a way of making that brings together material, sound and territory. THE TWO DAYS Saturday 5 September — 10am to 1pm and 3pm to 8pm Building the instruments. We will work through different aerophone sound systems (whistles and flutes), exploring the principles of construction, modelling and acoustic behaviour. Sunday 6 September — 10am to 8pm Collective building of an ephemeral kiln from stacked bricks, and the firing of every piece made during the workshop. At the end of the day each participant takes home their own pieces, now turned to ceramic. WHAT YOU WILL LEARN - An introduction to the world of sound ceramics. - Aerophone sound systems (whistles and flutes). - Hand-building techniques in ceramics. - Modelling and laying out the sound system. - Surface finishes. - Collective building of an ephemeral kiln. - The wood-fire firing process. DETAILS Price: €160 — includes materials, firing, guidance throughout the workshop, and digital reading material. Venue: VIDRA — Oficina de Cerâmica, Rua do Pinheiro de Campanhã 548, Porto. Classes are taught in Spanish, with supporting course material in Portuguese. Places are limited. No previous experience in ceramics is needed. ABOUT NÓMADA CERÂMICA Nómada Cerâmica is an artistic project founded by Martín Gastón Merlos (graduate and lecturer in Fine Arts, specialising in Ceramics and Sculpture — UNLP) and Julieta Bilbao (photographer, ceramicist and cultural manager). Since 2016 they have been researching sound ceramics, ancestral technologies, and ways of making tied to fire and to place. The project is markedly itinerant and has run more than 400 activities — workshops, residencies, lectures, concerts and consultancy — across cities in the Americas and Europe. This workshop is Nómada Cerâmica's first edition in Porto and the third time the project has been held in Europe.