Indigenous South American Clay Wind Instruments w/ Clemente McKay

Guest Workshop: Clemente McKay

Indigenous South American Clay Wind Instruments

November 16-17, 2024 10:00a-4:00p

Includes: Instruction, materials, bisque firing

Join Clemente McKay, an indigenous Chilean artist working from his studio in Nuble, Chile, in the creation of traditional clay wind instruments. Clemente will be visiting during our Anagama firing.

"Inspired by Moche ceramic and iconographic art (200-900 AD) from the North Coast of Peru, the Chilean artist Clemente McKay builds for us clay bridges that escape the limits of time, space and materiality of the present world. From the careful collection of clays, molding, illustration, polishing, and subsequent wood burning of each piece, McKay seeks... to recreate the Moche ceramic style, as well as the social role that the original objects fulfilled in the hands of its creators and users. Each piece tells through images and sounds a story that is individual and collective at the same time, with characters and locations that together stage a true performance." -Luis A. Muro Ynoñán

Clemente will demonstrate the techniques he uses to create these unique, iconographic instruments which are beautiful, functional, and speak to over a thousand years of tradition in the Andes mountains. Clemente speaks excellent english and will deliver the workshop in English langauage without the assistance of a translator.

During the workshop, participants will be invited to follow along and make their own instruments with instruction and coaching from Clemente. All works produced during the workshop will be bisque fired at no additional fee. At that point, they may be taken home to finish as you wish, or they may join a future wood firing at East Creek if you're interested. 

On Saturday night, we'll enjoy a shared meal of fresh local fare, exact menu to be determined, included at no extra cost. 

Camping is free at East Creek, as is use of our shared kitchen and prep area. Other accomodations may be available to book on this page. Local accomodations are available in Willamina. Vans/campers welcome. Saturday night meal is provided, everything else is bring your own like camping!

Includes: 

-2 days instruction

-25lbs clay

-Bisque firing if desired

-Saturday night meal

-Camping at East Creek