For many years, Susan Rawcliffe has been making, playing and researching ceramic flutes, pipes, ocarinas, whistles, trumpets and sound sculptures. Her work evolves through a circular process of making acoustical studies of ancient and contemporary instruments, learning to play them, and then creating the next generation of instruments and music. In addition to extensive exhibitions, performances, and lectures she is a recognized scholar of pre-conquest mesoamerican musical instruments. Grants include a McKnight Visiting Composer's grant in Minneapolis, MN; a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to research prehispanic ceramic flutes in Mexico; and a Cultural Explorers International Grant from the Department of Cultural Affairs, Los Angeles, for research on a collection of over 300 West Mexican pre-Hispanic clay flutes and sound sculptures located in Bangor University, Wales, UK.

Rawcliffe will have multiple person sound sculptures available for participants to play. Visitors can experience sounds moving through their heads during a fantastic sonic experience blowing combination tone whistles in a small group. In another small group, they can try pre-hispanic chamber-duct flutes inspired by Aztec or Mayan or Olmec pieces, and more! Three ceramic chamber-duct pieces will also be in the Ear Meal exhibition in the main gallery.

In between, the multiperson sculptural pieces are available, the artist will be playing her flutes, &/or visiting other installations & artists.
5:30pm - combination tone whistles
7:00pm - chamberduct flutes
8:30 - participant's choice, with approval of the artist.
(Schedule subject to change)