Jim Lockey

Performance – Ceramic Flutes, activated by water.

Major 2024 project.

Part of Salt + Earth Festival 2024

We stand on shores that are sculpted by the waves. Tides that erode the land release clay that was itself formed in the beds of ancient waterways. This is the material that is used to create the ceramic sculptural objects known as ‘sea flutes’. When lowered into water (or activated by the movement of waves), a sea flute emits a plaintive, haunting whistle. The sea activates the flutes, in a sense giving it life. The clay body of the sea flute can be read as an analogue for the human body and its sound – our breath. Human life too is dependent upon, and shaped by water. The sound of the sea flute transforms the water’s energy into sound making it tangible in a new way that can be experienced through hearing.

10 Sea-flutes were carried to the shore in a short procession following the sound of a clay horn. Players (members of the local community) entered the water and activate the flutes. The audience was invited to move amongst the players and listen to the gentle sound, or participate themselves in sounding a flute.

In the weeks leading up to the procession a workshop a workshop was held. Workshop participants created their own ceremonial objects using the same black clay from which the sea flutes are made.