In the summer of 06, the Amestoy family of South Atlanta decided they wanted to host a festive earthen building event on a vacant piece of land next to their house that had been bought for some "special use" for the community. After a stage was built, it was decided that a seating structure would be built on the land to look over the stage using our festive earthen building event program model. The structure would also illustrate the main components of a home; stone foundation, walls, furniture, windows and a roof. For weeks before hand volunteers came out to make bricks and then on one day a big mud mixture was made at the site to mortar the previously made bricks together on the day of the event.. Below are some photos that show the process throughout the day.
Check out footage of us on the 6 'O' Clock news that night at http://www.yeamerica.org/febe_on_46news
musicians play to set a rhythm to "work" to. Sand to the right to be passed into mud pit.
participants doing an icebreaker dance together to live music.
the passing dance. to pass the water to the pit to make the mud.
the end of the line of the passing dance. water plus earth equals mud.
the passing dance to bring sand to the mud pit.
the stomping dance to mix the sand into the mud with our bare feet. Musicians in background providing rhythm
the stomping dance continues
the stomping dance continues to mix the straw into the clay, sand and water mixture.
some of the first of the mixture goes down on the stone foundation.
the structure in the background going up. Musicians in far background. Mud enthusiast in foreground covered in healing clay
the building continues.
the music continues to play
local percussion master.
the final design before plastering. Steps to the left and bench in the front. Wooden beams in place to support rafters and roof.