Casting Cosanti: An interactive silt-casting experience

Join us at Cosanti in Paradise Valley for a unique hands-on opportunity which combines artistic expression informed by the desert with an exploration of our innovative and experimental historic site, precursor to the well-known urban laboratory of Arcosanti.

Participants will be guided through the process of carving and shaping a mold made from desert earth, and will create a cast plaster tile using the same techniques which enabled the construction of Cosanti itself. We will discuss the composition, decoration, and utility of silt molds, the interface between positive and negative form, and the artistic possibilities of working in three dimensions. Each participant will have the chance to design, pigment, and excavate their own plaster tile which reflects their unique interaction with these earthen materials.

Our guide will also lead you on an hour-long tour of Cosanti’s structures and history. During this tour you may see the casting of new bronze windbells in the foundry, gain a deeper understanding of our relationship with architecture, art, and craft, and learn how the ideology of Arcology was born from the cooperation of the built environment with the natural landscape.

This experience is suitable for all ages 10 and up, and for any skill level - materials and techniques will be demonstrated over the course of the activity. Due to the outdoor nature of Cosanti and the possibility of messy hands we recommend walking shoes and comfortable, washable clothing.

Slip Casting 1: Learn to cast and carve your own ceramic bell

SCHEDULE

• 10:00am-10:15am - Sign-in and orientation
• 10:15am-11:00am - Guided tour of Cosanti
• 11:00am-11:30am - Casting and carving demonstration
• 11:30am-12:30pm - Designing and carving your bell
• 12:30pm-1:00pm - Photos, conclusion

RESERVATION DETAILS

This activity is $165 per participant, and is limited to 10 participants. To make a reservation or browse open dates, click the "Activity Calendar" button near the top of this page.

Guests under 18 must be accompanied by a participating parent or guardian. Each guest must fill out our consent and release form prior to participating. Cancellations must be made at least 24 hours beforehand to be eligible for a refund.

If you have ever enjoyed the sound of a Cosanti bell or wondered at how they are made, we are excited to now offer this unique opportunity to be a part of our 70-year tradition of casting and carving ceramic bells! Each bell is a unique expression of the desert Southwest, and each carries the fingerprints of its dedicated craftsperson, making them a remarkable way to learn the history of Cosanti through the art form which made it all possible.

Participants will enjoy a hands-on demonstration of mold-making in beds of moist desert silt, pouring liquid clay into the molds, and extracting the organic textured bell forms. Our ceramic artisans will teach the group how to carve their own designs into the clay bells using tools and techniques passed down through decades of experience. Participants will then design and carve their own model #607 using what they’ve learned, creating a keepsake or a treasured gift unlike any other. After carving, each bell will be fired, assembled, and made available for pickup or shipping within three weeks of the activity date.

As part of the activity our guide will also lead you on a tour of Cosanti’s structures and history, during which you may see the casting of new bronze windbells in the foundry, gain a deeper understanding of our relationship with architecture, art, and craft, and learn how the ideology of Arcology was born from the cooperation of the built environment with the natural landscape.

This experience is suitable for all ages 10 and up, and for any skill level - materials and techniques will be demonstrated over the course of the activity. Due to the outdoor nature of Cosanti and the possibility of messy hands we recommend walking shoes and comfortable, washable clothing.

Slip Casting 2: Learn to cast and carve your own ceramic pot or planter

Cosanti ceramic planters are unique for their earthen textures, warm organic finish, and hand-carved designs, elevating any home or office with the beauty of the Southwest. They are suitable for many varieties of plants, from succulents to hanging ferns to bonsai, or for displaying on their own as sculptural pieces of art. Join us for an opportunity to learn how to make these pots from our dedicated artisans, casting and carving your own to enjoy as a keepsake or to give as a one-of-a-kind gift.

Participants will enjoy a hands-on demonstration of the use of plaster slip molds, pouring liquid clay into the molds, and extracting the planter forms. Our ceramic artisans will teach the group how to carve their own designs into the clay planters using tools and techniques passed down through decades of experience. Participants will then design and carve their own model #706p using the skills they’ve learned. After carving, each planter will be stoneware fired and made available for pickup or shipping within two weeks of the activity date.

As part of the activity our guide will also lead you on a tour of Cosanti’s structures and history, during which you may see the casting of new bronze windbells in the foundry, gain a deeper understanding of our relationship with architecture, art, and craft, and learn how the ideology of Arcology was born from the cooperation of the built environment with the natural landscape.

This experience is suitable for all ages 10 and up, and for any skill level - materials and techniques will be demonstrated over the course of the activity. Due to the outdoor nature of Cosanti and the possibility of messy hands we recommend walking shoes and comfortable, washable clothing.

SCHEDULE

• 9:00am-9:15am - Sign-in and orientation
• 9:15am-10:00am - Guided tour of Cosanti
• 10:00am-10:30am - Casting and carving demonstration
• 10:30am-11:30am - Designing and carving your planter
• 11:30am-12:00pm - Photos, conclusion

RESERVATION DETAILS

This activity is $145 per participant, and is limited to 8 participants. To make a reservation or browse open dates, click the "Activity Calendar" button near the top of this page.

Guests under 18 must be accompanied by a participating parent or guardian. Each guest must fill out our consent and release form prior to participating. Cancellations must be made at least 24 hours beforehand to be eligible for a refund.

Tile Making 1: Learn to design your own Cosanti tile

SCHEDULE

• 9:00am-9:15am - Sign-in and orientation
• 9:15am-10:00am - Guided tour of Cosanti
• 10:00am-10:30am - Shaping and designing demonstration
• 10:30am-11:30am - Designing your tiles
• 11:30am-12:00pm - Photos, conclusion

RESERVATION DETAILS

This activity is $145 per participant for two tiles, or $245 per participant for four tiles, and is limited to 15 participants. To make a reservation or browse open dates, click the "Activity Calendar" button near the top of this page.

Please note - if you would like to combine this experience with Tile Making 2: Glaze to personally glaze the tiles you designed, contact us and we can help determine which combination of activity dates best fits within our firing times and your schedule.

Guests under 18 must be accompanied by a participating parent or guardian. Each guest must fill out our consent and release form prior to participating. Cancellations must be made at least 24 hours beforehand to be eligible for a refund.

Cosanti’s ceramic tiles combine the practiced design work of our artisans with glazes which evoke the colors and textures of the desert environment. In this experience participants will have the chance to develop their own designs to impress into a tile, taking part in an artistic expression which is as beautiful as it is functional - our tiles can be used as coasters, in kitchen backsplashes or shower walls, or as a thoughtful handmade gift.

Participants will learn the techniques of shaping and designing clay from our ceramic artisans, and experiment with the importance of tool shapes, layering, and composition to create two or four circular model #721 tiles. Once finished these tiles will be bisque fired, glazed with a choice of one of three classic colors, then stoneware fired in our kiln, to be available for pickup or shipping within three weeks of the activity date.

As part of the activity our guide will also lead you on a tour of Cosanti’s structures and history, during which you may see the casting of new bronze windbells in the foundry, gain a deeper understanding of our relationship with architecture, art, and craft, and learn how the ideology of Arcology was born from the cooperation of the built environment with the natural landscape.

This experience is suitable for all ages 10 and up, and for any skill level - materials and techniques will be demonstrated over the course of the activity. Due to the outdoor nature of Cosanti and the possibility of messy hands we recommend walking shoes and comfortable, washable clothing.

Tile Making 2: Learn to paint Cosanti tiles with colorful glazes

Cosanti’s ceramic tiles combine the practiced design work of our artisans with the jewel and earth tones of glazes which evoke the colors and textures of the desert environment. In this experience participants will have the chance to choose and paint a variety of unique glazes onto pre-designed tiles, taking part in an artistic expression which is as beautiful as it is functional - our tiles can be used as coasters, in kitchen backsplashes or shower walls, or as a thoughtful handmade gift.

Each participant will have the option of painting two bisque-fired model #721 tiles using a palette of colorful glazes. Every tile will feature its own unique design impressed into its surface, allowing for endlessly creative choices and combinations of finish. Once painted these tiles will be stoneware fired in our kiln, to be available for pickup or shipping within two weeks of the activity date.

This experience is suitable for all ages 10 and up, and for any skill level - materials and techniques will be demonstrated over the course of the activity. Due to the outdoor nature of Cosanti and the possibility of messy hands we recommend walking shoes and comfortable, washable clothing.

SCHEDULE

• 9:00am-9:15am - Sign-in and orientation
• 9:15am-9:45am - Demonstration of glazing techniques
• 9:45am-10:45am - Glazing your choice of two or four tiles
• 10:45am-11:00am - Photos, conclusion

RESERVATION DETAILS

This activity is $100, and is limited to 15 participants. To make a reservation or browse open dates, click the "Activity Calendar" button near the top of this page.

Please note - if you would like to combine this experience with Tile Making 1: Design to personally design the tiles you will be glazing, contact us and we can help determine which combination of activity dates best fits within our firing times and your schedule.

Guests under 18 must be accompanied by a participating parent or guardian. Each guest must fill out our consent and release form prior to participating. Cancellations must be made at least 24 hours beforehand to be eligible for a refund.

We're working on exciting new experiences for 2026 and beyond -
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