Arcosanti in Mayer, Arizona, is pleased to present several Bell-Making Experiences this spring. Taking place on Saturdays, March 23, April 13, April 27, May 11 and May 25, these Arcosanti WorkDay experiences present the unique opportunity for guests to learn the silt-cast bell-making process developed by The Cosanti Foundation and used every day by the artisans of Cosanti Originals to make their world-renowned wind-bells.
During each WorkDay, guests will have the opportunity to cast and carve their own one-of-a-kind ceramic bell. The schedule is as follows for each Bell-Making Experience:
8 a.m. — Introductory tour of Arcosanti followed by bell forming
Noon — Lunch break
1 p.m. — Begin bell carving
3 p.m. — Group photo and salutation
Cost is $195 per person, per class; lunch is included. Guests should come prepared to “get their hands dirty.”
To learn more about the Bell-Making Experience or to register, email Taylor at workshop@arcosanti.org. For more about Arcosanti, visit arcosanti.org.
During each WorkDay, guests will have the opportunity to cast and carve their own one-of-a-kind ceramic bell. The schedule is as follows for each Bell-Making Experience:
8 a.m. — Introductory tour of Arcosanti followed by bell forming
Noon — Lunch break
1 p.m. — Begin bell carving
3 p.m. — Group photo and salutation
Cost is $195 per person, per class; lunch is included. Guests should come prepared to “get their hands dirty.”
To learn more about the Bell-Making Experience or to register, email Taylor at workshop@arcosanti.org. For more about Arcosanti, visit arcosanti.org.
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LifestyleTranscript
00:00 [MUSIC PLAYING]
00:02 This stunning location is in Mare, Arizona,
00:20 just outside of Prescott.
00:21 It's called Arcosanti.
00:23 And Taylor is going to give me a tour.
00:24 Thank you so much for having us.
00:26 Thank you for coming.
00:27 This is one of the most stunning places
00:29 that I have ever seen.
00:30 Tell me about the history and the purpose of Arcosanti.
00:33 So Arcosanti was started in 1970 as a live-work community
00:38 where everybody came here to pursue
00:41 arcology, which is just our word for the synthesis
00:44 of architecture and ecology.
00:46 And the whole idea was that we could get back
00:48 to a way of city living that respects nature,
00:52 and also you get to access it and enjoy it.
00:55 So we have all different kinds of art, craft, and jobs
00:58 here in Albuquerque.
00:59 And I know you're one of about 50 people, artists,
01:02 who live here and work here.
01:04 Correct.
01:04 So we have all different people who live and work here.
01:07 We have artisans who make our bells, of course,
01:09 you've heard about.
01:10 But we also have an ecologist.
01:12 I come from an architecture background like many people.
01:16 All right, we have to talk about the bells.
01:17 Before I lived in Arizona, I had never heard of these bells.
01:21 And once you hear of them, you see them everywhere.
01:23 People are obsessed with them.
01:25 I've seen some of them selling on eBay
01:27 for tens of thousands of dollars.
01:29 What is an Arcosanti bell?
01:31 So an Arcosanti wind bell is something--
01:34 it's either made out of ceramic or bronze.
01:36 But the reason why it's so special to people
01:39 is because it's really part of the identity of the Southwest.
01:42 So it's something that's handcrafted.
01:45 It's made in a specific place that really is meaningful
01:48 because it comes from this area.
01:50 It's organic.
01:51 Well, I've got to see how these bells are made.
01:54 So one of your colleagues is going to show me.
01:57 Yeah, let's go see.
01:58 [MUSIC PLAYING]
02:01 This is the place where the iconic Arcosanti bells are
02:16 actually made.
02:17 And Ana is going to take me through some of the process.
02:20 So let's talk first about these vats of water.
02:24 So we essentially make our clay from scratch.
02:27 This right here is the clay in its raw form.
02:30 And we take it from this pile right here,
02:33 and we put it into this first vat.
02:35 It sits in water for a couple of hours so it can dissolve.
02:38 The clay will fall to the bottom,
02:40 and then will transfer to the trash cans right here.
02:42 And so then the clay will sit here
02:45 until it's ready to be used.
02:46 This looks so beautiful.
02:48 Yeah.
02:49 So this is a great clay right here
02:51 that we use for all of our bells.
02:54 And then this one right here we use
02:56 for our mugs, which is a project that's starting just now.
03:00 And then are these the molds for the bells?
03:03 Yes.
03:03 So we have two methods for bell making.
03:05 We have a plaster mold method, and then we
03:07 have a silt casting method.
03:09 The process I'm going to be showing you today,
03:11 it's silt casting.
03:12 But behind us right here, you can see our plaster mold method.
03:16 And for those who don't know, this
03:18 is a good example of an Arcosanti bell, right?
03:21 A finished-- and this is--
03:23 That would be a plaster mold bell.
03:27 It's beautiful.
03:28 And every single bell is a little bit different, right?
03:30 Yes.
03:31 So they're all made using molds that
03:34 are the same shape that we use time and time again.
03:37 But all of the designs are unique,
03:38 because we carve them as they come out,
03:41 and there's no template or anything.
03:43 We just kind of go with whatever we're feeling in the moment.
03:46 And that's part of the reason they're so collectible,
03:49 because no two are alike.
03:50 What happens over here?
03:52 So this is where we make the silt bells.
03:55 And we have this little mold right here.
03:58 Uh-huh.
03:59 OK.
03:59 Different sizes.
04:00 You can see there, from really small to really big.
04:03 And so we imprint the shape of the bell right there.
04:08 And then we take our liquid clay,
04:09 and we pour it into that mold.
04:12 Are we going to do that?
04:13 Totally.
04:14 I was hoping you'd say yes.
04:15 [MUSIC PLAYING]
04:19 I'm going to get splattered with the clay.
04:36 OK, so now your clay is ready.
04:40 It's ready to be poured.
04:42 It is.
04:43 So we take one last filter.
04:47 Mm-hmm.
04:48 You want me to hold this for you?
04:50 You might get splattered.
04:51 That's all right.
04:51 OK.
04:51 It's OK.
04:52 It's OK.
04:52 I'm ready.
04:53 So you're filtering the clay one last time.
05:02 Yes, one last time, right before using it.
05:04 So it goes through like three filtering processes.
05:06 And I know you guys offer classes here.
05:08 Is that part of the overall purpose and mission
05:11 of Arcasanti?
05:12 Yes.
05:13 So one of our main goals is to teach people by doing.
05:18 And so we bring people out here.
05:19 Look it.
05:20 You're teaching me by doing.
05:21 And they get to do this whole process from beginning to end.
05:24 And then at the end, they get to take one of the bells home.
05:27 Oh, really?
05:28 Yeah.
05:28 So if you do one of the classes here,
05:31 you leave with a bell that you made?
05:33 Yes, and you get to carve it and everything.
05:35 Do you want to pour one of those?
05:36 I do.
05:37 By the way, I've always wanted this on it.
05:39 I looked on eBay, and some of these
05:41 are going for like $10,000, $15,000, $20,000.
05:44 Why are some of them so valuable?
05:45 So like I mentioned earlier, each design is unique.
05:49 And different artisans have worked
05:51 in the apps, different eras of the project.
05:55 And some of them have very unique design styles.
05:57 And once they leave, we don't replicate their styles.
06:00 So those bells will never be made again in the same way.
06:03 OK.
06:03 I think that's why they're so valuable.
06:04 Oh, that's beautiful.
06:05 So if people want to come and take a class
06:07 and make their own bell--
06:09 I know it's seasonal.
06:10 They're not offered year-round.
06:11 But can they find information online?
06:14 Yes, it would be through our website, arcasanti.org.
06:17 And then you go to the Workshop tab,
06:19 and then you can find all of our classes.
06:22 Thank you.
06:22 Yeah.
06:23 The first bell making class at Arcasanti
06:30 takes place on Saturday, March 23, and more in April and May.
06:35 To register, email workshop@arcasanti.org
06:39 or visit arcasanti.org for more info.
06:43 (upbeat music)
06:46 [BLANK_AUDIO]