Singing Clay explores ancient clay hand building techniques through the creation of sculptural and functional ceramic works inspired by contemporary and historical folk-art traditions. Students will learn and practice three foundational hand building methods—pinch, coil, and slab construction—used thousands of years across cultures.

The course places special emphasis on the creation of folk-art ocarinas, examining their historical and cultural significance as sound-producing objects. Students will learn how to construct functional ocarinas and creatively incorporate sound elements into dishes and vessels, allowing ceramic forms to quite literally produce a voice. Through hands-on making, historical references, and guided experimentation, students will create works that merge functions, sculpture, and sound.