19-25 JUNE
2024
Ceramic sound masks course
with Martín Gastón Merlos e Julieta Bilbao
-Nómada Cerámica-
Immersive course on how to create a ceramic sound mask
Nómada Cerámica will share their practice focused on researching and experimenting with the specific materials of each geography through active observation, study and local materials.
The Ceramic Sound Masks course will provide all the tools and materials necessary for each participant to create their ceramic mask inspired by ancient cultures and aesthetics and add sound based on pre-Hispanic America's sound aesthetics.
Each participant will be invited to playfully transform the face of their mask, shaping the clay with intention, symbolism, and curiosity. Each mask will be unique and can be decorated after firing, with other materials brought by the participants for the final touch.
On the seventh day, the group will say goodbye with a sound performative action, giving life and meaning through sound to the ceramic mask created during their time in Cerdeira before each one goes home with it.
In this immersive course, you will have the opportunity to learn more about:
Ancient world masks | historical and geographical context of the cultures that built masks with different materials;
Creation | design and construction of a ceramic sound mask;
Manual techniques for ceramics;
Realization of the sound system | aerophone and idiophone systems;
Ancient aesthetics | stylization, abstraction, image synthesis;
Finishing techniques | ornamentation, modeling, polishing;
Woodfiring;
Waterproofing the masks with beeswax;
Mixed techniques | incorporation of other materials;
Martín Gastón Merlos and Julieta Bilbao are two ceramicists from Argentina. Martín is a ceramics and sculpture professor at the National University of La Plata (UNLP); Julieta is a photographer, ceramist, and cultural manager. Together, they created the Nómada Cerámica project.
Martín and Julieta specialize in sound ceramics, ceramic design/production, and design/construction of ceramic kilns. They have worked in the field for 15 years and held conferences, workshops, residencies, and concerts in Latin America since 2017. This is their first workshop in Europe, and they were invited by Cerdeira - Home for Creativity.
By creating sound sculptural objects, Nómada Céramica’s work traces a genealogy between the past and the present, bringing to life an aesthetic, poetic, and sacred language that survives in the transdisciplinarity of this project, adapted to innovation in contemporary artistic practice. In Nómada Cerámica, all these languages coexist ceramics, sculpture, music, anthropology, and archaeology.
Find more about this project here.
course details
PROGRAM:
1st day: Presentation and reception of participants; Welcome dinner.
2nd day: EARTH | Opening ritual - Theoretical introduction to sound ceramics; Concept and design of the mask - general and pure forms; Facial modeling; Abstraction of the image - exaggeration of the features; General construction of each mask.
3rd and 4th days: WATER | Development of personal projects; Mask identity; Creation inspired by the surrounding nature of Cerdeira - field exploration walk, with micro-observation of the shapes and natural elements that will serve as morphological inspiration; Hand modeling and textures.
5th day: AIR | Understanding aerophone and ideophone sound systems; Construction and placement of the sound system on the mask.
6th day: FIRE | Finishing the ceramic sound masks; Kiln packing, wood Firing /reduction; Kiln opening
7th day: ETHER | Waterproofing the masks; Incorporation of other materials - mixed techniques; Collective sound action with ceramic masks and farewell ritual.
SCHEDULE:
June 19th:
3 pm: Accommodation and check-in of participants
4 pm: Reception at the Atelier and presentation of the group and trainers;
7:30 pm: Welcome dinner at Casa das Artes
June 20th-25th:
course from 10 am to 6 pm, with a two-hour lunch break
June 26th:
Until 11 am: check-out from accommodation
CONDITIONS
• Enrollments up to 2 months before the course start date.
• Special discount for our community members.
THE COURSE FEE INCLUDES:
• Integration in a small workgroup (from 6 to 10 participants);
• Training 6 hours a day, spoken Spanish with Portuguese and English support;
. Bibliographic materials to support the workshop (digital format);
• Studio open 12 hours a day;
• All the materials needed for the course;
. All materials needed for the course, except decoration materials*;
. Welcome dinner;
• Lunch on course days;
• Free accommodation in our hostel during the course (upon availability). The hostel is equipped with a dormitory, kitchen, shared bathrooms, washing machine, towels, bed linen, and wi-fi;
• 10% discount on the base rate when booking an individual house (minimum of 2 nights). The base rate refers to a stay of 2 people and includes breakfast, equipped kitchen, towels, bed linen, and wi-fi.
*Does not include additional materials for decorating the masks, such as textiles, stones, metals, feathers, wood, etc. Any additional materials for decorating the mask must be brought by each participant to add a personal touch.
ENROLLMENTS AND MORE INFO:
artsandcrafts@cerdeirahomeforcreativity.com
+351 913 989 281*
*(call to national mobile network)
CANCELLATION POLICY FOR COURSES AND WORKSHOPS
You may withdraw within 14 days of registration, paying the correspondent transfer fees. Following the EU consumer protection legislation, payments are not refunded past 14 days of registration. The payment will be fully reimbursed if the training cannot be held because of insufficient students.
Suppose the training is canceled by Cerdeira - Home For Creativity for reasons of significant force such as a pandemic, civil disorder, a natural catastrophe, medical or family issues of the teacher, and others beyond our control. In that case, Cerdeira will offer a voucher for a different workshop of your choice. The voucher is valid for two years.
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