INDEX — catalogue design

_ Kith & Kin _
A Rewilding of Sound and Form

An exhibition by Melissa H. Foss

MUSIC MASK

MINERAL MIND

2023
7 x 10.5 x 3.75 in
Wild clay, beeswax

OCARINAS / GLOBULAR or VESSEL FLUTES

Early inhabitants of Mesoamerica and South America were prolific ocarina designers and builders for thousands of years; flutes were made in different shapes and sizes, in the form of birds, animals, reptiles, fruits, vegetables, and deities.

OWL OCARINA

2022
2.75 x 3.75 x 4.5 in
Earthenware, oxides, pigments, beeswax

CYPRESS PINECONE OCARINA

2024
5 x 5.5 x 1.75 in
Earthenware, oxides, pigments, beeswax

MILKWEED DOUBLE OCARINA

2024
5.25 x 2 x 7.5 in
Earthenware, oxides, pigments, beeswax

BARRED OWL OCARINA

2024
10 x 3.5 x 4.5 in
Earthenware, oxides, pigments, beeswax

BIRDY OCARINAS

2022
Various dimensions
Earthenware

WHISTLING BOTTLE / VASIJA SILBADORA

Whistling bottles were produced by different cultures from about 1500 BCE to 1500 CE, in Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Mexico. They are composed of a system of hollow tubes and vessels and produce sound through one more or more small whistles. They can be played by blowing into their spouts to activate the whistle, and some can be played through the movement of water in their interior, which pushes air out through the whistle as the instrument is rocked back and forth.

LOON WHISTLING BOTTLE

2024
9 x 3.75 x 10.5 in
Earthenware, oxides, pigments, beeswax

RATTLES / MARACAS / SONAJEROS

Rattles are one of the oldest instruments and in many societies, they are associated with the supernatural and accompany religious rites. Early rattles were made from a wide variety of materials, such as dried gourds, fruit, seaweed, seed pods, tortoise shells, leather, and other natural materials. Examples of ancient clay rattles have been found all over the world.

SILK FLOSS RAINSTICK

2024
18.25 x 2.5 x 2.5 in
Earthenware, oxides, pigments, beeswax

SWEET GUM RATTLES

2024
7.25 x 3.5 x 3.5 in each
Earthenware, oxides, pigments, beeswax

FLOWER FLUTES / FLAUTAS DE FLOR

Flower flutes are duct flutes that traditionally had four fingerholes, and a bell in the shape of a blossom. They were created by the Aztec in Late Post-Classic Mesoamerica (1350-1521 CE) where flowers were associated with beauty, virtuosity, and music.

LILAC DOUBLE FLUTE

2024
8.75 x 4 x 2 in
Earthenware, oxides, beeswax

FLOWER FLUTE

2021
10.5 x 2.25 x 2.25 in
Earthenware, oxides, pigments

LILY FLUTE

2023
10.25 x 4 x 4 in
Earthenware, oxides, pigments, beeswax

BELLS / CAMPANAS

Bells have been made with many different materials and are widely distributed geographically. In some cultures, they’ve been used to communicate directly with spirits, and in others they have symbolized paradise and the voice of God.

SHELL BELLS

2023
2.75 x 2.75 x 6.5 in
3.25 x 3.25 x 7 in
3.75 x 3.75 x 7 in
Earthenware, oxides, pigments, beeswax

TRUMPETS / TROMPETAS

The trumpet was one of the most significant musical instruments in the pre-Columbian Andean World, in terms of denotation of power. Natural trumpets produce a single pitch, but can produce different tones through varying lip vibration and air pressure.

HERON HORN

2023
10.5 x 4 x 8 in
Earthenware, oxides, pigments, beeswax

BOBCAT TRUMPET

2022
Earthenware, oxides, pigments, beeswax
16 x 5 x 11 in

BOXWOOD HORN

2024
14 x 4.25 x 4.25 in
Earthenware, oxides, pigments, beeswax

POLYPHONIC FLUTES / FLAUTAS POLIFÓNICAS

Polyphonic flutes are tubular duct flutes where one instrument can be made up of two, three, or even four different flutes. These types of flutes were common to Mesoamerica, made by cultures like the Colima, Aztec, and Maya.

MUSHROOM DOUBLE FLUTE

2022
10.25 x 2.5 x 2.5 in
Earthenware, oxides

SNAKE DOUBLE FLUTE

2022
12.5 x 5 x 1.25 in
Earthenware, oxides, beeswax

BRAIN CORAL TRIPLE FLUTE

2022
4.25 x 15 x 1 in
Earthenware, oxides, pigments

SPOTTED TURTLE FLUTE

2023
10 x 3.75 x 2.5 in
Earthenware, oxides, pigments, beeswax

LITTLE MUSHROOMS TRIPLE FLUTE

2024
7 x 3.5 x 1.25 in
Earthenware, oxides, pigments, beeswax

TIMBER RATTLER TRIPLE FLUTE

2024
6.5 x 8.5 x 1 in
Earthenware, oxides, pigments

ANCESTOR'S FLUTE

2023
12 x 3.75 x 1.25 in
Earthenware, oxides, pigments

SOUND SCULPTURE

TURTLE TOWER

2024
11.5 x 5.5 x 5.5 in
Earthenware

Each instrument is unique, handcrafted by Melissa Hyatt Foss

___ Kith & Kin ___ A Rewilding of Sound and Form

_ Kith & Kin _
A Rewilding of Sound and Form