Fall Bell-Making One-Day Experience

Design & Carve Your Own Ceramic Bell

In this hands-on experience, you will learn the unique silt-cast bell-making process developed by The Cosanti Foundation and used every day by the artisans of Cosanti Originals to make our world-famous ceramic windbells. As a participant, you will have the opportunity to cast and carve your own one-of-a-kind ceramic bell. This process involves using clay and dirt to create your bell, so come prepared to get your hands dirty.

Schedule of Events:

8:00 a.m: Introductory Tour

Join us as we show you Arcosanti, a prototype micro-city practicing arcology, a design philosophy incorporating architecture and ecology. We will show you the different spaces and arts at Arcosanti, all while illustrating the history and theory behind this novel institution.

9:00 a.m: Forming Bells

We will start by creating earthen bell molds using a bed of silt, an earth-clay mixture. Instructors will also describe our plaster mold process. Once the silt molds are formed, participants will pour a slip (a mixture of water and clay) into the cavity which then forms a clay vessel around the surface of the mold as the water evaporates over time.

12:00 p.m: Lunch (Included)

The Arcosanti Cafe will provide a home-made meal. Please let us know if you have dietary restrictions.

1:00 p.m: Carving Bells

The centerpiece of the day, our instructors will show you the main tools and techniques we use to carve a design into the clay windbell. We will further elaborate the style of our artwork, both within the Cosanti family of design as well as individual expression.

3:00 p.m: Group Photo and Salutation

All participants will be able to share this process together and see each other’s work before finishing. We will take individual photos of each person with their windbell as well as a group photo. Some time after the class is finished, the clay bells will be fired, and then shipped to each person.

Your Instructors:

Artisans from Arcosanti Ceramics will be teaching this class.

Program Cost: $195.00

Please include your shipping information at checkout, so we can ship your finished bell to you. Shipping is a flat fee of $20.00.

Register Here

If you have any question or to request more information please email workshop@arcosanti.org.